Goin' South
Texas, shortly after the Civil War. Henry Moon is an outlaw, on the run from the law. He is captured trying to escape to Mexico and taken back to town to be hanged. The town has a special law that a condemned man can walk free if one of the single women of the town offer to marry him. Henry is in luck - at the last moment Julia Tate offers to marry him, and pretty soon they are married. However, Henry soon discovers that Julia's motives are purely business-orientated - she needs someone to work the mine on her property. This makes for a very cold marriage.
The film earned $7.4M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Goin' South (1978) reveals precise narrative design, characteristic of Jack Nicholson's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 49 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Henry Moon, a scruffy outlaw, flees from pursuers on horseback through the Texas border, establishing his life as a desperate criminal on the run.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Just as Henry is about to be hanged, Julia Tate unexpectedly claims him under the marriage ordinance, saving his life at the last possible moment.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Henry reluctantly accepts that he must work the mine to survive, making a deliberate choice to engage with Julia's plan rather than continue fighting or risk hanging., moving from reaction to action.
At 55 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Henry and Julia strike significant gold, seeming to achieve success. Their relationship has warmed considerably, but this false victory attracts dangerous attention from claim jumpers and raises the stakes., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 82 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Henry's past catches up when his former gang arrives, threatening Julia and the mine. The fragile trust between Henry and Julia shatters as she questions whether he's been playing her all along., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 88 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Henry chooses to stand with Julia against his former gang, fully committing to his new life and demonstrating his transformation from selfish outlaw to protective partner., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Goin' South's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Goin' South against these established plot points, we can identify how Jack Nicholson utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Goin' South within the comedy genre.
Jack Nicholson's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Jack Nicholson films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Goin' South represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jack Nicholson filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Jack Nicholson analyses, see The Two Jakes.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Henry Moon, a scruffy outlaw, flees from pursuers on horseback through the Texas border, establishing his life as a desperate criminal on the run.
Theme
A townsperson mentions the local ordinance about saving condemned men through marriage, hinting at themes of redemption through partnership and civilization taming the wild.
Worldbuilding
Henry is captured and brought to Longhorn, Texas, where he's sentenced to hang. The frontier town is established as a place where women outnumber men, and a peculiar law allows condemned men to be saved by marriage.
Disruption
Just as Henry is about to be hanged, Julia Tate unexpectedly claims him under the marriage ordinance, saving his life at the last possible moment.
Resistance
Henry resists his new situation, trying to escape and refusing to cooperate. Julia reveals she needs him to work her gold mine. The deputy sheriff keeps Henry chained and monitored, while Henry schemes to flee.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Henry reluctantly accepts that he must work the mine to survive, making a deliberate choice to engage with Julia's plan rather than continue fighting or risk hanging.
Mirror World
As Henry and Julia begin working the mine together, their antagonistic relationship starts showing signs of partnership, introducing the possibility of genuine connection beyond their forced arrangement.
Premise
The "fun and games" of an unwilling outlaw and stubborn woman learning to work together. They discover gold, face claim jumpers, and gradually develop respect and attraction despite their constant bickering.
Midpoint
Henry and Julia strike significant gold, seeming to achieve success. Their relationship has warmed considerably, but this false victory attracts dangerous attention from claim jumpers and raises the stakes.
Opposition
External threats intensify as claim jumpers and Henry's old outlaw gang close in. The deputy becomes more suspicious. Internal conflict grows as Henry must choose between his old criminal life and his new partnership with Julia.
Collapse
Henry's past catches up when his former gang arrives, threatening Julia and the mine. The fragile trust between Henry and Julia shatters as she questions whether he's been playing her all along.
Crisis
Henry faces his dark night of the soul, realizing he's genuinely changed and cares for Julia, but may have lost her trust forever. He must decide who he truly wants to be.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Henry chooses to stand with Julia against his former gang, fully committing to his new life and demonstrating his transformation from selfish outlaw to protective partner.
Synthesis
Henry and Julia work together to outsmart and defeat the outlaws and claim jumpers. The town rallies to support them. Henry uses both his outlaw cunning and his newfound loyalty to protect what matters.
Transformation
Henry and Julia, now genuinely married in spirit, stand together at their mine as equal partners. The wild outlaw has become a devoted husband, transformed by love and purpose.