Due to the lack of men after the Civil War, a western town allows a young bachelorette who lives alone to save a thief from hanging by marrying him. They must deal with his old gang, the Sheriff, the railroad, a gold mine, and each other.
Director:
Writers:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Jack Nicholson | ... |
Henry Moon
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| Mary Steenburgen | ... |
Julia Tate
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| Christopher Lloyd | ... |
Towfield
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| John Belushi | ... |
Hector
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| Veronica Cartwright | ... |
Hermine
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| Richard Bradford | ... |
Sheriff Kyle
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Jeff Morris | ... |
Big Abe
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| Danny DeVito | ... |
Hog
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| Tracey Walter | ... |
Coogan
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Gerald H. Reynolds | ... |
Polty
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| Luana Anders | ... |
Mrs. Anderson
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George W. Smith | ... |
Mr. Anderson
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| Lucy Lee Flippin | ... |
Mrs. Haber
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| Ed Begley Jr. | ... |
Mr. Haber
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Maureen Byrnes | ... |
Mrs. Warren
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B.J. Merholz | ... |
Mr. Warren
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| Britt Leach | ... |
Parson Weems
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| Georgia Schmidt | ... |
Florence
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Barbara Ann Grimes | ... |
Spinster I
(as Barbara Ann Walters)
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| Anne Ramsey | ... |
Spinster II
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Marsha Ferri | ... |
Spinster III
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| Lin Shaye | ... |
Parasol Lady
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Don McGovern | ... |
Bartender
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| Dennis Fimple | ... |
Hangman
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Annie Marshall | ... |
Painted Lady
(as Anne T. Marshall)
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Anita Terrian | ... |
Painted Lady
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Robert Wilson | ... |
Drunk
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Carlton Risdon | ... |
Stage Driver
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Nancy Coan Kaclik | ... |
Mrs. Standard
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R.L. Armstrong | ... |
Farmer Standard
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Directed by
| Jack Nicholson | ||
Written by
| John Herman Shaner | ... | (story) & |
| Al Ramrus | ... | (story) |
| John Herman Shaner | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Al Ramrus | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Charles Shyer | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Alan Mandel | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Harry Gittes | ... | producer |
| Harold Schneider | ... | producer |
Music by
| Perry Botkin Jr. | ||
| Van Dyke Parks | ||
Cinematography by
| Néstor Almendros | ... | (as Nestor Almendros) |
Editing by
| John Fitzgerald Beck | ||
| Richard Chew | ||
Editorial Department
| Carlos Puente | ... | assistant editor |
| Richard Garibaldi | ... | home video mastering colorist (uncredited) |
Production Design by
| Toby Carr Rafelson | ||
Art Direction by
| Agustín Ituarte | ... | (as Agustin Ytuarte) |
Costume Design by
| William Ware Theiss | ||
Makeup Department
| María de Jesús Lepe | ... | hair stylist (as Ma. de Jesus Lepe) |
| Edie Panda | ... | hair stylist |
| Bob Westmoreland | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Alberto A. Ferrer | ... | production manager |
| Marco Aurelio Ortiz | ... | assistant production manager |
| Clark L. Paylow | ... | unit manager (as Clark Paylow) |
| Sergio David Prieto | ... | assistant production manager (as David Prieto) |
| Lindsley Parsons Jr. | ... | executive production manager: Paramount (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| William S. Beasley | ... | second assistant director (as William Beasley) |
| Michael Daves | ... | first assistant director |
| Jesús Marín | ... | assistant director (as Jesus Marin) |
Art Department
| Tony Castañola | ... | set dresser assistant |
| Antonio Mata | ... | head prop man |
| Robert Scaife | ... | construction coordinator |
| Marty Wunderlich | ... | property master |
Sound Department
| Art Rochester | ... | production sound mixer (as Arthur Rochester) |
| Bill Rowe | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Frank E. Warner | ... | sound effects editor |
| Ken Dufva | ... | foley artist (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Raúl Camarena | ... | special effects |
| Lawrence J. Cavanaugh | ... | special effects (as Larry Cavanaugh) |
Stunts
| May Boss | ... | stunts (as May R. Boss) |
| Loren Janes | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Dick Deats | ... | key grip |
| Rafael Delong | ... | crane grip |
| Hugh K. Gagnier | ... | additional photographer (as Hugh Gagnier) |
| Alfredo Ruvalcaba | ... | best boy |
| Manuel Santaella | ... | camera operator |
| Hal Trussell | ... | gaffer |
Casting Department
| Luis Sánchez | ... | extras casting (as Luis Sanchez) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Tom Dawson | ... | costumer: men (as Thomas Dawson) |
| Alfonso Govea | ... | wardrober men |
| Frances Kandelin Harrison | ... | costumer: women |
| Juana Oliver | ... | wardrober women |
| Alicia Soto | ... | dress maker |
Location Management
| Joe O'Har | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Else Blangsted | ... | music editor |
| Ken Lauber | ... | composer: additional music |
| Robert Fernandez | ... | score mixer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Julia Tucker | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Ricardo Frera | ... | production assistant |
| Don Henry | ... | production accountant |
| Nancy Coan Kaclik | ... | assistant to producer |
| Francisco Ledesma | ... | delegate: actors |
| Chayo Lopez | ... | production associate |
| Guillermo Panuco | ... | wrangler |
| Pedro Pérez Rivera | ... | medic |
| Kathleen Dolan Sumner | ... | assistant: Mr. Nicholson |
| Anita Terrian | ... | assistant to producer |
| Robert Wilson | ... | wrangler |
| 'Chema' Hernandez | ... | livestock coordinator (uncredited) |
| 'Chico' Hernandez | ... | wrangler (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Paramount Pictures (presents)
Distributors
- Paramount Pictures (1978) (United States) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1979) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1979) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1979) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (1979) (United States) (VHS)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1979) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1979) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1979) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Esselte CIC Video (1979) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Sonoro Filme (1981) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1982) (United States) (tv)
- CIC Video (1984) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1986) (Greece) (VHS)
- Koch Media (2003) (Japan) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
- CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Paramount Channel (2022) (France) (tv)
- Vinegar Syndrome (2024) (World-wide) (Ultra HD Blu-ray)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Modern Film Effects (titles and opticals)
- Thorn EMI Elstree Studios (re-recording)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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. Written by grantss |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Saved from the hangman, for a fate worse than death! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | When Henry (Jack Nicholson) is riding on horseback to catch the stagecoach carrying Julia (Mary Steenburgen), the horse loses its footing and plows into a ditch throwing Henry several feet in the air. The scene was not planned that way, and that was director Jack Nicholson flying head first into the ditch. Fortunately, neither the horse nor Nicholson was injured, except for some bruises. Later, upon viewing the footage in dailies, Nicholson exclaimed, "That's a keeper!" See more » |
| Goofs | Moon is on the gallows to be hanged, but the gallows has a solid platform with no visible trap door. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Lord of the Rings, Halloween, Autumn Sonata, Goin' South, Dogs: The Dragon Lives, The Hills Have Eyes (1978). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Available Space See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The Paramount logo plays in reverse. See more » |
| Quotes |
[to a homely woman who's sizing him up for matrimony]
Henry Moon: I wouldn't take you to a dog-fight if you was the defendin' champ! See more » |