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Bastard, Go and Kill (1971) movie poster

Plot Summary

Bastard, Go and Kill (1971) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
1971 · 97 mins · Italian
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Directed by
Gino Mangini
Starring
Jesús Guzmán, George Eastman, José Manuel Martín, Giorgio Dolfin, Thomas Rudy, Lincoln Tate

Chaco, a Mexican on the run from just about everyone, is framed for the killing of a couple of Mexican cattlemen. Though everyone knows he’s innocent, the evidence against him is substantial. He manages to escape custody and, with the reluctant assistance of a bounty hunter, sets out to track down the true killers.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Bastard, Go and Kill
  6. 6 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Bastard, Go and Kill: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Bastard, Go and Kill (1971) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

The young Mexican peon Chako, George Eastman, is hunted and nearly hanged by a band of Americans after the seduction of Susanna, Scilla Gabel. He manages to slip away and return to Mexico, where a seasoned bounty hunter named Slim trails him, determined to collect the reward. Although Slim closes in and captures Chako, the quick-witted young man outsmarts him, leaving the hunter stranded in the desert.

Chako arrives in San Rosario, where he is welcomed as a hero by many, though not everyone shares that view. The jealous Asuncion, Antonella Steni, sees the situation differently and has Chako thrown into prison. A corrupt local official, taking a higher payoff from the visiting American, further twists the fates of everyone involved, intensifying the pressure on the town.

Meanwhile, the powerful landowner Don Felipe Antonio de Martinez, Furio Meniconi, faces trouble when two men block access to his shops. He tasks the loyal henchman Sanchez, Franco Lantieri, with doing the dirty work and then blaming Chako for the crimes. The injustice sticks, and Chako winds up back behind bars, fueling a deeper conflict in the community.

A big party and the ensuing chaos give Slim a chance to move. He frees Chako and aims to preempt the murder gang led by Cherokee, a hired killer played by José Manuel Martín. The two men—one a hunter, one a fugitive—form an uneasy alliance and begin to dismantle the web of scheming around them.

In the climax, Slim and Chako work together to shut down Sanchez, who has already murdered Don Felipe. Order starts to return to the area as justice edges closer. Slim hands Sanchez over to the authorities, and Chako is brought to Asuncion, setting the stage for a resolution that seeks peace after a long, tense struggle.

Last updated: February 24, 2026 at 13:53

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Plot questions answered

Bastard, Go and Kill Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Bastard, Go and Kill (1971): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Asuncion have Chako thrown in jail?

Asuncion is jealous of Chako's hero status in San Rosario and sees him as a threat to her local influence. She manipulates the situation using her power within the town to have him imprisoned, exploiting personal politics rather than any legitimate legal reason.

Foreshadowing: Asuncion's resentment is established when Chako first arrives as a celebrated hero, foreshadowing her later betrayal.

  • asuncion
  • chako
  • jail
  • jealousy
  • san rosario
Q2

How does Chako escape from Slim the bounty hunter?

After being captured by Slim in the desert, Chako uses his quick wit to outsmart the bounty hunter. He leaves Slim stranded in the harsh desert environment, making his escape while the hunter is disabled.

Foreshadowing: Chako's earlier escape from the American mob establishes his resourcefulness, which he uses again here.

  • chako
  • slim
  • bounty hunter
  • escape
  • desert
Q3

Who frames Chako for the crimes at Don Felipe's shops?

Sanchez, Don Felipe's loyal henchman, carries out the dirty work of blocking access to the shops and then deliberately pins the crime on Chako. This is done on Don Felipe's orders, creating false evidence to justify Chako's imprisonment.

Foreshadowing: Don Felipe's earlier conflict with the two men blocking his shops sets up this frame job.

  • sanchez
  • don felipe
  • chako
  • frame
  • shops
Q4

Why does Slim help Chako escape from prison?

Slim switches sides because he recognizes that Cherokee and his murder gang are coming to kill Chako. Rather than let someone else collect the bounty, Slim decides to free Chako and team up with him to face the larger threat together.

Foreshadowing: The earlier mention of Cherokee as a hired killer establishes the looming danger that motivates Slim's change of heart.

  • slim
  • chako
  • prison
  • escape
  • cherokee
Q5

What happens to Don Felipe in the end?

Don Felipe is murdered by his own henchman Sanchez, who kills him to seize power and eliminate witnesses to his crimes. This murder represents the ultimate betrayal and raises the stakes for the final confrontation.

Foreshadowing: Sanchez's willingness to frame Chako earlier hints at his capacity for betrayal against his own employer.

  • don felipe
  • sanchez
  • murder
  • death
Q6

How do Slim and Chako work together to stop Sanchez's scheme?

After forming their uneasy alliance, Slim and Chako systematically dismantle the conspiracy by targeting Sanchez's operation. They confront and defeat his hired killers, then deliver Sanchez to the authorities to face justice for his crimes.

Foreshadowing: The party distraction that frees Chako is the turning point that allows their partnership to become effective.

  • slim
  • chako
  • sanchez
  • alliance
  • defeat
Q7

Why does Sanchez turn against Don Felipe?

Sanchez murders Don Felipe because he wants to seize control of the territory and eliminate anyone who knows about his criminal activities. The murder removes the only person who could expose his frame of Chako and consolidates his power.

Foreshadowing: Sanchez's role as the one who commits crimes and then blames others shows his ambition from the start.

  • sanchez
  • don felipe
  • betrayal
  • murder
  • power
Q8

What triggers the final confrontation in San Rosario?

Sanchez's murder of Don Felipe is the catalyst that forces Slim and Chako to act immediately. With the town descending into chaos and a murder gang led by Cherokee approaching, they launch their coordinated attack to restore order.

Foreshadowing: Cherokee's introduction as a hired killer creates the urgency that drives the final action.

  • sanchez
  • cherokee
  • final confrontation
  • san rosario
  • chaos
Q9

Why is Chako hunted by Americans after Susanna's seduction?

Chako is nearly hanged by a group of Americans who mistakenly believe he committed a crime involving Susanna. The Americans violently pursue him across the border, treating his presence and the situation as justification for lethal force.

Foreshadowing: This opening event establishes the pattern of chase and survival that defines Chako's journey.

  • chako
  • americans
  • susanna
  • hunted
  • chase
Q10

How does the corrupt official influence Chako's case?

A corrupt local official accepts a higher payoff from a visiting American and uses his power to twist the legal situation against Chako. This bribery ensures that even when evidence points to Chako's innocence, the official manipulates the case for personal gain.

Foreshadowing: The earlier mention of a higher American payoff establishes the corruption that undermines justice.

  • corrupt official
  • bribery
  • chako
  • american
  • payoff

Movie threads

More Movies Like Bastard, Go and Kill, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Bastard, Go and Kill tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Unlikely Partnerships in Gritty Worlds like Bastard, Go and Kill

Rivals forced to team up against a common, corrupt enemy. If you liked the tense alliance in Bastard, Go and Kill, you'll enjoy these films. They feature similarly gritty settings where enemies must become reluctant allies to take down a corrupt system. Discover more movies about uneasy partnerships forged in desperation.

  • tense
  • gritty
  • suspenseful
  • cynical
  • relentless
  • atmospheric
  • Tone: tense, cynical
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically centers on a fugitive or outcast framed for a crime, who is forced into an alliance with a pursuer, like a bounty hunter or lawman. Their journey involves tracking the true villains through a hostile, corrupt landscape, leading to a climactic showdown that resolves their personal conflict while delivering a morally ambiguous victory.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their focus on character dynamics over clear-cut heroes. The shared tension of the unstable alliance, combined with fast-paced action in a bleak setting, creates a cohesive viewing experience of survival and reluctant cooperation.

Framed Fugitive Action Thrillers like Bastard, Go and Kill

An innocent man on the run, hunting the truth to clear his name. Fans of Bastard, Go and Kill's fast-paced story of a man framed for murder will love these movies. They share the same tense energy of a protagonist racing against time to prove their innocence. Find more thrilling films about fugitives fighting back against a rigged system.

  • suspenseful
  • relentless
  • tense
  • gritty
  • atmospheric
  • action-packed
  • Tone: tense, gritty
  • Pacing: fast, propulsive
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot follows a clear arc: the inciting incident of being framed, a dramatic escape from custody, and a perilous investigation conducted from the shadows. The hero, operating outside the law, gathers evidence and allies, culminating in a confrontation that exposes the real villains and achieves a hard-won, often violent, redemption.

Why they belong together: This thread connects films with a shared narrative engine: the wrong man trope. The combination of a fast pace, medium-high intensity from constant chase sequences, and the central theme of fighting a corrupt system creates a specific and satisfying type of action thriller.

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Every angle

Bastard, Go and Kill (1971) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Bastard, Go and Kill in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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