John Richardson plays John Donald Tenorio, known as John the Bastard, in this Spaghetti Western version of the story of Don Juan.

And as the film starts, John’s about to pay for his sexual dalliances by way of a shotgun wedding to the pretty daughter of Pappa Buck.

Even then, he refuses to say “I do,” putting his life in jeopardy until a cute redhead name Linda and his simple-minded but muscle-bound sidekick Morenillo come to his rescue.

Has John learned his lesson? Of course not. He promptly seduces Linda, romancing her, but only until the next beauty comes along.

That happens to be a more refined Spanish lady named Dona Antonia (Martine Beswick). Complicating matters is the fact that she has a husband, Don Francisco (Claudio Camaso) with a story that fascinates John even more than his dark-haired beauty of a wife.

You see, Don Francisco is the son of rich Mexican mine owner Don Diego Tenorio (Claudio Gora). And John recalls one of his aunts once telling his that a Don Diego Tenorio was his father. Only John had no idea that he was rich. Or still alive.

So John heads home, hoping to get proof from his mother that he’s Don Diego’s son. If he succeeds, the next stop will be Mexico to claim the riches and the prestige he feels is rightfully his after years of living the life of an outcast.

Oh, and he certainly hasn’t forgotten lovely Dona Antonia and his desire to make her the next notch in his bedpost. Even if she belongs to his half-brother. In fact, that makes her an even more appealing target for his amorous intentions.

Review:

An intriguing film that’s certainly better than your average Spaghetti as director Armando Crispino serves up a bevvy of beauties and plenty of action.

There’s also a subplot in which Mormons are being prosecuted and persecuted as religious fanatics. Since one of the Mormons is a pretty young virgin, John Donald just has to get involved.

He winds up seducing Edith and her friend Judy before riding off into the sunset. It’s up to a dressed-all-in-black Danite (Gordon Mitchell) to right that wrong.

If the film has a failing, its that Richardson’s Don Juan character is anything but a loveable rogue. He’s a bastard, through and through. Even his mother wants nothing to do with him.

In fact, he has to shoot himself in the leg in order to convince her to take him in. And once she does, he uses a devious trick to get the information he wants.

John Richardson as John Donald Tenorio in John the Bastard (1967)

Martine Beswick as Dona Atonia in John the Bastard (1967)

Directed by:
Armando Crispino

Cast:
John Richardson … John Donald Tenorio
Claudio Camaso … Don Francisco Tenorio
Martine Beswick … Dona Antonia
Luisa Della Noce … Sara
Claudio Gora … Don Diego Tenorio
Furio Meniconi … Papa Buck
Gordon Mitchell … Danite
Glauco Onorato … Morenillo
Gia Sandri … Judy
Nadia Scarpitta … Linda
Patrizia Valturri … Edith

Runtime: 116 min.

aka …
John il bastardo

Score: Nico Fidenco

Theme song: “Ballad of John”
sung by Saverio Moriones

Claudio Camaso as Don Francisco Tenorio in John the Bastard (1967)

Claudio Gora as Don Diego Tenorio in John the Bastard (1967)

Memorable lines:

John Donald Tenorio, after Papa Buck teases him about being a bastard: “You should’t have done that. This is your wedding day, Papa Buck. Only your bride’s in black. See her? She’s standing behind you. She’s right there. Look at her. Lady Death!”

Morenillo: “Who do you think you are?”
John Donald Tenorio: “A bastard. A solid gold bastard. And that gold is down in Mexico. I want that kingdom of gold, silver and blood. And maybe my mother has the key to that kingdom.”

Don Francisco’s fast gun: “What do you think about blood? The blood bond between brothers?”
John Donald Tenorio: “I don’t think it counts.”
Fast gun: “Sometimes it counts; and other times not. Nothing. Nada.”

Glauco Onorato as Morenillo in John the Bastard (1967)

Luisa Della Noce as Sara, John’s mother, in John the Bastard (1967)

John Donald Tenorio to Dona Antonia: “Thoroughbred women are like wild mustangs. No price can tame them. Fancisco will find that out sooner or later.”

John Donald Tenorio to Dona Antonia: “Why don’t you give in to your desire. That takes courage and pride for a beautiful woman. It’s more difficult than facing a dagger. But much more beautiful. Undress Antonia. Francisco is unworthy of you. And you want me.”

Peon: “John the Bastard! May he rot in damnation!”
Danite: “Amen.”

John Donald Tenorio as Morenillo rides away after a falling out between the men: “You’re better off Morenillo. We’ll see each other in hell. If they let guardian angels in.”

John Richardson as John Donald Tenorio and Patrizia Valturri as Edith in John the Bastard (1967)

Gia Sandri as Judy in John the Bastard (1967)

Trivia:

This marked the only Spaghetti directed by Armando Crispino. He would later direct Lee Van Cleef in the war film “Commandos” and make a number of horror/trhillers.

John Richardson is best known for being the male lead (“Tumak”) in the 1966 film, “One Million Years B.C.,” the movie that turned Raquel Welch into a pinup queen.

Martine Beswick also appeared “One Million Years B.C.” In fact, she was married to Richardson from approximately 1967 to 1973, meaning around the time this film was made.