Let’s Go and Kill Sartana (1971)

George Martin is Tex, a man who survives an ambush, but leaves five dead bodies in his wake.

He’s tossed in jail by the sheriff, the same man who’s to become his brother-in-law.

That’s, of course, if Tex doesn’t wind up with a noose around his neck.

Cell mate Greg Matto (Gordon Mitchell), who’s at least a bit crazy, makes sure that doesn’t happen.

When gang boss Chet Hammer shows up to break Matto out of jail, they convince Tex to flee with them, leaving the sheriff knocked out and locking Tex’s fiance in his jail cell.

The gang figures Tex might be helpful in locating a fortune in gold stashed somewhere in the region.

That’s the next destination for the gang, which also includes Chet’s girlfriend Lena (Virginia Rodin) and The Sicilian (Cris Huerta).

Of course, the sheriff and the posse are on their trail, and become an even bigger threat once the gang’s horses are stolen.

Meanwhile, friction arises among the gang. Lena and Tex are growing closer. And greed is setting in the closer they get to the former mission where the gold has supposedly been hidden.

George Martin as Tex, pleading self defense in front of a judge in Let’s Go and Kill Sartana (1971)

Gordon Mitchell as Greg Matto, locked in a cell with Tex (George Martin) in Let’s Go and Kill Sartana (1971)

Review:

Fans of the genre won’t have to try hard to find worse Spaghetti Westerns, and this one certainly heats up once the gang members start to turn on one another.

But it’s also an uneven effort. And unintentionally hilarious at times.

Judging from the fact that it’s used in every trailer I’ve seen for the movie, filmmakers were particularly proud of a silly scene in which George Martin’s character is hiding in some brush as the posse searches for the gang members.

He suddenly bursts into the open and does several flip across the trail, subjecting himself to a hail of bullets. Why does he put his life in such danger? Apparently, so he can hide in brush on the other side of the trail.

In another scene, gang leader Chet and “Crazy” Greg are locked in a vicious fight. Looking on, Tex and Lena start making out. Huh?

Now, be aware, the rating above is based on a poor quality, 74-minute print of a film that had an original running time of 87 to 95 minutes, depending on the source.

But it’s also no sure thing the missing footage would help since what’s still there includes a couple filler scenes of waterfalls doing their thing, a snake eating another animal and lots of footage of the gang riding and walking around.

Even “Crazy” Greg doesn’t quite live up to his billing, other than proclaiming he’s the son of the devil and announcing that any home he purchases with his share of the gold will have windows equipped with jail-like bars so that he’s sure to feel at home.

Gordon Mitchell has certainly been crazier.

Virginia Rodin as Lena, smiling at Chet while growing closer to Tex in Let’s Go and Kill Sartana (1971)

Isarco Ravajoli as Chat Hammer, leader of the outlaw gang in Let’s Go and Kill Sartana (1971)

Directed by:
Mario Pinzauti
as Peter Launders
& George Martin

Cast:
George Martin … Nebraska Clay / Tex
Gordon Mitchell … Greg “Crazy Person” Matto
Isacro Ravaioli … Chet Hammer
as Isarco Ravajoli
Virginia Rodin … Lena
Monica Taber … Carol
Frank Brana …. Sheriff
Cris Huerta … The Sicilian
Manuel Muniz … Old man
as Pajarito
Daniel Martin … Beckett
Mercedes Rivas … Lucy

Also with: Raúl Aparici, Sergio Aparici, Fernando Bilbao, Roberto Danesi as Robert Danish, Juan Fairen as Johnny Fairen, Dick Foster, Cris Huerta, Claudio Trionfi

Runtime: 87 min.

aka:
Vamos a matar Sartana
Demasiados muertos para tex

Music: Jose Espeila (as Pat Bodie)
Hear music from the film here

Cris Huerta as The Sicilian, a member of the Chat Hammer gang in Let’s Go and Kill Sartana (1971)

Frank Brana as the sheriff, checking on his prisoners in Let’s Go and Kill Sartana (1971)

Memorable lines:

Sorry, I watched a non-English print of this film minus subtitles.

Trivia:

* According to Tom Betts’ Westerns All’Italiana blog site, the duel director listing results from the fact that George Martin re-released that film in Spain in 1973 as “Demasiados muertos Tex” (which translates to “Too Many Dead for Tex”) with some additional footage. The “Tex” character used the name Nebraska Clay in earlier prints of the film.

* This marked the only Spaghetti appearance for flame-haired Victoria Rodin and perhaps her biggest screen role. IMDb lists her as appearing in just six other films.

* Mario Pinzauti directed six films, including one other Spaghetti Western — “Ringo, It’s Massacre Time” (1970).

* There’s no one named Sartana in the film. The 73-minute print bears an alternative title, “O tesouro de Sartana,” which translatesto “Treasure of Sartana.” That makes more sense, but isn’t listed as an alternate title on Westerns All’Italiana or the Spaghetti Western Database.

Monica Taber as Tex’s fiancee, finding herslf locked in a cell during a prison break in Let’s Go and Kill Sartana (1971)

Newlyweds, possibly played by Mercedes Rivas and Daniel Martin, about to be interrupted by the outlaw gang in Let’s Go and Kill Sartana (1971)

Virginia Rodin as Lena, frightened by a skeleton head she finds in Let’s Go and Kill Sartana (1971)

George Martin as Tex with his fiance Monica Taber as Carol in Let’s Go and Kill Sartana (1971)