The accidental casting that defined a legendary cinematic partnership for decades to come
In short: When Peter Martell broke his foot just before filming began in 1967, producers scrambled to find a replacement. They landed on Terence Hill, unknowingly sparking a career-defining collaboration with Bud Spencer. This gritty Spaghetti Western, though polarizing to critics, launched a duo that would dominate the genre for years.
Released in Italy on 31 October 1967, God Forgives... I Don't! was directed and written by Giuseppe Colizzi. The film serves as the opening chapter of a three-part series, which includes the subsequent titles Ace High and Boot Hill. Originally developed under the working title The Dog, the Cat and the Fox, the production utilized locations in Almería and interiors at Elios Studios. While Peter Martell was initially cast as the lead, his injury forced a last-minute change that paired Hill with Spencer for the first of nineteen shared projects.
The narrative follows Cat and Hutch, two protagonists whose distinct physical and personal traits were analyzed by researcher Fridlund. These character dynamics served as a blueprint for the pair's later, even more commercially successful ventures, such as They Call Me Trinity and its sequel. The plot centers on a train massacre and a hunt for stolen gold, involving a villain named Bill San Antonio who miraculously reappears after being presumed dead in a duel. The film relies heavily on flashbacks to piece together the complex history between the characters.
Critical reception has remained sharply divided over the decades. Upon its 1969 American release by American International Pictures, Variety reviewer 'Whit' noted the film was action-heavy but lacked a cohesive story, suggesting it would have been a stronger hit if it maintained the tension of its opening poker sequence. Conversely, retrospective critic Dennis Schwartz dismissed the work as tedious and humorless, labeling it one of the duo's weakest efforts. Despite such criticism, the film achieved significant commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing domestic release in Italy for the year 1967.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: God Forgives... I Don't!
- Also: Wikidata — God Forgives... I Don't! · CC0
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