Visible crew/equipment: When Angel Eyes sits down at the dinner table in his first scene, there is a small unlit lantern hanging on the wall near his head, and unexplainable light sources reflected on it. (00:09:35)
Continuity mistake: When Tuco stops the run away wagon in the desert, Blondie's pistol is not in his waistband. As he walks back to the wagon, it is. (01:07:00)
Factual error: The judges reading Tuco and Shorty's death sentences mention them being wanted by so many counties within "the state." This cannot be correct. The battles the characters are near at all times in the film depict the battles over New Mexico. The Union never invaded Texas through its western deserts, despite landing in the Rio Grande valley. New Mexico was not a state until 1912 and was never treated as a state by the CSA. Thus, the judges should be saying territory. (00:21:57 - 00:56:47)
Character mistake: At the confederate prison camp after they are captured a soldier comes up to the sergeant (Van Cleef) and informs him that the "Captain" wants to see him right away. In the next shot with Van Cleef where he is talking to the commanding officer you will see that he is not a captain but a major. (01:35:00 - 01:35:29)
Revealing mistake: When Tuco is trying to avoid Blondie firing at him with the cannon, there is a shot of him running while an explosion occurs next to him, followed by another shot of him leaping to the ground and rolling over. In both of these shots, Tuco is replaced with a stunt double. (02:36:06)
Continuity mistake: Blondie and Tuco carry a box of explosives by placing it on a stretcher and holding opposite sides of it. On Blondie's side of the stretcher, there is one wooden slat that appears to be a small distance away from the rest of the wooden slats. Seconds later, when they reach the bridge, there is no gap between the wooden slats. (02:24:35 - 02:25:13)
Continuity mistake: When the Union general shows Blondie and Tuco the bridge, he is holding a bottle in his left and right hand, near the bottom. In the next shot, the bottle is in only his right hand and is held near the top. (02:15:08)
Continuity mistake: When the Union general is about to begin walking so that he can show Blondie and Tuco the bridge, he says, "Let's go," and lowers the bottle he is holding. Then it cuts to a wide shot where he starts walking, and the bottle is suddenly raised. (02:14:50)
Continuity mistake: When the bounty hunter falls to the ground after he is shot by Tuco, the doors in front of the bath close behind him. Tuco then stands up to get one last shot, and one of the doors is suddenly open. (02:02:37)
Continuity mistake: When the bounty hunter bursts into the bedroom while Tuco is taking a bath, Tuco's left arm is above the water. When the shot cuts back to Tuco, his left arm is under the water. (02:02:08)
Continuity mistake: Tuco opens a door to find a bathtub filled with water. When he opens the door, his left hand is positioned a few inches away from the edge of the door frame. But in the next shot, his left hand is directly on the edge of the door frame. (02:00:52)
Revealing mistake: When Tuco climbs back onto the train after he uses it to cut off his chains, the film appears to have been sped up, as his bodily movements appear unnaturally fast. (01:56:40)
Continuity mistake: When the train is about to run over the corporal's body, there is a shot where Tuco braces for impact. In this shot, the corporal's right foot is pointed directly to the right. Then it cuts to a POV shot of the train, and the corporal's right foot is pointed to the right but more at an upward angle. (01:56:25)
Continuity mistake: When the soldier at the train station is asking the corporal where Tuco is being taken, there are two men wearing suits behind them who are standing in the sunlight. In the next shot, the two men are suddenly in the shadows. (01:49:43)
Continuity mistake: When the corporal stops squeezing Tuco's eyes, he moves his hands away and puts them on Tuco's beard. His right hand appears to be at a straight angle when he does this, but when the shot cuts, his right hand is at a bent angle. (01:46:18)
Continuity mistake: When Tuco is thrown onto the table by the corporal, Angel Eyes puts his hands on Tuco's shoulders to stop him from landing on him. When the shot cuts, his hands are nowhere near Tuco, and Tuco's position on the table has suddenly changed. (01:45:53)
Continuity mistake: Angel Eyes hands Tuco a bottle for him to drink from. When Tuco is handed the bottle, the label is facing towards him. Angel Eyes then asks him why he is going by the name Bill Carson, and the next shot shows the label facing Angel Eyes. In the shot after that, the label is facing Tuco again. (01:40:35)
Continuity mistake: When Tuco sits down at the dinner table, he scoops up a spoonful of stew. There are pieces of spinach hanging off the spoon. Angel Eyes then has a spoonful to prove it is not poisoned, but when the shot cuts back to Tuco, the pieces of spinach hanging off the spoon are no longer visible. (01:39:05)
Continuity mistake: When Tuco walks over to the dinner table, just after Angel Eyes finishes saying "It's been a long time," he has his right hand lowered on the table. When the shot cuts, his right hand is raised above the table. (01:38:53)
Continuity mistake: When Angel Eyes has finished looking at the small case owned by Bill Carson, he closes it. He has two fingers on top of the case, and the other two fingers, as well as his thumb, on the bottom of the case. When the shot cuts, his thumb is on the top of the case and the two fingers on top of the case are closer together. (01:37:35)
Chosen answer: Tuco knew he had a better chance at survival (and the gold) by playing along with Blondie and keeping his balance on the cross, hoping Blondie does not miss the rope when he shoots. This final, deadly game was preferable to being shot outright by Blondie and dying a poor man.
Scott215
Tuco had no idea that Blondie's intention was to shoot the rope and let him live.