Corrected entry: Eli Wallach's character states a number of times he has 40 men. Assuming he is in addition to that, there should be 41, yet we see at least 44 die on screen. That does not count the ones shot at inside buildings when McQueen or Buchholz go charging through, or the one behind the window when McQueen is shot, or the ones that escape and ride away. This includes the 3 that spy on the town, 12 in the first shootout, and 29 in the big finale fight.
greydane
12th Jul 2010
Correction: He's estimating, not stating the exact number of men he has. He doesn't have an exact count, and he doesn't even know all the faces of his men. Chico is able to infiltrate the group simply by putting on a different hat and a poncho. It's no different than a character saying someone is "6 feet tall" when in fact they are 6 foot 2; or saying that a town is "10 miles away" when it is in fact closer to 12 miles away. Based on the size of the group, Calvera estimates he has around 40 to 50 men, and simplifies it by saying he has "40 men."
BaconIsMyBFF