Once Upon a Time in the West (C'era una volta il West)
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- Clip: Opening Scene (01:59)
Movie Info & Cast
Synopsis
A mysterious stranger with a harmonica teams up with a notorious desperado to protect a beautiful widow and her land from a ruthless assassin in the employ of a railroad tycoon.
Cast
- Claudia Cardinale
- Henry Fonda
- Jason Robards
- Charles Bronson
- Gabriele Ferzetti
- Paolo Stoppa
- Woody Strode
- Jack Elam
- Keenan Wynn
- Frank Wolff
Letterboxd User Reviews
4.4
426.9K
152.0K
141.7K
- Oct 5, 2014
"There were no dollars back then." "But sons of bitches, yeah."
matt lynchJan 25, 2021obviously outstanding score, gorgeous camerawork. a lot of truly cool blocking and framing that makes interesting and kinetic cinematography out of sweaty men living in a land of no showers. almost didn’t recognize Charlie Bronson, looking like a Mad Magazine McPoyle…
demi adejuyigbeJun 5, 2018"Looks like we're shy one horse." "You brought two too many." of myths and harmonicas.
Wes - May 19, 2022
it took an italian artist to see that the only thing worth a damn in america's past were all the individuals killed in order to build america's future.
comrade_yuiDec 19, 2024Continuing our Sergio Leone screening series at the Flanaplex (curated and presented by Rahul Kohli), we have reached ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST. I love this movie - it's a riveting and beautifully composed epic, entangling its four central characters in various…
Mike FlanaganMar 19, 2025Oh what I wouldn’t give to siphon every single note of this score into my capillaries
Iman Vellani - Sep 7, 2015
"There were no dollars in them days." All of Sergio Leone's westerns have been about the arrival of capitalism (both to the historical American West and to then-contemporary 1960's Italy), but Once Upon a Time in the West takes a slightly more specific perspective.…
ScreeningNotesSep 12, 2021"An ancient race." A foundation myth that is actually all about waiting for death. History promises progress, but is stuck in the same old story, time and again.
Filipe FurtadoApr 5, 2014Although Sergio Leone never really made anything better or more entertaining than The Good, the Bad & the Ugly in my opinion, he did come incredibly close to repeating that cinematic feat with this spaghetti western epic. A jaw-dropping work of blazing originality that…
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Top Reviews
- Kastilla White likedOnce Upon a Time in the West
Like many westerns, this one starts slow, but once the characters step in, curiosity takes over. The stunning visuals and sweeping shots are mesmerizing. The harmonica is a bit cheesy, but the soundtrack works. The "you remind me of my mother" line? Favorite!!
CvptvinHowdy lovedOnce Upon a Time in the WestWesterns aren't my favorite genre, but this is definitely a masterpiece in that genre. It would crack my top 5 if I made a list.
Mickerdoo is "meh" onOnce Upon a Time in the WestVery slow. Should be a lot shorter. Watched in multiple sittings. Some phenomenal framing but otherwise not engaging.
- Nick Dubberly is "meh" onOnce Upon a Time in the West
I’ve wanted to see this movie for a very long time, but I never really got around to it. This just happens to be the first Sergio Leone film I’ve ever seen and even though it won’t be the last, it probably won’t be one of my favorites. Overall this was ok, if you like Westerns.
Lassi Kaartinen lovedOnce Upon a Time in the WestHämmentävä, silti aivan uskomaton mestariteos. Musiikki, kuvaus ja roolit. Elokuva, joka tarvitsee todellakin koko ruutuajan toimiakseen. Jossain vaiheessa olisin antanut 5/10 mutta lopetus oli niin täydellinen että 9,1/10
bella wren is "meh" onOnce Upon a Time in the Westmy cinema teacher said after he watched this movie he thought he might as well rip his eyes out because he would never see anything more beautiful again in his life. i thought it was meh i mean idk about all that
- lilbruzer14 likedOnce Upon a Time in the West
A lot of great shots and score to be expected by Leone, but some parts of this really drag in particular the whole house sell subplot, but it all wraps up nicely
Sean Conery lovedOnce Upon a Time in the WestA couple pieces didn’t age super well but on the whole this film is masterfully acted and directed with a story that builds suspense brilliantly.
Shahana Jafarova likedOnce Upon a Time in the WestA slow and beautiful western where silence speaks louder than words. The music, the faces, and the waiting make every moment feel meaningful.
Atom Users Reviews
Metacritic
It’s probably unwise to come to Leone looking for too much in the way of feminism. Instead, Once Upon a Time in the West offers quintessential examples of the things he was better known for, including another blustery Ennio Morricone score. Visually, he mostly vacillates between extreme close-ups of intense faces and vast widescreen compositions, a technique that is lurching but also luridly beautiful.
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm
An additional treat is seeing Hollywood good guy Henry Fonda playing one of the nastiest curs in the West. Once Upon a Time in the West is one of the great films in cinema history. (8/30/2000 Review)
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
Leone brought back a masterpiece, a film that expands his baroque, cartoonish style into genuine grandeur, weaving dozens of thematic variations and narrative arabesques around a classical western foundation myth.(Review of Original Release)
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Once Upon a Time in the West (C'era una volta il West) (1969) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as PG-13, meaning that some material may be considered inappropriate for children under 13.
How long is Once Upon a Time in the West (C'era una volta il West) (1969)?
The movie is 2hr 25min long.
What's Once Upon a Time in the West (C'era una volta il West) (1969) about?
A mysterious stranger with a harmonica teams up with a notorious desperado to protect a beautiful widow and her land from a ruthless assassin in the employ of a railroad tycoon.
Who's the cast of Once Upon a Time in the West (C'era una volta il West) (1969)?
- Claudia Cardinale as Jill McBain
- Henry Fonda as Frank
- Jason Robards as Manuel 'Cheyenne' Gutiérrez
- Charles Bronson as Harmonica
- Gabriele Ferzetti as Morton - Railroad Baron
- Paolo Stoppa as Sam
- Woody Strode as Stony - Member of Frank's Gang
- Jack Elam as Snaky - Member of Frank's Gang
- Keenan Wynn as Sheriff - Auctioneer
- Frank Wolff as Brett McBain
Who's the director behind Once Upon a Time in the West (C'era una volta il West) (1969)?
Sergio Leone directed Once Upon a Time in the West (C'era una volta il West) (1969).
Who produced Once Upon a Time in the West (C'era una volta il West) (1969)?
Fulvio Morsella produced Once Upon a Time in the West (C'era una volta il West) (1969).
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