Once Upon a Time in the West
Composite Score: 84.8
Starring: Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Claudia Cardinale, Jason Robards, Gabriele Ferzetti, Paolo Stoppa, Frank Wolff, and Lionel Stander
Director: Sergio Leone
Writers: Sergio Donati and Sergio Leone
Genres: Action, Drama, Western
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for western violence and brief sensuality
Box Office: $5.44 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Once Upon a Time in the West is Sergio Leone’s 1968 western epic about two outlaws who join forces with a beautiful widow to thwart the machinations of a greedy railroad man and his hired gun. The film stars Charles Bronson as the mysterious gunslinger “Harmonica”, Jason Robards as the notorious desperado “Cheyenne”, Claudia Cardinale as the capable but vulnerable Jill McBain, and Henry Fonda as the villainous Frank. The film is considered one of the greatest westerns of all time, celebrated for its gorgeous cinematography, excellent score, and its well-crafted references to and twisting of classic western tropes. It currently sits in the 51st slot on IMDB’s 250 top-rated films list and at 58th on Letterboxd’s top 250 narrative feature films list – in large part due to its influence on future filmmakers and westerns.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
Once Upon a Time in the West only falters in one aspect: its treatment of Cardinale’s Jill. On one hand, she is an independent businesswoman, making choices for herself, marrying who she wants, seeking to run her own saloon and station. On the other hand, she cannot defend herself from the violence and machinations of Frank and his employer, Mr. Morton, and is forced to use her body and sexuality as her only methods of survival when the going gets tough (yes, she is credited with some cunning in these moments, but it’s a very sexualized cunning, objectifying her power in how attractive she is rather than a sheer force of will or wits). While I think the rest of the film offers a fairly clear critique of certain more toxic forms of masculinity and expressions – greed, violence, womanizing, etc. – I find it difficult to process Jill’s limited place within that theme.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
From its opening scene, Once Upon a Time in the West grips you and brings you along for an epic ride in its western setting. The whole thing is a cinematic experience that, even fifty-five years later, demands to be experienced in as large a format as possible. The score from Ennio Morricone and the cinematography from Tonino Delli Colli combine to paint a broad picture of the fantasized American old west, capturing the spirit of the film that Leone sought to craft. Each shot could actually be a photograph, from the sweeping landscapes to the intimate close-ups. Morricone’s score underpins the whole film, giving each character their own theme, notifying the audience of their role in the process, but also offering thematic moments of what feels like detached fantasy as arias are sung over his music and the land and people pass by, seen but not fully comprehended. The two extra pieces of filmmaking here combine to make this immediately make sense as one of the greatest films ever made.
Additionally, the story and screenplay by Leone and his cowriter Sergio Donati, with the initial input from Dario Argento and Bernardo Bertolucci, contains so many memorable moments and one-liners that you can’t help but grin as the whole thing unfolds on-screen. Just the opening scene, with just a few words, sounds, and shots, is one of the greatest (if not straight up the best) opening sequences ever put to film. The scene serves as a simple but effective introduction to the character of Harmonica, and the rest of the film flows excellently from there, moving on to Frank’s chilling introduction (also a fun twist to have him played by the typically heroic Henry Fonda), and then to the tragic irony of Jill McBain’s arrival to the region – and all of that’s just the first act. The film’s twists and turns and the story’s slow reveal of the overarching plot make for an extended viewing experience but one that never gets old, no matter the lengthy run-time.
Excellence in its cinematography, score, story, and casting have made Once Upon a Time in the West one of the Greatest Films of All Time – a film consistently making its way toward the top of the favorite films lists for most people who’ve seen it. Its questionable use of its female lead cannot be overlooked, but the film overcomes its flaws with epic achievements on all other levels. It is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video or on Paramount+ for anyone looking to give it a watch.
