Sergio Leone’s 1968 spaghetti Western Once Upon a Time in the West has been renowned by numerous critics, rightfully earning a Rotten Tomatoes score of 96%. Leone’s signature head shots and use of sound effects paired with a beautiful soundtrack composed by Ennio Morricone truly separate this film from a typical Western. The theme, which portends the demise of the Wild West as America becomes industrialized, also is a distinguishing factor.
At first glance, viewers might be deterred from watching Once Upon a Time in the West perhaps because it was filmed in 1968 or perhaps because the first 10 minutes feature three men silently waiting at a train station — one of them drinking the water out of his hat, one trying to blow a fly off of his face, and one eagerly leaning on a fence. After ten minutes of suspense, the train arrives and we hear a dissonant melody coming from a harmonica. As the train departs, a man with the alias “Harmonica” materializes and we learn he is here to meet with the men concerning the whereabouts of a notorious outlaw named Frank.
Harmonica: Did you bring a horse for me?
Snaky: Well… looks like we’re…[snickers]
Snaky: …looks like we’re shy one horse.
Harmonica: [shaking head] You brought two too many.
Then, in typical western fashion, Harmonica emerges victorious after an epic showdown and kills all three of Frank’s men.
The next scene cuts to the McBain family who were anticipating the arrival of Brett McBain’s new wife Jill when they were tragically murdered by Frank, the lead antagonist, and his gang because this is the only land within miles of Flagstone that has water. Frank is hired to kill the McBains by Morton, a rich investor, so he can profit off of it. In the meantime, Jill arrives at Flagstone, but soon realizes that no one is coming. Morricone perfectly captures the despair and loneliness she feels with his music.
Leone incorporates lighthearted humor and sarcasm as the story follows Harmonica trying to prevent this land from getting into the hands of Frank. In doing so, he befriends another outlaw Cheyenne as well as Jill.
Harmonica’s character is what makes the movie so enjoyable. The ambiguity surrounding his character and the recurring harmonica tune adds a deep level of interest, especially as we learn more about his background.
The most interesting casting choice Leone made was casting Frank, the antagonist, as Henry Fonda, who has only played “good guys” in his acting career. Most recognizable by his blue eyes, Leone wanted the audience to connect the character to Fonda instantly.
Although the movie was a cinematic masterpiece and quite progressive for its time, there are some aspects that are worth addressing. Jill is objectified by some of the men and not respected. It can be argued that this is just an accurate portrayal of how women were treated.
One major takeaway from this film is to not glorify the Wild West. Unlike Leone’s previous westerns that have a clear hero, Once Upon a Time in the West shows how no one truly wins in the end. Leone also depicts the trains as the death of the Wild West as it is replaced with an industrializing America where there is no room for vigilante justice and outlaws.
With Leone’s unique cinematography, the beautiful soundtrack composed by Ennio Morricone, witty humor, and an outstanding cast, Once Upon a Time in the West is easily one of the best movies ever made. Even if you aren’t a fan of Westerns, I highly recommend giving it a try.
