Rent Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

Images Linger Long After the Film - Once Upon a Time in the West review by CV

The first two sequences of the film are quite extraordinary: no music except the amplified natural sounds of a squeaky wind-fan, dripping water and a door slam create a nerve-jangling opening to this epic Western. The next sequence, seemingly unrelated to the first, is also nerve-jarring in effect, also created by the stopping and starting of natural sounds, in this case the interrupted chirrupping of cicadas. After this the drama unfolds and the audience has to work out how the characters relate to one another as their paths constantly cross throughout: who are directly involved in the main action and who are incidental. My mind was still putting in place the earlier events way after the film had ended.

I chose the film as I wanted literally a change of scenery from my recent choices and if you have a large screen it will be all the more impressive. There are both amazing panoramic visions of Monument Valley and disturbing close-ups of the characters. Henry Fonda is cross-cast but my favourite performance was that of Charles Bronson who seems omnipresent, hovering, always observing what's going on. He has no name and has a cypher existence until the ending.

After the film had ended I looked at the extras and there was a running commentary on the film in its entirety. I was quite happy to watch it all again where the direction and photography was discussed as the film was running but time prevented.

I was surprized there were no reviews here already for this film where my Film Guide had praised it to the skies. The images linger long after the film has ended.

Simply A Masterpiece of Modern Cinema - Once Upon a Time in the West review by GI

Arguably Sergio Leone's best film and certainly a landmark piece of cinema. For true cinephiles this is an absolute masterpiece and a very important film. This is Leone's first study of the origins of modern America told through the mythological genre of the western, a genre that Hollywood and the USA in general considered its own hallowed ground. Leone, an Italian, redefined it with this film. Where the western film has traditionally dealt with quite simple themes such as the frontier and its role in the foundation of America, or simple revenge with the gun as the symbol of power, Once Upon A Time In the West is an elegiac and complex study of betrayal, corruption and greed as the basis for modern America. Leone explored this further in his later works too but here he used the legends and myths of the cinematic west to condemn the 'American Dream' as something rather nasty at heart. Claudia Cardinale plays Jill who arrives out west to join her husband and his family on a remote desert property. On arrival she finds he and all his children have been murdered. Failing to understand why she is soon caught up in the crooked dealings of a railroad magnate (Gabriele Ferzetti), his ruthless and ambitious hired gun Frank (Henry Fonda), a local outlaw (Jason Robards) and a mysterious stranger with his own agenda (Charles Bronson). With a really beautiful and haunting score by Ennio Morricone and a genre defining style (the crane shots alone are so wonderful) this is a highly detailed, wonderful film that never fails to captivate me. Westerns have lost their appeal with modern audiences but in the history of film they are some of the best of movies and this is one of the best of all westerns and a motion picture it's hard to top.

DOES NOT LIVE UP TO ITS REPUTATION - Once Upon a Time in the West review by MW

Having seen reviews suggesting this was one of the great westerns, I was very disappointed on viewing it for the first time.

Although, visually, it is stunning and Leone's well-known cinematic techniques are in evidence, compared to productions on similar subjects over the last fifty years, this appears trite, predictable and of another less-sophisticated era. As with his earlier films, the plot lines are frequently muddled and fail to conclude. However, the acting performances from the established stars are good, but many of the minor performers are laughable. The intended humour is well conceived and well executed, but the visual impact does not compensate for its other shortcomings.

In conclusion, I could not recommend the film. Instead, I suggest looking at the works of John Ford, Anthony Mann, John Sturgess and Sam Peckinpah, amongst others.