BrianKoller's Full Review: Once Upon a Time in the West
"Once Upon a Time in the West" was the last of director Sergio Leone's four 'spaghetti westerns' from the 1960s. The formula of the first three films is repeated: excellent cinematography, with frequent lingering close-ups. There is much violence, a notable score by Ennio Morricone, and the pace is excruciatingly slow. The major characters are famous actors from America, but otherwise the cast and crew are Italian.
The story has crippled magnate Morton (Gabriele Ferzetti) building a railroad across the West. Standing in his path is stubborn, hot-headed McBain (Frank Wolff) who has built land needed by the railroad. Morton sends brutal killer Frank (Henry Fonda) to take care of McBain, but his widow (Claudia Cardinale) inherits the property. She is protected by two other killers; reflective outlaw Cheyenne (Jason Robards) and mysterious loner Harmonica (Charles Bronson).
Leone's first three big budget westerns featured Clint Eastwood. There was a role for him in "Once Upon a Time in the West" as well, but he turned it down. Roberts probably has the best role in this film. Bronson is as tough as Eastwood, but not as cool. Fonda's murderous character came as a shock to those used to seeing him in benevolent "Mister Roberts" roles (supposedly John Wayne had turned down the part).
This is not, as many claim, Leone's best film.
"The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" is certainly
better, and better still is "Once Upon a Time in
America". One can blame the slow pace, but the
other films were slow as well. Perhaps the
problem is that Fonda's and Bronson's characters
don't seem quite human.
The story is deliberately muddled as well, with
actions taking place long before they are
adequately explained. I'm still wondering whether
Morton dies; perhaps he was shot by Cheyenne, or
perhaps he crawled out of the train to avoid
being shot by Frank. Also, if Cheyenne was
stopped from reaching Yuma by his men (the only
plausible explanation), how would they have known
to intercept him?
Still, "Once Upon a Time in the West" is a very
good western. It was undeservedly ignored by the
Academy Awards, who should have at least
nominated the film for the sets and
cinematography. (74/100)
Morton Gabriele Ferzetti the power-hungry owner of a railroad company hires Frank Henry Fonda playing against type a gunfighter without a conscience t...More at Family Video
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