C'era una volta il West (1968)

User Rating:

8.8/10   

Director:

Sergio Leone

Writers:

Dario Argento (story) &
Bernardo Bertolucci (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 December 1968 (Italy)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Western

Tagline:

There were three men in her life. One to take her... one to love her... and one to kill her.

Plot:

Epic story of a mysterious stranger with a harmonica who joins forces with a notorious desperado to protect a beautiful widow from a ruthless assassin working for the railroad.

Plot Keywords:

Harmonica | Assassin | Widow | Epic | Railway

Awards:

4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Henry Fonda	...	Frank
Claudia Cardinale	...	Jill McBain
Jason Robards	...	Cheyenne
Charles Bronson	...	Harmonica
Gabriele Ferzetti	...	Morton (railroad baron)
Paolo Stoppa	...	Sam
Woody Strode	...	Stony (member of Frank's gang)
Jack Elam	...	Snaky (member of Frank's gang)
Keenan Wynn	...	Sheriff (auctioneer)
Frank Wolff	...	Brett McBain
Lionel Stander	...	Barman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Livio Andronico	...	Bit part (uncredited)
Salvatore Basile	...	Bit part (uncredited)
Aldo Berti	...	Member of Frank's gang playing poker (uncredited)
Frank Braña	...	Mamber of Frank's gang smoking pipe at auction (uncredited)
Saturno Cerra	...	Hired Gun on Train (uncredited)
Luigi Ciavarro	...	Older sheriff's deputy (uncredited)
Spartaco Conversi	...	Member of Frank's gang shot through boot (uncredited)
Bruno Corazzari	...	(uncredited)
Paolo Figlia	...	(uncredited)
John Frederick	...	Jim (member of Frank's gang) (uncredited)
Don Galloway	...	Member of Frank's Gang in flashback (uncredited)
Michael Harvey	...	Frank's lieutenant (uncredited)
Stefano Imparato	...	(uncredited)
Frank Leslie	...	(uncredited)
Luigi Magnani	...	(uncredited)
Claudio Mancini	...	Harmonica's brother (uncredited)
Dino Mele	...	Harmonica, as a boy (uncredited)
Antonio Molino Rojo	...	Member of Frank's gang at auction (uncredited)
Enrico Morsella	...	(uncredited)
Umberto Morsella	...	(uncredited)
Al Mulock	...	Knuckles (uncredited)
Tullio Palmieri	...	Flagstone carpenter (uncredited)
Renato Pinciroli	...	First bidder at auction (uncredited)
Lorenzo Robledo	...	2nd Member of Cheyenne's Gang (uncredited)
Sandra Salvatori	...	(uncredited)
Aldo Sambrell	...	Cheyenne's lieutenant (uncredited)
Conrado San Martín	...	Gangmember on Train (uncredited)
Enzo Santaniello	...	Timmy McBain (uncredited)
Simonetta Santaniello	...	Maureen McBain (uncredited)
Claudio Scarchilli	...	(uncredited)
Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia	...	(uncredited)
Robert Spafford	...	Construction yard owner (uncredited)
Benito Stefanelli	...	Frank's lieutenant (uncredited)
Luana Strode	...	Indian woman (uncredited)
Fabio Testi	...	Member of Frank's gang with black hat at auction (uncredited)
Dino Zamboni	...	(uncredited)
Marco Zuanelli	...	Wobbles (uncredited)

Directed by
Sergio Leone

Writing credits
Dario Argento		(story) &
Bernardo Bertolucci		(story) &
Sergio Leone		(story)
Sergio Leone		(screenplay) &
Sergio Donati		(screenplay)
Mickey Knox		(dialogue: English version)

Produced by
Bino Cicogna	....	executive producer
Fulvio Morsella	....	producer

Original Music by
Ennio Morricone

Cinematography by
Tonino Delli Colli

Film Editing by
Nino Baragli

Production Design by
Carlo Simi

Set Decoration by
Rafael Ferri
Carlo Leva		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Antonella Pompei
Carlo Simi

Makeup Department
Alberto De Rossi	....	makeup artist
Giannetto De Rossi	....	makeup artist
Grazia De Rossi	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Claudio Mancini	....	production manager
Camillo Teti	....	production supervisor
Ugo Tucci	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Salvatore Basile	....	assistant director (as Salvo Basile)
Giancarlo Santi	....	first assistant director
Adolfo Aristarain	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Antonio Palombi	....	assistant production designer
Enrico Simi	....	assistant set decorator

Sound Department
Fausto Ancillai	....	sound engineer
Luciano Anzellotti	....	sound effects (as Luciano Anzillotti)
Roberto Arcangeli	....	sound effects
Italo Cameracanna	....	sound effects
Claudio Maielli	....	sound engineer
Elio Pacella	....	sound engineer

Special Effects by
Eros Bacciucchi	....	special effects (as Bacciucchi)

Stunts
John Landis	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Franco Di Giacomo	....	camera operator
Giuseppe Lanci	....	assistant camera
Roberto Forges Davanzati	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marilù Carteny	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Andreina Casini	....	assistant editor
Carlo Reali	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Ennio Morricone	....	conductor
Alessandro Alessandroni	....	musician: whistle (uncredited)
Cantori Moderni	....	music performers (uncredited)
Franco De Gemini	....	musician: harmonica solo (uncredited)

Other crew
Serena Canevari	....	script supervisor
Benito Stefanelli	....	master of arms
Glauco Teti	....	production secretary
Manuel Amigo	....	second production supervisor (uncredited)
Roberto Chevalier	....	voice dubbing (uncredited)
Corrado Gaipa	....	voice dubbing: Frank Wolff (uncredited)
Lauro Gazzolo	....	voice dubbing (uncredited)
Nando Gazzolo	....	voice dubbing: Henry Fonda (uncredited)
Bruno Persa	....	voice dubbing: Jack Elam (uncredited)
Cesare Polacco	....	voice dubbing: Lionel Stander (uncredited)
Giuseppe Rinaldi	....	voice dubbing: Charles Bronson (uncredited)
Carlo Romano	....	voice dubbing: Jason Robards (uncredited)
Rita Savagnone	....	voice dubbing: Claudia Cardinale (uncredited)
Stefano Sibaldi	....	voice dubbing: Keenan Wynn (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Finanzia San Marco (as A Rafran-San Marco Production)
• Rafran Cinematografica (as A Rafran-San Marco Production)
• Paramount Pictures (co-production)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1969) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Paramount Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Adams Filmi (1970) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1968) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1971) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Cine Plus Home Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Other Companies

• Lowry Digital Images  digital restoration (2003 re-release)
• RCA  music recording facility

Also Known As:

Once Upon a Time in the West (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
There Was Once the West (USA) (literal English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for western violence and brief sensuality. (re-rated; rated M/PG in 1969)

Runtime:

Italy:175 min | 165 min (international version) | Finland:137 min (1970)

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) (original rating) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) (re-rating) (2004) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1970) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (re-rating) (1977) | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Netherlands:12 | Norway:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (re-rating) (2000) | UK:15 (video rating) (1989) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (re-rating) (2003) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1969) | West Germany:16 (w)

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Company:

Finanzia San Marco

Trivia:

Sergio Leone made hundreds of references to films that influenced him. Some were quite obvious (like three men waiting for the train as in High Noon (1952)) and some were very subtle, like the choice of Woody Strode's sawed-off Winchester rifle, similar to the weapon Steve McQueen carried in the TV series "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958). McQueen referred to this unique weapon as a "Mare's Leg".

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Bronson tells Cheyenne during their first encounter, "In the dusters were three men. In the men were three bullets." However, Woody Strode was not wearing a duster when he and the others faced off against Bronson. Strangely, in the Theatrical Trailer, Woody Strode is wearing a duster, but is never seen wearing one in the movie.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Station agent: Hey - hey hey hey hey, if you want any tickets, you'll have to go around to, eh, to, eh, the front of the, eh... oooh, well, I s'pose it'll be all right.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Joheunnom nabbeunnom isanghannom (2008)

pure cinematic paradise

Thank god that I'm a Bronson fan. This was my first Leone movie, and dumb kid that I was, I actually watched it thinking I was in for a typical Bronson "vehicle"! Looking back I'm thankful, because if it wasn't for his involvement, I would never have discovered the beauty and majesty that is Once Upon a Time in the West.

I absolutely love this movie. It's probably my all time favourite, certainly one of the few that I can watch OVER and OVER again without losing interest. I love the way Leone creates intrigue and mystery around what is a relatively thin plot. He can make even the smallest twist of fate seem like an epic turn of events, with that amazing sense of revelation that he generates out of old hackneyed situations (something Argento has since picked up). Leone proves in this film that he could seemingly take anyone, even peripheral characters, and give them screen charisma without using dialogue as a crutch.

OUATITW features the most tense two man stand-offs ever, with some serious deja-vu in the direction of his "Dollars" trilogy. In fact, it does feel like those three movies were warm ups, practice sessions in the build up to OUATITW. Here though, he perfected everything; despite the long running time, it's all focused, and without a single irrelevant scene. For me, the two hours plus just fly by, I wish it would never end. Leone was without question at his artistic peak when he made this, that's not to say that he went downhill from then on, but I honestly don't think he ever did another film where everything came together so perfectly.

The cast is flawless. Fonda eclipsed every good guy he ever did in one fell swoop, truly chilling. Robards is a great comic character, the lovable rogue with an edge. And Cardinale is more than just (incredible) window dressing; she switches between passionate, angry, delicate and sentimental at all the right moments.

Which leaves the hero; I'm a huge Eastwood fan, but I honestly don't believe he could have done the role justice. His "man with no name" was a cool, sly character with hidden complexities. Eastwood always does these layered personalities, with some kind of mental baggage. Bronson, on the other hand, mostly does himself; simple, uncomplicated figures with only one state of mind, that's why he's put in so many revenge flicks. Plus, he looks like he's been seriously wronged at some point in his life, Eastwood doesn't have that quality. Bronson is the genuine hard-as-nails article. You can readily imagine that, had he been born decades earlier and been put in the same situation, he would resolve the problem in much the same way as his character in the movie (sometimes I affectionately refer to this movie as Deathwish part 0- could Harmonica be the great granddaddy of Paul Kersey?).

Of course the other great contribution is the music. I still think that the main theme is one of the most breathtaking pieces of music I have ever heard. It affects me deeply whenever I hear it, regardless of the mood I'm in. Maybe I should listen to more opera or something, I don't know, but that's the way I feel. And the individual character themes are just so well integrated into the film, it's unbelievable. Leone replaces words with music, and it conveys so much more in return. Bronson just plays that melancholy tune on the harmonica instead of answering people back, it consistently cracks me up.

High Noon, Naked Spur, Shane, The Searchers, etc. are all classics of the genre, but I really don't think it's possible to compare those "traditional" westerns with OUATITW. For me, it exists on a plane of it's own, it's the kind of film experience that you let wash over you, a waking dream. I recommend this movie to anyone, if you're on the right wavelength you'll be greatly rewarded.