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:

Good Versus Evil | Blood | Assassin | Prostitute | Tragic Villain

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)
Umberto Marsella	...	(uncredited)
Dino Mele	...	Harmonica, as a boy (uncredited)
Antonio Molino Rojo	...	Member of Frank's gang at auction (uncredited)
Enrico 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)
Rita Savagnone	....	voice dubbing: Claudia Cardinale (Italian version) (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)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Adams Filmi (1970) (Finland) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1971) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Paramount (1968) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (West Germany)

Other Companies

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

Also Known As:

Once Upon a Time in the West (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:

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

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) (re-rating) (1977) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1970) | 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:

Ennio Morricone composed the musical score to the original screenplay by Sergio Leone and Bernardo Bertolucci. The plot was subsequently changed, and in many places, Leone directed the film to the existing musical score.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the duel between Frank and Harmonica, Cheyenne shaves his beard (mostly his sideburns); however, his large whiskers under his ears have grown back before he dies (ten minutes later).

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:

Featured in An Opera of Violence (2003) (V)

One of the best

There's two things that stand out to me always about this movie, and indeed about all of Sergio Leone's movies. One is his understanding of pacing events, and the other is using his actors/actresses to actually act. When you see Claudia Cardinale riding up to the ranch, all you see is her face, but you can tell instantly what she is looking at and everything she's feeling. You know Henry Fonda's the bad guy, but when he smiles faintly at the young boy, you feel there's something more to him, a personality and human qualities, even if he is evil. The final shoot-out itself is a masterpiece. The two protagonists say nothing, but as they face off the music lets you know the moment as come. As they stand ready the scene that's been hinted at throughout the movie plays out like a dream, revealing what the whole story was about. Then, without warning, they draw and fire. Just as in real life, it's over before you notice it. What today's movies lack is how quickly they cater to MTV video inspired nonstop action and endless clichés. The bad and good guy duke it it out, the violence is so extreme that no human could actually survive it, and always just when you think the bad guy is dead he gets back up for one last shot. How much I wish today's film makers would learn Leone's lesson about TIMING, and let suspense build rather than force it in. The music score, which had certain pieces and sections for various moods and to signify the main characters, is one of my favorites. Even if Clint Eastwood wasn't in it, Charles Bronson fills the role of the mysterious stranger and adds his own elements to the character. How I wish they still made movies like this