Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) C'era una volta il West (original title)

Director:

Sergio Leone

Writers:

Sergio Leone (screenplay) &
Sergio Donati (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 December 1968 (Italy)

Genre:

Adventure | 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 | Revolver

Awards:

5 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Claudia Cardinale	...	Jill McBain
Henry Fonda	...	Frank
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	...	Member of Cheyenne's Gang (uncredited)
Aldo Berti	...	Member of Frank's Gang Playing Poker (uncredited)
Frank Braña	...	Member of Frank's Gang Smoking Pipe at Auction (uncredited)
Marilù Carteny	...	Extra (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	...	3rd Member of Cheyenne's Gang (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)
Robert Hossein	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Stefano Imparato	...	(uncredited)
Francesca Leone	...	Girl at Flagstone Station (uncredited)
Raffaella Leone	...	Girl at Flagstone Station (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 - Member of Frank's Gang (uncredited)
Ricardo Palacios	...	Morton's Train Conductor (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	...	Vecino (uncredited)
Enzo Santaniello	...	Timmy McBain (uncredited)
Simonetta Santaniello	...	Maureen McBain (uncredited)
Claudio Scarchilli	...	Member of Frank's Gang (uncredited)
Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia	...	(uncredited)
Robert Spafford	...	Construction Yard Owner (uncredited)
Benito Stefanelli	...	Small Role (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
Sergio Leone		(screenplay) &
Sergio Donati		(screenplay)
Dario Argento		(from a story by) &
Bernardo Bertolucci		(from a story by) &
Sergio Leone		(from a story by)
Mickey Knox		(dialogue: English version)

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

Original Music by
Ennio Morricone

Cinematography by
Tonino Delli Colli		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Nino Baragli		(edited by)

Art Direction by
Carlo Simi		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Carlo Simi		(sets by)
Rafael Ferri		(uncredited)
Carlo Leva		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Carlo Simi		(costumes by)
Antonella Pompei		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Alberto De Rossi	....	makeup supervision
Giannetto De Rossi	....	makeup
Grazia De Rossi	....	hairdresser

Production Management
Claudio Mancini	....	production manager
Ugo Tucci	....	production supervisor
Camillo Teti	....	assistant production manager (uncredited)

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

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

Sound Department
Fausto Ancillai	....	sound engineer
Luciano Anzellotti	....	sound effects (as Luciano Anzilotti)
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 (uncredited)
Roberto Forges Davanzati	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Giuseppe Lanci	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marilù Carteny	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Andreina Casini	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Carlo Reali	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

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

Other crew
Manuel Amigo	....	second production supervisor (uncredited)
Serena Canevari	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Roberto Chevalier	....	voice dubbing (uncredited)
Corrado Gaipa	....	voice dubbing: Frank Wolff (uncredited)
Lauro Gazzolo	....	voice dubbing: Josef Egger (uncredited)
Nando Gazzolo	....	voice dubbing: Henry Fonda (uncredited)
Anna Rita Pasanisi	....	voice dubbing: Simonetta Santaniello (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)
Benito Stefanelli	....	master of arms (uncredited)
Glauco Teti	....	production secretary (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Finanzia San Marco (as A Rafran-San Marco Production)
• Rafran Cinematografica (as A Rafran-San Marco Production)
• Paramount Pictures (A Serge Leone Film)

Distributors

• Euro International Film (EIA) (1968) (Italy) (theatrical) (as Euro International Films)
• Paramount Pictures (1969) (USA) (theatrical) (as Paramount) (A Gulf + Western Company)
• Chapel Distribution (2009) (Australia) (theatrical) (new 35mm Panavision print - re-release)
• Chapel Distribution (2009) (Australia) (theatrical) (re-issue new 35mm Panavision print full version)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1968) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1969) (France) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1969) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Paramount-Films (1970) (Finland) (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)
• Esselte Video (1980s) (Finland) (VHS)
• Hollydan Works (1998) (Yugoslavia) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1990) (Finland) (TV)
• Mondo Home Entertainment (2007) (Italy) (DVD)
• Nelonen (2002) (Finland) (TV)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment Finland (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2011) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paramount Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1997) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• C.D.C.  editing: mixing and synchronization with the participation of
• Casa Antonelli  costumes by (as Antonelli)
• Lowry Digital Images  digital restoration (2003 re-release)
• NIS  editing: mixing and synchronization by
• Pompei  costumes by
• RCA  music edited and recorded by
• S.A.F.A.S.  costumes by (as Safas)
• Triage Motion Picture Services  film restoration
• Western Costume Company  costumes by (as Western Costume)

Also Known As:

"C'era una volta il West" - Italy (original title)
"There Was Once the West" - USA (literal English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for western violence and brief sensuality (Mpaa re-rating) (2003)

Runtime:

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

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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 (Mpaa re-rating) (2003) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1969) | West Germany:16 (f) | 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-15 (uncut) (2003) | Finland:K-16 (heavily cut) (1969) | Brazil:14 | UK:A (1969) (cut) | Spain:12 (2010)

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Company:

Finanzia San Marco

Trivia:

Robert Ryan was offered the role of the Sheriff played by Keenan Wynn. Ryan initially accepted but backed out after being given a larger role in Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch (1969).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Cheyenne shoots the man who's guarding Harmonica through the train window, there is no blood on the chair the man was sitting in, despite the fact that he was shot at pointblank range.

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 "The Last Detective: Once Upon a Time on the Westway (#4.1)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Danny Boy

Fonda's favorite, and mine too

There are few movies that can combine great directing, acting ,music, cinematography, and writing into one movie, but this one does. There are no weak points. Every scene is a piece of art. I know of no other film that affects the senses as this one. Henry Fonda said this was his favorite film and role. It's easy to see why. He created 1 of the great "bad guy" roles in history. In a side note, Leone wanted to put brown contacts in Fonda's eyes,("who ever saw a villain with blue eyes", Leone said), but Fonda wouldn't have it, and the effect is magic in the famous Leone close-ups. Bronson, Cardinale, and Robards are equally powerful, all have great lines and the camera loves them. Speaking of cameras, the visuals are stunning. There is nothing fancy about this movie. Raw power is what you see and feel. Simply the best western if not film ever made.