Once Upon a Time in the West
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Once Upon a Time in the West is a 1968 western film directed by Sergio Leone, starring Claudia Cardinale, Henry Fonda, Jason Robards. It drew a wide audience and shaped its genre.
Plot
Once Upon a Time in the West (Italian: C'era una volta il West) is a 1968 epic spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone from a screenplay he co-wrote with Sergio Donati. It stars Claudia Cardinale, Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, Charles Bronson, Gabriele Ferzetti, Woody Strode, Jack Elam, Lionel Stander, Paolo Stoppa, Frank Wolff, and Keenan Wynn. The widescreen cinematography was by Tonino Delli Colli and the film score was composed and conducted by Ennio Morricone.
After directing The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Leone decided to retire from Westerns and aimed to produce his film based on the novel The Hoods, which eventually became Once Upon a Time in America.
Production
Written by Sergio Donati and Sergio Leone, the film was produced by Paramount Pictures. Ennio Morricone composed the score. Tonino Delli Colli handled the cinematography. The film runs 166 minutes. The crew and editing refined every shot.
Reception
On a budget of $5,000,000, Once Upon a Time in the West grossed $5,380,118 worldwide at the box office. A critic consensus praised its screenplay and score.
Legacy
Its legacy endures through a remake, a sequel and a lasting franchise; later cinema cites its influence and symbolism.
See also
References
- "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time". topfilms100. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- Ebert, Roger. The Great Movies. Broadway Books.
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