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
A train arrives at the Old West town of Flagstone where a man with a harmonica (later dubbed "Harmonica") kills three men attempting to ambush him. Although Harmonica was expecting an outlaw named Frank, he concludes the men belonged to the outlaw Cheyenne's gang. Meanwhile, Frank and his gang murder Brett McBain and his three children as they prepare for a celebration at his ranch Sweetwater. Shortly after, a former prostitute arrives at Sweetwater and reveals she is Jill McBain, who married McBain a month earlier in New Orleans. Frank leaves evidence at the murder scene implicating Cheyenne.
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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