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Once Upon a Time in the West

Play trailer Poster for Once Upon a Time in the West PG-13 1969 2h 45m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 67 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
There's a single piece of land around Flagstone with water on it, and rail baron Morton (Gabriele Ferzetti) aims to have it, knowing the new railroad will have to stop there. He sends his henchman Frank (Henry Fonda) to scare the land's owner, McBain (Frank Wolff), but Frank kills him instead and pins it on a known bandit, Cheyenne (Jason Robards). Meanwhile, a mysterious gunslinger with a score to settle (Charles Bronson) and McBain's new wife, Jill (Claudia Cardinale), arrive in town.
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Once Upon a Time in the West

Once Upon a Time in the West

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Critics Consensus

A landmark Sergio Leone spaghetti western masterpiece featuring a classic Morricone score.

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Critics Reviews

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TIME Staff TIME Magazine 03/24/2020
Leone's newest effort, Once Upon a Time in the West, with a major cast and a lot of big studio money behind it, proves that he is simply a serious bore. Go to Full Review
Joshua Rothkopf Time Out 03/24/2020
If there had to be a final Western, Once Upon a Time in the West would be it. Go to Full Review
Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 03/24/2020
Moments of intense realism flow into passages of operatic extravagance; lowbrow burlesque exists side by side with the expression of the most refined shades of feeling. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 22
4/4
Leone's operatic oater remains notable for a number of achievements. Go to Full Review
Noah Gittell Washington City Paper 06/08/2024
Sergio Leone’s 1968 spaghetti western might be set in the 19th century, but it captured the violence of the ’60s, yet the grandly cinematic film that still somehow embraces humanity. Go to Full Review
John Nguyen Nerd Reactor 05/21/2024
4.5/5
The epic spaghetti Western features an excellent score from Ennio Morricone, sweeping cinematography, and a gritty cast with rugged features that are great for Leone’s close-up and long takes. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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JOE S 11/20/2024 Classic spaghetti Western See more Tom 04/01/2024 Awesome quality film print. Really enjoyed the movie. Excellent food and drink service See more Mark L. @Peabsrt 1d This is one of the best westerns ever made. What made it so entertaining are Henry Fonda as Frank playing the role of a sinister bad guy for once in his career and doing a marvelous job of it, Charles Bronson, playing the harmonica toting man who has a vendetta to settle, and Jason Robards as Cheyenne the leader of a gang. I was amazed at how good Jason Roberts was in this movie. The only thing you have to be patient about is the story takes its time to tell the whole story but it's well worth the journey when you finally realize the interactions and the motivations of the characters as the story progresses. The score was very good and each character seemed to have their own little theme jingle in the movie. I can't recommend this more that you watch this movie. You will be happy you did. See more Keith B. @Okbullard Apr 25 I first watched this probably in the 70s when it went to TV but didn't remember much so I gave it a look. It was pretty good but I liked his Clint Eastwood man with no name trilogy more. It's interesting I read that Sergio Leone initially wanted Eastwood for the harmonica character but Eastwood turned him down for fear of being typecasted. Give it a watch you may enjoy it. See more Tom W @TexOracle Mar 30 Remains on my top 10 list after decades still. There’s a lot of great films on my top 10 - probably more than 10 - but it’s right there. Everything about this movie is masterpiece. If it weren’t so long, I’d probably watch it every day. Same as Blade Runner 2049. The actors, the characters, performances, cinematography and direction, story, the final duel, incomparable. Henry Fonda as a bad guy?!?, cold blooded killer - perfect and sublime. Bronson plays his role, redefining the term "cool as a cucumber" to massive heights as slow burns his revenge as his lifelong purpose. Perfection. The soundtrack is also perfect - not exactly my genre, but I can put it on while doing work on my property, projects, and so forth, and it is literally perfect. Film is a pinnacle of film making. See more Jason H @RT50328122 Mar 24 My favorite Western. See more Read all reviews
Once Upon a Time in the West

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Once Upon a Time in the West

Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - What You're After Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - What You're After 2:13 Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - He Not Only Plays, He Can Shoot Too Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - He Not Only Plays, He Can Shoot Too 2:05 Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - Frank's Death Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - Frank's Death 2:13 Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - Harmonica's Flashback Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - Harmonica's Flashback 2:14 Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - A Man's Hands All Over You Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - A Man's Hands All Over You 2:13 Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - That Strange Sound Right Now Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - That Strange Sound Right Now 2:12 Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - McBain Family Slaughter Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - McBain Family Slaughter 2:09 Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - Two Horses Too Many Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - Two Horses Too Many 2:13 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis There's a single piece of land around Flagstone with water on it, and rail baron Morton (Gabriele Ferzetti) aims to have it, knowing the new railroad will have to stop there. He sends his henchman Frank (Henry Fonda) to scare the land's owner, McBain (Frank Wolff), but Frank kills him instead and pins it on a known bandit, Cheyenne (Jason Robards). Meanwhile, a mysterious gunslinger with a score to settle (Charles Bronson) and McBain's new wife, Jill (Claudia Cardinale), arrive in town.
Director
Sergio Leone
Producer
Bino Cicogna
Screenwriter
Dario Argento, Bernardo Bertolucci, Sergio Leone
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Western
Original Language
Italian
Release Date (Theaters)
May 28, 1969, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 6, 2014
Runtime
2h 45m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Scope (2.35:1)