Once Upon a Time in the West

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Once Upon a Time in the West

PG-13

1969

2h 45m

Western

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Popcornmeter

96%

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67 Reviews

94%

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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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Critics Consensus

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 22

4/4

Leone's operatic oater remains notable for a number of achievements.

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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.

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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.

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JOE S

11/20/2024

Classic spaghetti Western

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Tom

04/01/2024

Awesome quality film print. Really enjoyed the movie. Excellent food and drink service

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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.

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Jason H

@RT50328122 Mar 24

My favorite Western.

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David K

@RT61474040 Mar 1

A classic of the genre. For those with short attention spans who need constant action, look elsewhere. This film takes its time getting there to great effect. Everything about it - from the photography to the score to the acting to the direction - hits its mark.

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Gi S

@Gistevenn Feb 11

One of the greatest westerns ever made. I wish they hadn't killed off jack elam so soon, he's my favorite character actor ever.

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Sergio Leone

Director

Henry Fonda

Frank

Claudia Cardinale

Jill McBain

Charles Bronson

Harmonica

Jason Robards

Cheyenne

Frank Wolff

Brett McBain

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

2:05

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

2:14

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

2:12

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

2:13

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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)

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