Review of Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) by Danny R — 31 Dec 2011

Sergio Leone's monumental western epic masterpiece is a singularly engaging work of cinematic art. The film begins with a stunning fifteen minute opening credit sequence featuring American character actors Jack Elam and Woody Strode who are superb and some unknown european actor, they play three hired gunmen waiting for the train to arrive at a desolate train depot so they can kill a mysterious harmonica playing stranger, played superbly by Charles Bronson in a intense nearly wordless performance who is after a merciless blue-eyed sadistic killer named Frank, who savagely tortured and murdered his brother, it was Frank who dispatched the three gunmen to take out Bronson unsuccessfully, for Bronson was so fast with his pistol that he killed all three of the gunmen in a blink of an eye, Frank is played brilliantly by Henry Fonda in a unforgettable performance as one of coldest and most blackhearted villains in screen history.

Frank is working for a ruthless railroad magnate named Morton, well-played by Gabrielle Ferzetti who wants all the prime land owned by a young beautiful widow, played by the sexy and ravishing Claudia Cardinale who is waiting for the railroad to come through unaware she's been targeted by Frank, this murderous psychopath with no conscience has no problem annihilating a entire family, children included.

Jason Robards delivers a fine performance as a half-breed named Cheyenne, a infamous bandit who is falsely accused of those terrible murders. Magnificent direction by Sergio Leone, sumptuous cinematography by Tonino Delli Colli and a fabulous score by Ennio Morricone.

A glorious film that is one of the greatest westerns ever made period. Highly Recommended.