Today’s quick review: Once Upon a Time in the West. Jill McBain (Claudia Cardinale) travels to a frontier town to make a fresh start with her new husband and his children, only to find them dead at the hands of Frank (Henry Fonda), a ruthless killer. Meanwhile, a nameless drifter (Charles Bronson) comes to town searching for Frank and makes a tenuous alliance with Cheyenne (Jason Robards), a wily outlaw blamed for the murders.
Once Upon a Time in the West is a classic Western from director Sergio Leone. Much like Leone’s previous work in the genre, it is a broadly scoped Western with top-notch cinematography, deliberate pacing, and a cast of resolute characters. However, the movie takes a slightly different tack with its story. Once Upon a Time in the West is more cohesive and more evenly balanced than its predecessors, but at the cost of some of their raw tension.
Once Upon a Time in the West draws much of its strength from its cast. Claudia Cardinale, Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, and Jason Robards deliver strong performances that fit well with Sergio Leone’s style. Their four characters are fleshed out well over the course of the film, and the shifts in their motivations and relationships give the film much of its drama. The film’s solid cast is backed by a rich plot and Leone’s expert direction.
Still, Once Upon a Time in the West is not as cutting as Sergio Leone’s other Westerns. There are tense moments throughout the film, but none as masterful as the ones found in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The conflicts between the characters play out as a series of incremental moves rather than the all-or-nothing gambits seen in the Eastwood films. What the film gets in exchange is a focused, detailed plot with a more earnest tone.
Once Upon a Time in the West is another strong pick for fans of fine cinematography or the Western genre in general. How it compares to Leone’s other Westerns will come down to taste. Fans of sharper conflict and active heroes will prefer the Eastwood films, while those who prefer calmer stories will give this one the nod. In either case, Once Upon a Time in the West is a classic that finds itself in good company at the top of the Western genre.
For another top-notch Western from Sergio Leone, try A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, or The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. For another well-rounded Western with an emphasis on character and story, try Tombstone. For a modern Western with an even heavier focus on character, try 3:10 to Yuma.
8.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for excellent direction and a fascinating cast.