Once Upon a Time in the West

moe_snodgrass

moe_snodgrass

Well-known member
Newly restored. This is among the most visually stunning films I've ever seen.

I had seen the "No Name" Trilogy a million times but missed this until now.

Visual masterpiece. The locations play a big part but Leone, DP Delli Colli , and the art director went nuts.

Good story and acting but the visuals just blew me away.

Watched a second time with no audio to concentrate on the visuals.

Wow! Definitely worth watching it without the audio.

By the way, the sound design is masterful, too.
 
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I have seen this movie dozens of times but have never actually watched it straight through. I have seen every scene but always in bits and pieces. I agree it looks great but it doesn't hold my interest like the 'No name' trilogy. "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly' is the greatest western and one of the best films of all-time.
 
Actually, if you take the time watch Once Upon A Time In The West from beginning to end, you'll see it is a great film..up there with the other Leone westerns.

I remember in school being shown the opening scene at the station, with the fly, as an example of how a simple sound can add so much when used in otherwise quiet scenario. I was amazed at how many people in my class had never seen the film before.

And it makes a bit of a statement on the development of America through commerce and expansion. The further west you went, the less your past mattered...
 
DeSica said:
Actually, if you take the time watch Once Upon A Time In The West from beginning to end, you'll see it is a great film..up there with the other Leone westerns.
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I'd go a step further and say it is THE BEST Leone western, although I haven't seen Duck, You Sucker. (Just got it but haven't watched it yet).
 
The opening scene is absolutely beautiful (as is the whole movie really). I think in the dvd extras it says the movie wasn't storyboarded too.
 
I just added "Duck You Sucker" plus bonus material to the top of my Netflix queue based on the first Netflix user review.

I can't wait.
 
I once thought The Good, Bad and the Ugly was the baddest western I have ever seen, until seeing Once Upon a Time in the West again. That movie is the epitome of craftsmanship, right down to the music, visuals, etc.
 
Another HUGE fan of OUTITW...I even got my wife to stay awake for the whole thing. Beautifully shot, brilliant acting, riveting story. A+++
 
ReneH said:
I once thought The Good, Bad and the Ugly was the baddest western I have ever seen, until seeing Once Upon a Time in the West again. That movie is the epitome of craftsmanship, right down to the music, visuals, etc.
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I disagree. The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly has three of the greatest characters ever written. Plus the story is expansive yet not overblown. No disrespect to Once Upon a Time in the West as its better then many other westerns but it was never able to hold my interest. I must have watched it over a dozen time from the start but rarely make it through as the story is just not as captivating as The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.. Henry Fonda's character is probably the most interesting. Also, I have never been a big fan of Charles Bronson.

I will have to rent it and give it the respect it deserves by watch it straight through. However, nothing will ever surpass The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly in my eyes. A perfect film.
 
Leone originally wanted Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef for Once Upon a Time, but he was going to kill them off in the first scene. They both opted out...

Here's a great book about Leone and how he worked through this period. Lots of detail and interviews with colleagues like Morricone. INformative and entertaining read.


Once Upon a Time is more cerebral that the No Name Trilogy, and (IMHO) more relatable as a "classic" western in many ways. He had bucked the trend, and kind of went back to re-establishing it in a way.
 
Once Upon a Time is definitely the most stylized and crafted film of the four Leone films we're talking about. And for the filmmaking, it's the most respected. But my own personal favorite is For A Few Dollars More.
 
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