Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

Original title: C'era una volta il West

The film opens at an isolated train station in Arizona. The station master is changing the expected arrival time of a train to show that it will be late. Three gunmen (Jack Elam, Woody Strode and Al Mulock) arrive at the station with an ambience of tension and foreboding. They wait, trying to occupy themselves. Eventually, the train arrives, and only a man playing a harmonica (Charles Bronson) disembarks. He asks for Frank, but the three men have been sent instead. A showdown ensues. The man who was playing the harmonica is the only survivor. On the remote farm Sweetwater, Brett McBain (Frank Wolff) and his children prepare a feast for the arrival of his new wife, Jill. Frank (Henry Fonda) and his gang emerge from the desert and kill all four McBains.

Cast:

Henry Fonda Frank
Claudia Cardinale Jill McBain
Jason Robards Cheyenne
Charles Bronson Harmonica
Gabriele Ferzetti Morton
Paolo Stoppa Sam
Woody Strode Stony
Jack Elam Snaky
Keenan Wynn Sheriff
Frank Wolff Brett McBain
Lionel Stander Barman
Livio Andronico Bit part
Salvatore Basile Bit part
Aldo Berti Member of Frank's gang playing poker
Frank Braña Mamber of Frank's gang smoking pipe at auction
Saturno Cerra Hired Gun on Train
Luigi Ciavarro Older sheriff's deputy
Spartaco Conversi Member of Frank's gang shot through boot
Bruno Corazzari
Paolo Figlia
John Frederick Jim
Don Galloway Member of Frank's Gang in flashback
Michael Harvey Frank's lieutenant
Stefano Imparato
Frank Leslie
Luigi Magnani
Claudio Mancini Harmonica's brother
Umberto Marsella
Dino Mele Harmonica, as a boy
Antonio Molino Rojo Member of Frank's gang at auction
Enrico Morsella
Al Mulock Knuckles
Tullio Palmieri Flagstone carpenter
Renato Pinciroli First bidder at auction
Lorenzo Robledo 2nd Member of Cheyenne's Gang
Sandra Salvatori
Aldo Sambrell Cheyenne's lieutenant
Conrado San Martín Gangmember on Train
Enzo Santaniello Timmy McBain
Simonetta Santaniello Maureen McBain
Claudio Scarchilli
Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia
Robert Spafford Construction yard owner
Benito Stefanelli Frank's lieutenant
Luana Strode Indian woman
Fabio Testi Member of Frank's gang with black hat at auction
Dino Zamboni
Marco Zuanelli Wobbles

Featured Reviews

Words are very unnecessary. Enjoy the sound of... harmonica

10 stars

Only a few movies deserve a 10 – and “Once Upon a Time in the West” is undoubtedly one of them. I thought I loved Tarantino's movies. Now I realise I should rather say that I love to see Leone's mastery being recreated and adapted by Quentin Tarantino. Since I'm giving the movie a 10, I figure I should give ...