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Once Upon a Time in the West

Play trailer Poster for Once Upon a Time in the West PG-13 Released May 28, 1969 2h 45m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 68 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 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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Once Upon a Time in the West

Once Upon a Time in the West

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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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TIME Staff TIME Magazine 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. Mar 24, 2020 Full Review Joshua Rothkopf Time Out If there had to be a final Western, Once Upon a Time in the West would be it. Mar 24, 2020 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 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. Mar 24, 2020 Full Review Noah Gittell Washington City Paper 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. Jun 8, 2024 Full Review John Nguyen Nerd Reactor 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. Rated: 4.5/5 May 21, 2024 Full Review Sean Burns Crooked Marquee Leone’s gloriously inflated epic isn’t just any old Western. It’s all of them. May 26, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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JOE S Classic spaghetti Western Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/21/24 Full Review Tom Awesome quality film print. Really enjoyed the movie. Excellent food and drink service Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/01/24 Full Review Audience Member Once Upon a Time in the West is not just a revenge film. It also marked the time in history when period of honor and purity were at the precipice of a new age about be born. Harmonica and Frank were already part of mythology. They played out their last hand. A remarkable feat of film-making. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/20/24 Full Review Tasos L Talk is cheap. We've got to bow to this masterpiece, its creator and the whole cast! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/27/24 Full Review Robert P It's a good 1.75 hour movie. Unfortunately, it takes 2.75 hrs. Don't believe me. Watch the opening scene, then decide if you like the pacing. Hint: it doesn't pick up after that. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/21/24 Full Review Thomas H the most impressive western! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/15/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Once Upon a Time in the West

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Once Upon a Time in the West

Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - What You're After 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - Two Horses Too Many 2:13 View more videos
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Movie Info

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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