Once Upon a Time in the West
After the Dollar Trilogy Sergio Leone was done with westerns. He concluded he’d said all he had to say on the genre. Then Paramount came calling with a checkbook and a Henry Fonda film in tow. Mamma Mia! There must be more to say. Sergio and a couple of screenwriter pals spent the best part of a year studying classics like The Searchers, High Noon, and The Comancheros looking for the right voice. They found Once Upon a Time in the West.
Part of the voice he found cast Fonda as outlaw hired gun gang leader Frank. When Eastwood turned down the romantic lead, the mysterious gunman ‘Harmonica’ role went to Charles Bronson, opposite Claudia Cardinale as ranch widow Jill McBain and Jason Robards as Frank’s rival gang leader Cheyenne. Love Bronson. Might not have been Clint’s best move. Claudia?
With the railroad headed to pass through the McBain ranch, Frank and his gang are hired by a railroad baron to force McBain to sell his ranch. Frank and the boys lean too hard, killing McBain and his children, leaving his newly wed widow sole heir to the ranch.
Harmonica arrives on the scene in time to save widow Jill from Frank’s gang, though the killings are blamed on Cheyenne and his men. Harmonica discovers the connection between Frank and the railroad baron but is captured. Harmonica knows who Frank is, but the outlaw chief doesn’t recognize a now grown man or the instrument from his past. Cheyenne rescues Harmonica, clearing himself of the killings. Together they help the widow save the ranch.
Frank forces Jill to auction the ranch, using intimidation by his gunmen to hold down the bidding so he can steal it for himself. The plot twists back and forth between ambush and gunfight until the showdown pits Cheyenne and his men against Frank and his gang. When the gun smoke clears, Frank is left to face Harmonica. Years ago, Frank hung Harmonica’s older brother by standing him on the young boy’s shoulders. As the boy’s strength is giving out, Frank shoves a harmonica in the boy’s mouth as exhaustion and gravity take over. Realization dawns as death takes Frank.
Critically considered one of the best westerns of all time, Once Upon a Time in the West is enshrined in the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
Next Week: Sergio Leone
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
Part of the voice he found cast Fonda as outlaw hired gun gang leader Frank. When Eastwood turned down the romantic lead, the mysterious gunman ‘Harmonica’ role went to Charles Bronson, opposite Claudia Cardinale as ranch widow Jill McBain and Jason Robards as Frank’s rival gang leader Cheyenne. Love Bronson. Might not have been Clint’s best move. Claudia?
With the railroad headed to pass through the McBain ranch, Frank and his gang are hired by a railroad baron to force McBain to sell his ranch. Frank and the boys lean too hard, killing McBain and his children, leaving his newly wed widow sole heir to the ranch.
Harmonica arrives on the scene in time to save widow Jill from Frank’s gang, though the killings are blamed on Cheyenne and his men. Harmonica discovers the connection between Frank and the railroad baron but is captured. Harmonica knows who Frank is, but the outlaw chief doesn’t recognize a now grown man or the instrument from his past. Cheyenne rescues Harmonica, clearing himself of the killings. Together they help the widow save the ranch.
Frank forces Jill to auction the ranch, using intimidation by his gunmen to hold down the bidding so he can steal it for himself. The plot twists back and forth between ambush and gunfight until the showdown pits Cheyenne and his men against Frank and his gang. When the gun smoke clears, Frank is left to face Harmonica. Years ago, Frank hung Harmonica’s older brother by standing him on the young boy’s shoulders. As the boy’s strength is giving out, Frank shoves a harmonica in the boy’s mouth as exhaustion and gravity take over. Realization dawns as death takes Frank.
Critically considered one of the best westerns of all time, Once Upon a Time in the West is enshrined in the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
Next Week: Sergio Leone
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
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