Comments on: Once Upon A Time In The West (1968)

By: Sue Somerville

Sue Somerville — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:57:52 +0000

I think the final scene with Jill and Cheyenne is one of the sexiest scenes in cinema…
I don’t want to write a spoiler, but he is holding a secret…
and enjoying a few moments with a beautiful woman he loves..
a final few moments…beautiful!!

By: john stafford

john stafford — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 14:11:31 +0000

This is the best western ever made.It keeps you on the edge of youre seat all the way.The soundtrack is amazing and you couldnt pick to better actors to play the part of two great characters. Once upon a time in the west, best film ever made.

By: damian

damian — Mon, 12 Jul 2004 07:50:39 +0000

HTWWW was shot in Cinerama, the old 3 strip format projected onto a curved screen. I was lucky enough to see the film in this format in Bradford, England a few years ago and whilst it’s an interesting film and the photography is second to none, the actual story of HTWWW is rather shallow. It pinpoints different episodes in the building of America, but none of them with any real depth. It is an interesting film to see though, especially in Cinerama. I was also lucky enough to see 2001 in Cinerama too, which was it’s original format. and that blew me away.
Once upon a time in the West, however, is not HTWWW and is so far removed from it they may as well be different genres.
I love Once Upon A Time In The West, it truly is a magnificent film and the opening scene is simply one of the best openings to a film I’ve ever seen.
You have about 10 minutes of, well, nothing. People just sitting around, waiting. And then waiting some more, and then waiting again. The train appears in the distance and gets closer, but slowly. The guys all wait for it. The train stops, pulls away and we see Harmonica man and within 30 seconds six or seven people are dead. Wonderful!

By: Paco

Paco — Sun, 11 Jul 2004 22:50:39 +0000

How The West Was Won (HTWWW) was also an impressive TV-series, which name I think you mistake with this great movie. No shame though, I really liked that series as a kid

Centennial was great too!

By: John

John — Sun, 11 Jul 2004 21:56:04 +0000

Well chosen words by all above! HTWWW was indeed an incredible movie. Saw it again just the other day, and not only is Frank STILL the personification of evil, one wonders if anyone but Fonda could have pulled it off so well. The film seems as if it could have been shot yesterday, having lost nothing in all these years! “Unforgiven” is also great though, and I’m glad my life does not depend on having to chose which of the two wins the all time “Best Western” movie award!

By: arjan

arjan — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Great review. I am not that much of a Western fan but I have to allow myself to see this movie…

Also considering the fact Jack Elam (who stars in OUATITW) passed away some days ago…

By: weefselkweekje

weefselkweekje — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I’ll have to see this again. I remember scenes and images from when I last saw it years ago, but little about the story. This DVD seems the perfect opportunity. I have to say my favourite western is “Unforgiven”, but like I said, I have to re-view this one…

By: reisneus

reisneus — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

But he did get Lee van Cleef, who’s even better in this one than in ‘The Good the Bad and the Ugly’.

By: paco

paco — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Erhmm, Lee van Cleef? In this movie? I’m afraid you’re mistaken, my friend. I don’t think you’ll find Van Cleef in this one. The actor that plays Harmonica’s brother does have some resemblance to Eli Wallach, but he’s not him either.

By: reisneus

reisneus — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Low on coffee, I mistook Fonda for Cleef. No wonder it’s a good performance