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Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Sergio Leone’s western classic is one of the finest of its genre. As with many masterpieces the film’s critical acclaim came slowly with a poor box office return when it was first released. Today it is mentioned in the same breath as other great Westerns such as Unforgiven and The Searchers.
There is so much to admire in Once Upon a Time in the West beginning with its stellar cast. Claudia Cardinale is a tough heroine in what is largely a man’s world, Henry Fonda is brilliant as the merciless killer Frank, Jason Robards brings some light relief as the outlaw Cheyenne, while Charles Bronson brings a dominant presence to the screen as the mysterious Harmonica.
Leone’s film was one of the first that made me appreciate the more technical aspects of film, especially the camera work. The concluding section revealing Harmonica’s reasons for hunting Frank and the sweeping camera taking in the barren wasteland of the West is one of my favorite moments. Over 40 years on Once Upon a Time in the West remains a stunning cinematic experience and, in my opinion, there has never been a better Western than this one.
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