Oh how I wish I could begin this opinion with the soulful blow of a harmonica.
Second best the hop-along character theme of Mister Cheyenne.
Thirdly the lilting loveliness of Claudia Cardinale's tune (along with her heaving breasts).
Damnations; I can do none of the above, so it's back to the tedium medium of text for me.
*The Film.
Hmnn, how much can I give away without a) spoiling this adventure for you, and b) lowering Sergio Leone's Western classic to the level of my writing skills?
I'll try:
Three no good, yella bellied, snake eyed, gibbet fodder ruffians assume control of the train station, and lie in wait for the impeding arrival of the train. They wait, they wait some more (I'm not doing this scene justice - I told you so): One of them collects the dripping rain water in his hat (while waiting) and drinks it with relish. Another's tranquil anticipation is menaced by a fly - he catches it in the barrel of his gun and listens to its flurrious buzzing.
The Train draws near and expectation rises; the train slowly squeals to a halt (in issues of bellowing smoke), the three stand to greet its arrival, and approach. They sinisterly snigger when no one disembarks - BUT, as the train pulls away, they hear the discordant cords of the harmonica. The smoke clears and our hero steps forward...
The man with the harmonica asks where Frank is - the threefold gang's fingers twitch eagerly over their guns. Harmonica asks if they have a horse for him - the sniggering continues. Harmonica states firmly that the three horses he can see obviously have no owners...the shooting
begins.
All of this and the opening credits are still rolling.
Harmonica (a young and rather dashing (for once) Charles Bronson) is in town to see Frank (one evil eyed mother of a Henry Fonda). Frank (and his cronies) are in town to aid the fat cat Morton (Gabriele Ferzetti) get his evil way. Mac Bain (a distant relative of mine) WAS in town, but he and his family have just bitten the dust thanks to Frank. Jill (a slightly bustier than our own, Claudia Cardinale) is an ex-whore, who is arriving in town any minute now to meet up with her new husband, Mac Bain. Oh, and Cheyenne (a haggard Jason Robards) is just a low down criminal, loose from the law and wandering through.
Jill has inherited her husband's land (much to the disapproval of Morton and Frank) but her immediate searches for his supposed fortune are futile. Cheyenne drops by, then Harmonica and finally Frank. The story twists and turns like a railway track; why is Harmonica so desperate to encounter Frank? Why has Mac Bain ordered a town-full of wood? Who will get the girl (or rather, who will the girl get), and will Morton and Frank's relationship stand the heat, or teeter under the weight of money?
That's it. Now go watch the film.
*The Acting.
Still here? Then I suppose I should continue: Never (as in never ever) have I been enamored by the rather hulksome qualities of Mr Bronsan, yet this film is in an era pre to the birth of ugly facial hair and bulging waistline. Here, is a cutely rounded face, a beau young body and sparkling blue eyes (only somewhat hidden by Bronson's heavy lids). Here, is a quiet and menacing performance; a mourning soul; a desolate little boy on the road to revenge.
Bronson kicks poop, hard. He fills the almost empty script with sadness and wit; his words are uttered with disinterest - his ultimate aim is the only subject that matters. We feel the power of this need through Bronson's distant representation, and (luckily) his later incarnations are relegated to memory. Yeh, ok, I would be happier if the said hero was Leone's other little prodigy - Clint Eastwood; but it wasn't to be, and so, my favourite ever (as in ever ever) Western, stars Charles Bronson.
Claudia Cardinale steps on screen and you fall in love. Buxom and proud, blonde and coiffured, tiger eyed and pert - she really is the perfect Western whore....Umm, what more do you want from your eye candy? And she acts quite well too.
Jason Robards is the funny man; the talk for Bronson's lack of it. His ambiguity (is he a good guy or a bad guy?) at the start of the film soon diminishes to a roguish puppy love. Amicable and playful, he hams it up (a bit), but when push comes to shove, he's a sensitive soul who's willing to die for the cause.
All of the above simply pale into the background in relation to the evils we find behind the eyes of Fonda: Henry=Villainous, the eyes have it: Piercing through the storyline, there is only one man that makes this movie great (apart from Leone himself of course). Here is a vile rat, an evil cavalier - a skinny bugger to boot. Like Bronson, Fonda's script is limited, but every word is shaken (not stirred) by the malice swirling in his mouth. Ooh, he's sexy with it too; cold, dangerous, diabolic and completely moral less - dontcha just love him?
*Direction.
Sergio Leone stands alone (in my books) in this absolute treatment of the Western genre - he reminds me of the works of Jeunet (Delicatessen etc.) in his need to lead the story with inanimate objects; throughout the film, the train acts a symbol (the real one and a toy one) to drag us into the plot; a use of clocks signifies that the end is nigh for Frank, and the harmonica is ultimately the memory and weapon of revenge.
The set detail in Once Upon a Time is just as prolific as Jeunet's films: The deco of Morton's train carriage reeks of dirty money and western whims - plush, brushed red and gold velvets hanging in an abundance of decadent glory. Mac Bain's homestead is a finely detailed replica of a recent immigrant - memories of home, cluttered with childish things and sprinkled with tenderness at the thought of the arriving new bride. Outside of the sets, the location shots are predictable, yet impressive - BIG deserts and harsh emptiness.
The real winner with Leone's movies is the way he paces them: He sets the stage with a nerve wrenching, measured momentum, and then he offloads the action in a quicker-than-the-eye split second - oh, everybody is dead now (see The Good, the Bad and the Ugly final shoot out scene). He really is a master at dragging us to this point of no return, of near climax, before dealing us the goods. I like.
Another sweet little thing I enjoy in Once Upon a Time, is the bizarre theme tunes that introduce us to the character - and then let us know when that character is lurking around the corner. The unforgettable wailing harmonica tune (and all its crescendos and descents) are thanks to Leone's partnership with Ennio Morricone - I love the music from this film sooo much, I bought a Western themes compilation tape (what the hell am I admitting to this for?).
*Other Stuff (that bugs me slightly)
This is a little off centre, I know, but I want to have a whinge: Leone does us a favour and only includes one world worn whore (too many spoil the broth, apparently); but why, oh why is it that in Westerns, the male characters achieve their ultimate forgiveness (the baddies by dying in comprehension of their evilness; the goodies by avenging their dead father/mother/brother/sister/lover etc.), and the whore(s) is always left in a grey area of continual servitude and suffering?
Whinge over.
*Conclusion.
My favourite ever, ever, ever Western, so of course it is recommended (highly).
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 1941 - Westerns - Director: Fritz Lang - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Randolph Scott, Dean Jagger, Barton MacLane, Robert Young
Production Year: 1976 - Westerns - Director: Irvin Kershner - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Gale Sondergaard, Geoffrey Lewis, William Lucking, Jorge Luke, Richard Harris
This is one of the best of Leone's films although I always slightly prefer 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly'. Good review!
Lgair 12.10.2001 20:22
I've never seen it...must rent it! Thanks. Lisa
peel.rebekah 12.10.2001 17:28
Thankyou (blushes profoundly). I usually write across on the 'other side' (as in dooyoo, not as in death), and it's a long time since I posted on ciao. Nice to get such a good response :o) Thanks again. Rebekah.
Sergio Leone had to be persuaded to return to the Western forOnce Upon a Time in the ... more
Westafter the success of his "Dollars" trilogy. The result is a masterpiece that expands the vision of the earlier movies in every way. It could as easily have been c...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Sergio Leone had to be persuaded to return to the Western forOnce Upon a Time in the ... more
Westafter the success of his "Dollars" trilogy. The result is a masterpiece that expands the vision of the earlier movies in every way. It could as easily have been c...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Sergio Leone's monumental epic 'Once Upon A Time In The West' ranks among the five or six ... more
all-time Western masterpieces. The picture itself is as big as its Monument Valley locations as grand as its fine distinguished cast. Henry Fonda plays the blac...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Riveting, four main stars, the score, the direction, where shall I stop? Disadvantages: None for me, although it's long and slow, which may not be your cup of tea
![Once Upon a Time in the West -- Special Collector's Edition (2 discs) [DVD] [1969]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78518950.jpg "Once Upon a Time in the West -- Special Collector's Edition (2 discs) [DVD] [1969]")
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