Once Upon a Time in the West poster
8.3/10 1968 2h 46m Released

There were three men in her life. One to take her… one to love her —and one to kill her.

As the railroad builders advance unstoppably through the Arizona desert on their way to the sea, Jill arrives in the small town of Flagstone with the intention of starting a new life.

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Top Cast

Claudia Cardinale
Claudia Cardinale
Jill
Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda
Frank
Jason Robards
Jason Robards
'Cheyenne'
Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson
'Harmonica'
Gabriele Ferzetti
Gabriele Ferzetti
Morton
Paolo Stoppa
Paolo Stoppa
Sam
Woody Strode
Woody Strode
Frank's Gunman
Jack Elam
Jack Elam
Frank's Gunman
Keenan Wynn
Keenan Wynn
Sheriff
Frank Wolff
Frank Wolff
Brett McBain
Lionel Stander
Lionel Stander
Innkeeper
Frank Braña
Frank Braña
Frank's Gunman (uncredited)
Stefano Imparato
Stefano Imparato
Patrick McBain (uncredited)
Claudio Mancini
Claudio Mancini
Hanged Man (uncredited)
Al Mulock
Al Mulock
Frank's Gunman (uncredited)
Antonio Palombi
Antonio Palombi
Station Agent (uncredited)

Reviews

Andres Gomez 10/10

All what you can expect from a western.

Peter McGinn 10/10

With apologies (not really) to fans who disagree, this is truly a classic western. I read a criticism that some scenes run long with agonizingly lengthy close-ups, but I found the cinematography intriguing. Those shots divulge nearly as much into the characters' personalities as a wad of dialogue from older traditional westerns. Sometimes in a spaghetti western I find myself thinking, aw, why did that innocent…

badelf 9/10

I can't say that this script doesn't play on Clint Eastwood's "Man with No Name" (which Sergio Leone also directed), but it's not important. If you're a spaghetti western fan, this film is a step up. The idea of putting Fonda in a bad guy role, and casting Bronson as anti-hero was a little shocking at first. At the end, I see how it worked to film's advantage by making all the characters more complex, ambiguous and…

drystyx 1/10

The worst of the worst Leone Westerns. Leone destroyed the Westerns with his garbage, but the blame goes on to the critics who praised his lack of motivation, lack of inspiration, lack of credibility, lack of entertainment value, lack of strategy, just a total lack. This is the worst of his stupid Westerns. It's the most contrived of his contrived Westerns. It's another "classical Greek hero" story of gods,…

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FAQ about Once Upon a Time in the West

What is Once Upon a Time in the West about?
As the railroad builders advance unstoppably through the Arizona desert on their way to the sea, Jill arrives in the small town of Flagstone with the intention of starting a new life.
When was Once Upon a Time in the West released?
Once Upon a Time in the West was released in 1968.
What genres does Once Upon a Time in the West belong to?
Once Upon a Time in the West is categorised as Drama, Western.
Who stars in Once Upon a Time in the West?
The cast of Once Upon a Time in the West includes Claudia Cardinale, Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, Charles Bronson, Gabriele Ferzetti.