According to film critic and historian Christopher Frayling, the film quotes from as many as 30 classic American Westerns. During production, Leone recruited Donati to rewrite the script due to concerns over time limitations. When Paramount offered Leone a generous budget along with access to Henry Fonda—his favorite actor, and one with whom he had wanted to work for virtually all of his career—Leone accepted the offer. This signals the start of the second phase of Leone's style, which was further developed in Duck, You Sucker! Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The film realizes heavily on symbolism and themes, which can be interpreted in many different ways. Many of the film's most memorable lines of dialogue came from Donati, or from the film's English dialogue adapter, expatriate American actor Mickey Knox.[12]. The land was bought by Brett McBain, who foresaw that the railroad would have to pass through that area, to provide water for the steam locomotives. I.B. Harmonica explains that according to the contract of sale, she will lose Sweetwater unless the station is built by the time the track's construction crews reach that point, so Cheyenne puts his men to work building it. This director's cut was available on home video until the early 2000s, and still airs on TV, but more recent home-video releases have used the international cut. Cheyenne arrives at Sweetwater soon after, and both men seem attracted to Mrs. McBain. The film realizes on two main themes in the film, the nature of the West and the vengeance story. The men spent much of the following year watching and discussing numerous classic Westerns, such as High Noon, The Iron Horse, The Comancheros, and The Searchers at Leone's house, and constructed a story made up almost entirely of "references" to American Westerns. I woke and saw you there Beside me as before My heart leapt to find you near To feel you close once more After years of public requests, Paramount released a two-disc "Special Collector's Edition" of Once Upon a Time in the West on 18 November 2003, with a running time of 165 minutes (158 minutes in some regions). This paid homage to previous Western films. It was also the most popular film in Germany with admissions of 13 million, ranking third of all time. Once upon a Time in the West. As in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, the haunting music contributes to the film's grandeur, and like the music for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, is considered one of Morricone's greatest compositions. The film features leitmotifs that relate to each of the main characters (with their own theme music), as well as to the spirit of the American West. This time, Harmonica says he will reveal who he is "only at the point of dying". In a roadhouse on the way to Sweetwater, where he also encounters Mrs. McBain, Harmonica informs Cheyenne that the three gunfighters appeared to be posing as Cheyenne's men. [41] The most obvious example of this is the casting of veteran film good guy Henry Fonda as the villainous Frank, but many other, more subtle reversals occur throughout the film. Once Upon a Time in the West - Trailer (Starring: Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Claudia Cardinale) Once Upon a Time in the West. Fonda felt having dark eyes and facial hair would blend well with his character's evil, and also help the audience to accept this "new" Fonda as the bad guy, but Leone immediately told him to remove the contacts and facial hair. They filmed at the famous Monument Valley, in Utah that was immortalized as a symbol of the West by director John Ford. The film resolves as Harmonica's motive for revenge becomes clear and as the steam engine chugs into the new town. These scenes were cut for the American release: Otherwise, one scene was slightly longer in the US version than in the international film release: The characters in this film are also beginning to change markedly over their predecessors in the Dollars trilogy. Cheyenne (Robards) was not introduced in the American release until his arrival at the McBain ranch later in the film. Frank then goes to Sweetwater to confront Harmonica. When crippled railroad tycoon Morton learns of this, he sends his hired gun Frank to intimidate McBain to move off the land, but Frank instead kills McBain and his three children, planting evidence to frame the bandit Cheyenne (Robards). [15][16][17] Scenes at the Sweetwater Ranch were filmed in the Tabernas Desert, Spain; the ranch is still located at what is now called Western Leone. Leone's desire was to have the music available and played during filming. Overall the film transitions the Western genre into a modern era, by showing the death of the traditional West. The melody here is constructed almost entirely out of one of Morricone’s favorite melodic devices: the anticipation, which states a note twice successiv… Also the rugged clothing of the cowboys shows the death of the genre of the old-cowboy films, and the introduction of the Western films into a modern era. Once Upon a Time in the West (Italian: C'era una volta il West, "Once upon a time (there was) the West") is a 1968 epic Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone, who co-wrote it with Sergio Donati based on a story by Dario Argento, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Leone. Once Upon a Time in the West (Theme) Bill Frisell. The tone of the film is consistent with the arid semidesert in which the story unfolds, and imbues it with a feeling of realism that contrasts with the elaborately choreographed gunplay. Leone claimed the projectionist told him, "I kill you! La Calahorra: escenario de WEsterns", "Location Filming for Once Upon A Time in the West", "My Shame List: Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)", "Breaking Bad Series Creator Vince Gilligan Answers Viewer Questions", "Time Magazine's All-Time 100 Movies | The Moving Arts Film Journal", "TSPDT - 1,000 Greatest Films (Full List)", "Empire Magazine's 500 Greatest Movies of All Time", "Empire's 500 Greatest Movies Of All Time", "The 25 best action and war films of all time: the full list", "AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains Nominees", "AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores Nominees", Box office information for 1969 in France, "Top250 Tous Les Temps En France (reprises incluses)", Pearls – Amii Stewart Sings Ennio Morricone, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Once_Upon_a_Time_in_the_West&oldid=1008757588, United States National Film Registry films, Articles with incomplete citations from November 2012, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles containing Italian-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2020, Articles needing additional references from October 2014, All articles needing additional references, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Claudio Mancini as brother of "Harmonica". Leone felt that Fonda's blue eyes best reflected the cold, icy nature of the killer. The music especially in this film uses a lot of semiotic coding. Harmonica helps Frank kill them, though, by directing his attention to their whereabouts from the room where Mrs. McBain is taking a bath. It was added again for the U.S. market, because the American distributors feared American viewers would not understand the story otherwise, especially since Harmonica's arm wound is originally shown for the first time in the scene at the trading post, which was cut for the shorter U.S. version. A Dimly Lit Room 8. After directing The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Leone decided to retire from Westerns and desired to produce his film based on The Hoods, which eventually became Once Upon a Time in America, but Leone accepted an offer from Paramount Pictures to provide access to Henry Fonda and to use a budget to produce another Western film. The casting for this film was somewhat controversial. The complex relationships between these disparate individuals all become tied together in an intricate tale of lust, greed, and revenge. It is not until the end of the film when the town livens up and we see more people. One other final symbolic aspect the film uses is the location of the film. Some of the symbolism is seen in the setting, costume and most especially the music. Leone had Morricone compose the score before shooting started, and played the music in the background for the actors on set.[19]. Once upon a Time in the West (opening theme) 2. Ennio Morricone - Once Upon a Time in the West (Main theme)Transcription pour Piano : David Juna The music was written by composer Ennio Morricone, Leone's regular collaborator, who wrote the score under Leone's direction before filming began. These are a few examples of semiotics used in the film and what they convey. Meanwhile, former prostitute Jill arrives at Flagstone from New Orleans, revealing that she was McBain's new wife, and therefore the new owner of the land. Leone commissioned Bernardo Bertolucci and Dario Argento to help him devise a film treatment in late 1966. There are many more examples in the film, but all of these examples can be viewed in many different ways. This is because the railroad or American expansion finally comes to the town. At the house again, Harmonica and Cheyenne say goodbye to Mrs. McBain, who is supervising the construction of the railway station as the track-laying crews reach Sweetwater. No content differs. The film “Once Upon a Time in the West” is two hours and 45 minutes, and the script itself had only 15 pages of dialogue. For the US release on 28 May 1969, Once Upon a Time in the West was edited down to 145 minutes by Paramount and was a financial flop. The theme of the man with the harmonica is as unsettling as it is epic and Cheyennes' theme creates the lighter counter points in the movie. The film score sold about 10 million copies worldwide. These codes or symbols make up the semiotics of the film. I woke and you were there Beside me in the night. Post-structuralism comes from the theory of structuralism, which studies the  meaning of a film through the codes it conveys. This includes the fact Frank killed Harmonica’s father, and he has been seeking revenge. ----- Once Upon a Time in the West - Dire Straits ----- Tabbed by: maguri Tuning: Standard Dire Straits Once Upon a Time in the West (1979) (Knopfler) From: "Communique" Great song to … Leone, though, was offered only Westerns by the Hollywood st… [37][38] Death Rattle 12. Fonda turned down the role because he was confused why Leone wanted him in the film, but he was later convinced. Harmonica disrupts Frank's plan to keep the price down when he arrives, holding Cheyenne at gunpoint, and makes a much higher bid with the reward money for the wanted Cheyenne, but as Cheyenne is placed on a train bound for the Yuma prison, two members of his gang purchase one-way tickets for the train, intending to help him escape. He had come across the novel The Hoods by the pseudonymous "Harry Grey", an autobiographical book based on the author's own experiences as a Jewish hood during Prohibition, and planned to adapt it into a film (17 years later, it would become his final film, Once Upon a Time in America). Jill’s theme falls into two sections according to the melodic material: an introduction and a main theme, the latter divided into a scheme of ABAA. In post-structuralist films though the audience can take multiple meanings from one thing. Basically the film follows a man who plays a harmonica (Charles Bronson) who is seeking revenge on Frank (Henry Fonda). The film uses leitmotifs, which are a short, recurring musical phrase. Morricone immediately reveals his penchant for unusual scorings as he sets the first statement for harpsichord and vibraphone accompanied by the cello. However, the rest of the cast had to be dubbed by other actors – including Ferzetti, who was dubbed by actor Bernard Grant, Claudia Cardinale, who was voiced by Grant's wife, Joyce Gordon, and Jack Elam.[18]. [14] [9], In 2009, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[10][11]. His tune is often intertwined with Frank’s electric guitar beat, to give Harmonica man a presence on the camera even when he is not. For the English dub, the voices of many of the American cast, including Fonda, Bronson, Robards, Wynn, Wolff, and Lionel Stander, were used. Check out The Man With the Harmonica (Theme from "Once Upon a Time in the West" - The Music of Ennio Morricone) by Giampaolo Pasquile, Double Zero Orchestra on Amazon Music. This is showing the ideas associated with the West were dying. The 7-minute regional variation in DVD running time is due to the 4% speed difference between the 24 fps NTSC and 25 fps PAL video formats. And it's so SLOW! Once Upon a Time … The final duel of Once upon a time in the West by Sergio Leone (soundtrack by Ennio Morricone).I do not own the copyright to this movie. Frank turns against Morton, who wants to make a deal with Mrs. McBain, and immobilizes him under guard on his private train out in the desert. Stream ad-free or purchase CD's and MP3s now on Amazon.com. The introduction comprises a two-phrase melody stated twice. Charles Bronson was cast instead. The theme music for the Claudia Cardinale character has … As the two men ride off, Cheyenne falls, admitting that he was mortally wounded by Morton during the fight with Frank's gang. The Italian director Sergio Leone's 1968 film "Once Upon A Time In The West" borrows themes from many earlier westerns, including "Johnny Guitar" (1954) a film involving a former prostitute who owns property needed by an oncoming railroad, while making an unmistakable contribution to the genre of its own. He recruited Bertolucci and Argento to devise the plot of the film in 1966, researching other Western films in the process. United Artists (which had produced the Dollars Trilogy) offered him the opportunity to make a film starring Charlton Heston, Kirk Douglas, and Rock Hudson, but Leone refused. Post-structuralism comes from the theory of structuralism, which studies the meaning of a film through the codes it conveys. As the boy struggles to hold his brother's weight, Frank stuffs a harmonica into the panting boy's mouth. Cardinale fiercely and defiantly embodies her role, rolling around in the dirt rather than swanning around in pristine gowns, and there’s something to be said for it. Henry Fonda who was known for playing the hero in films like “The Grapes of Wrath” (1940) and “Young Mr. Lincoln” (1939) was cast as the villain. The haunting presence of the man with the harmonica and his theme permeates the entire score. In structuralist films one thing conveys one meaning. After meeting with Leone, Fonda called his friend Eli Wallach, who had co-starred in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The film also mostly takes place in an arid, dry and isolated area. See all music on major streaming platforms, live performances, and covers titled Theme from "Once Upon a Time in the West". It has also appeared on prominent all-time critics lists, including Time's 100 greatest films of the 20th century and Empire's 500 greatest movies of all time, where it was the list's highest-ranking Western at number 14. Once Upon a Time in the West is a soundtrack composed by Ennio Morricone, from the 1968 western film of the same name directed by Sergio Leone, released in 1972. Leone was very conscious of the length of Once Upon a Time in the West during filming, and subsequently commissioned Sergio Donati, who had worked on several of Leone's other films, to help him refine the screenplay, largely to curb the length of the film toward the end of production. and Once Upon a Time in America. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The original version by the director was 166 minutes when it was first released on 21 December 1968. On Frank's return to Morton's train, he finds that Morton and his remaining men have been killed in a battle with Cheyenne's gang. Monument Valley itself is used extensively for the route Jill travels towards her new family in Sweetwater. The opening sequence with the three gunmen meeting the train was one of the sequences filmed in Spain. This part of the scene had been originally cut by director Sergio Leone for the worldwide theatrical release. Once upon a Time in the West is as much a reflection of cinema past as it is of the historical frontier. Shooting for the scenes in the middle of the railway were filmed along the Guadix–Hernán-Valle [es] railway line. In this video Amira is accompanied by the Dutch Metropole Orchestra and the Inspirational Community Gospel Choir. The film is the first installment in Leone's Once Upon a Time trilogy, followed by Duck, You Sucker! The soundtrack features leitmotifs that relate to each of the main characters of the film, as well as to the spirit of the American West. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Symbolically this made things more shocking to audiences when he is revealed as the villain. When he accepted the role, Fonda came to the set with brown contact lenses and facial hair. The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists: The movie was a massive hit in France,[6] and was easily the most successful film released there in 1969, with 14.8 million admissions, ranking seventh of all time. [19] Especially compelling are the wordless vocals by Italian singer Edda Dell'Orso during the theme music for the Claudia Cardinale character. You touched me and calmed my fear, Turned darkness into light. Once Upon A Time In The West Theme (Ennio Morricone) - YouTube Commentary is also provided by film experts and historians, including John Carpenter, John Milius, Alex Cox, film historian and Leone biographer Sir Christopher Frayling, Dr. Sheldon Hall, and actors Claudia Cardinale and Gabriele Ferzetti, and director Bernardo Bertolucci, a co-writer of the film. "[20], In subsequent years, the film developed a greater standing among critics, as well as a cult following. SKU 104726. Leone's intent was to take the stock conventions of the American Westerns of John Ford, Howard Hawks, and others, and rework them in an ironic fashion, essentially reversing their intended meaning in their original sources to create a darker connotation. Tauris & Co. 'An Opera of Violence', documentary on the DVD, Once Upon a Time in the West (disambiguation), Learn how and when to remove this template message, Once Upon a Time in the West (soundtrack), "Top 25 Greatest Villains - Henry Fonda as Frank", "The film with three names – in praise of Sergio Leone's neglected spaghetti western", "25 new titles added to National Film Registry", "Complete National Film Registry Listing | Film Registry | National Film Preservation Board | Programs at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress", "An Exclusive Interview With Mickey Knox", "La Calahorra, una estación de cine para los 'western' españoles", "Estados Unidos en Granada. The older brother curses Frank, and the boy (who will grow up to be Harmonica) collapses to the ground. When Cheyenne rips one of her dresses to make it more revealing, it shows that she is slipping more into the world of the cowboys. The Man 10. Each of the characters has a diegetic and non-diegetic score that further describes their persona. Sergio Leone’s 1968 Spaghetti Western film “Once Upon a Time in the West” is a strong example of a post-structuralism film. The scene in which Morton and Frank discuss what to do with Jill at the Navajo Cliffs. Great for checking all the versions of your favorite song that are out there, and maybe even finding a new favorite version of your own! The Trasgression 5. Sergio Leone’s 1968 Spaghetti Western film “Once Upon a Time in the West” is a strong example of a post-structuralism film. The cowboys: Frank, Harmonica and Cheyenne, all represent a new type for the Western genre. A younger Frank forces a boy to support his older brother on his shoulders, while his brother's neck is in a noose strung from an arch. 12:38. She dresses very properly and is visually very stunning, and the dusty atmosphere hasn’t gotten to her. ( Log Out /  Blake Lucas recognizes the need for change in the Western genre in his essay called Saloon Girls and Rancher's daughters: The Woman in Western. Jill gets the help of the Harmonica man and his friend Cheyenne (Jason Robards) who is also seeking revenge on Frank. This added a fresh and interesting perspective to America, which was under harsh criticism because the film came out during the Vietnam War. The second disc has special features, including three recent documentaries on several aspects of the film: The film was released on Blu-ray on 31 May 2011. This is my own interpretation of the signs in the film and their meaning, but the overall points of the death of the West is what Leone intended for the film. Stander remained in the credits, though he did not appear in this version at all. It stars Henry Fonda, cast against type, as the villain,[8] Charles Bronson as his nemesis, Jason Robards as a bandit, and Claudia Cardinale as a newly widowed homesteader. Once Upon a Time in the West is still a bit convoluted in the plot department (it features a story by Leone and future filmmakers Dario Argento and Bernardo Bertolucci), but every frame of it offers pure energized excellence. Each scene in the film has a symbolic meaning that can be absorbed in many different ways. Bad Orchestra 9. Morton's death scene was reduced considerably. Helpful. [7], In the US, Paramount edited the film to about 145 minutes for the wide release, but the film underperformed at the box office, earning $2.1M in rentals in North America.[39]. The brick arch, where Bronson's character flashes back to his youth and the original lynching incident, was built near a small airport 15 miles north of Monument Valley, in Utah, and two miles from U.S. Route 163 (which links Gouldings Lodge and Mexican Hat). Download Ennio Morricone Once Upon A Time In The West (Theme) sheet music and printable PDF music notes. Closer. Ebert complained, however, of the film's length and convoluted plot, which he said only becomes clear by the second hour. Leone was far more interested in the rituals preceding violence than in the violence itself. Frank on the other hand dresses a little better than Harmonica and Cheyenne, but is still facially worn from his misdeeds. Frank is also trying to take the land that the widowed Jill McBain (Claudia Cardinale). From the Album When You Wish Upon a Star February 5, 2016 Start your 30-day free trial of Unlimited to listen to this song plus tens of millions more songs.