Cheap Once Upon a Time in the West (DVD) (Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson) (Sergio Leone) Price

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Customer Reviews of Once Upon a Time in the West

one of the greatest westerns of all time
I was going to say that this is the greatest of the spaghetti westerns but truthfully, this movie is bigger than that. Every single thing about is incredible. The theme, the filming and the music is almost operatic. The casting of Henry Fonda as one of the most vicious villains ever seen in a movie was brilliant. Fonda tears into the role. Claudia Cardinale never looked as gorgeous again and Jason Robards, as the movie's wise man takes what could've been just a supporting character and makes him a hero. Finally, there's Charles Bronson, playing a man with no name, a man with only one thing to live for. When the camera leans in for a close up of Bronson's eyes they are cold, empty and seemingly dead. The only time he allows them to light up is when he looks at Claudia and when he and Fonda finally have their little chat. Every time I watch this film I see something that I never noticed before. It's great.

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Magnificent operatic western, possibly the best of all.
"C'era Una Volta Il West"

Once Upon a Time in the West is arguably Sergio Leone's best work, and possibly the best western made. A revisionist western, the film examines the stereotypes of its genre through Claudia Cardinale's Jill McBain - no regular woman - and the three gunslingers (Fonda's Frank, Robard's Cheyenne and Bronson's Harmonica).

Each of these characters has embedded within their portrayal a motivation for their actions. Where most western gunslingers simply are, these men are drawn with so much more detail. It is the mysterious motivation driving Bronson's character, for example, which drives a large part of the story, resulting in perhaps the most satisfying pay-off ever seen in cinema. It is hard to conceive how the showdown - and the rich history motivating it - at the end of this film could ever be eclipsed. In addition to this climax is one of cinema's most brilliantly executed entrances, equalled only by Orson Welles in The Third Man and possibly Max von Sydow's in The Exorcist. When the camera tracks forward and turns onto Fonda's face, we are witnessing cinematic perfection.

Also of considerable note is Ennio Morricone's score. Truly dramatic, each of the four leads has his/her own musical motif which underscores their scenes. Jill slightly nostalgic, slightly mournful tune as she enters to be left alone on the station forces us to care for her, despite the fact that she has been on screen for only a few seconds. Bronson's famous Harmonica motif is (if a little over-used) unforgettable. Outstanding.

There is barely a criticism to be made of Once Upon A Time in the West. Perhaps a little over-long depending on what mood you're in watching it, but this truly is unforgettable and unsurpassable cinema.

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A Western Classic
I have been waiting forever for 'Once Upon a Time in the West' to finally hit DVD and now it's here. Trust me, it was well worth the wait. Sergio Leone's masterpiece centers around Jill McBain (played by the beautifal Claudia Cardinale), a woman brought into a struggle for land by some very tragic circumstances. Cardinale steals many scenes with her sheer beauty and ability to optimize Leone's signiture style of facial expressions and body actions to express emotion. Henry Fonda shocked many by going against his usual castings by playing the ruthless Frank, a killer without a conscience. Charles Bronson is wonderful as Leone's signature mystery man without a name, and Jason Robards shines as Cheyenne, a roughneck accused of a crime he didn't commit.

OUATITW is quite different than Leone's other well known westerns starring Clint Eastwood, although he does still capture some of their magic here . Where this film differs is in it's characters and sheer scope. Leone's style is still well intact, but his storytelling is much more diverse here, not simply relying on one mechanic throughout.

The DVD was very well done with a good quality picture and adequate sound. The second DVD in the set is loaded with features including documenteries and various featurettes. The commentary tracts are also well done and very informative as well as entertaining.

All in all, this DVD was well worth the wait. For fans of the film, this is a gem for the collection that must be bought.