One of Sergio Leone’s Westerns is highly rated by both fans and critics but which one is it? The classic film was originally released in 1968 and stars Henry Fonda.
The film’s synopsis reads: “There’s a single piece of land around Flagstone with water on it, and rail baron Morton aims to have it, knowing the new railroad will have to stop there. He sends his henchman Frank to scare the land’s owner, McBain, but Frank kills him instead and pins it on a known bandit, Cheyenne. Meanwhile, a mysterious gunslinger with a score to settle and McBain’s new wife, Jill, arrive in town.”
Have you guessed it? Once Upon a Time in the West was Leone’s fourth Western and it was written by both himself and Sergio Donati, based on a story by Dario Argento, Bernardo Bertolucci alongside Leone.
IMDb crowned the film as the greatest Western of all time on its list complete with all the classics.
The film achieved widespread success and its 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes reflects that, with the critics calling it a “masterpiece”.
The critics consensus reads: “A landmark Sergio Leone spaghetti western masterpiece featuring a classic Morricone score.”
Leone’s work and the incredible score have been praised by the critics.
One critic said: “The epic spaghetti Western features an excellent score from Ennio Morricone, sweeping cinematography, and a gritty cast with rugged features that are great for Leone’s close-up and long takes.”
“Self-aware in every respect, from his dynamic framing to the prolonged showdowns, Leone’s meticulous style may distance some viewers from making an emotional connection to his work, but striking dramatic chords is hardly his principal intention,” another added.
One critic wrote in their review: “Leone’s violent epic Western is an essential masterpiece.”
A audience reviewer said: Sergio Leone’s epic Once Upon a Time in the West is one of the greatest Westerns of all time.”