Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Once Upon a Time in the West

Original title: C'era una volta il West
  • 1968
  • PG-13
  • 2h 46m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
358K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
930
54
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
UK Trailer
Play trailer3:02
1 Video
99+ Photos
Desert AdventureSpaghetti WesternWestern EpicDramaWestern

A mysterious stranger with a harmonica joins forces with a notorious desperado to protect a beautiful widow from a ruthless assassin working for the railroad.A mysterious stranger with a harmonica joins forces with a notorious desperado to protect a beautiful widow from a ruthless assassin working for the railroad.A mysterious stranger with a harmonica joins forces with a notorious desperado to protect a beautiful widow from a ruthless assassin working for the railroad.

  • Director
    • Sergio Leone
  • Writers
    • Sergio Donati
    • Sergio Leone
    • Dario Argento
  • Stars
    • Henry Fonda
    • Charles Bronson
    • Claudia Cardinale
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    8.5/10
    358K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    930
    54
    • Director
      • Sergio Leone
    • Writers
      • Sergio Donati
      • Sergio Leone
      • Dario Argento
    • Stars
      • Henry Fonda
      • Charles Bronson
      • Claudia Cardinale
    • 882User reviews
    • 170Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Top rated movie #53
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos1

    Once Upon A Time In The West
    Trailer 3:02
    Once Upon A Time In The West

    Photos335

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 329
    View Poster

    Top cast58

    Edit
    Henry Fonda
    Henry Fonda
    • Frank
    Charles Bronson
    Charles Bronson
    • Harmonica
    Claudia Cardinale
    Claudia Cardinale
    • Jill McBain
    Jason Robards
    Jason Robards
    • Manuel 'Cheyenne' Gutiérrez
    Gabriele Ferzetti
    Gabriele Ferzetti
    • Morton
    Paolo Stoppa
    Paolo Stoppa
    • Sam
    Woody Strode
    Woody Strode
    • Stony
    Jack Elam
    Jack Elam
    • Snaky
    Keenan Wynn
    Keenan Wynn
    • Sheriff
    Frank Wolff
    Frank Wolff
    • Brett McBain
    Lionel Stander
    Lionel Stander
    • Barman
    Livio Andronico
    • Bit part
    • (uncredited)
    Salvatore Basile
    Salvatore Basile
    • Member of Cheyenne's Gang
    • (uncredited)
    Aldo Berti
    Aldo Berti
    • Member of Frank's Gang Playing Poker
    • (uncredited)
    Regina Elena Bisio
    • Old Woman in the Tavern
    • (uncredited)
    Joseph Bradley
    • Train Station Master
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Braña
    Frank Braña
    • Member of Frank's Gang Smoking Pipe at Auction
    • (uncredited)
    Marilù Carteny
    • Mourner at Brett McBain's Funeral
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Sergio Leone
    • Writers
      • Sergio Donati
      • Sergio Leone
      • Dario Argento
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Hamilton
    8.3
    Hamilton
    Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown
    7.5
    Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown
    Once Upon a Time in America
    8.3
    Once Upon a Time in America
    The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
    8.8
    The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
    Taxi Driver
    8.2
    Taxi Driver
    City Lights
    8.5
    City Lights
    Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam
    6.5
    Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam
    Duck, You Sucker!
    7.6
    Duck, You Sucker!
    Bread and Tulips
    7.3
    Bread and Tulips
    Green Book
    8.2
    Green Book
    Cinema Paradiso
    8.5
    Cinema Paradiso
    For a Few Dollars More
    8.2
    For a Few Dollars More

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Henry Fonda originally turned down the role of Frank. Director Sergio Leone flew to the United States and met with Fonda, who asked why he was wanted for the film. Leone replied, "Picture this: the camera shows a gunman from the waist down pulling his gun and shooting a running child. The camera pans up to the gunman's face and...it's Henry Fonda" (until then, with one exception, Fonda had only been cast in "good guy" roles. Leone wanted the audience to be shocked).
    • Goofs
      Frank goes to Morton's train and finds that dead bodies are scattered around. But the train's fireman appears not to be bothered. The engine's safety valve opens frequently, which means that the fireman dutifully keeps doing his job and keeps the boiler at maximum pressure. (The fireman and the driver never appear in the movie, but they must be there.)
    • Quotes

      Harmonica: [facing three men] And Frank?

      Snaky: Frank sent us.

      Harmonica: Did you bring a horse for me?

      Snaky: Well... looks like we're...

      [snickers]

      Snaky: ...looks like we're shy one horse.

      Harmonica: [shaking head] You brought two too many.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits appear over the three gunmen waiting at the train station.

      The film title itself appears at the end of the film.
    • Alternate versions
      Frank's line upon giving Harmonica his namesake varies from version to version. The Italian translates to "play something for your brother," but the most common English version is "keep your loving brother happy," and the German translates to "play me the song of death." The German movie title was inspired by this line.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Clock (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Danny Boy
      (1913) (uncredited)
      Written by by Frederick Edward Weatherly
      Hummed and sung a cappella a bit by Simonetta Santaniello

    User reviews882

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10

    A masterpiece

    It's hard to believe this movie is from 1968. Very modern way of filming for the time. Sergio Leone gave time to each scene... something that new directors seem afraid to do... Great story about the last days of an era. Amazing music and the originality of linking a specific melody to each main character. And all these close-up to character's eyes... Just a wonderful movie.
    • bgkerfant-09664
    • Sep 24, 2019
    • Permalink

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Everything New on Prime Video in December

    Everything New on Prime Video in December

    Your guide to all the new movies and shows streaming on Prime Video in the US this month.
    See the list
    Production art
    List

    FAQ3

    • Is this movie based on a book?
    • What are the differences between the international DVD cut and the Italian DVD cut?
    • What are the differences between the older and newer international cuts?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 4, 1969 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • United States
    • Languages
      • Italian
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Erase una vez en el oeste
    • Filming locations
      • Monument Valley, Arizona, USA
    • Production companies
      • Rafran Cinematografica
      • San Marco
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,321,508
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,435,312
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 46 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
    Top Gap
    What is the streaming release date of Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) in Canada?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2024 by IMDb.com, Inc.