DVD Reviews

Once Upon a Time in the West - Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll Jun 1, 2011, 14:25 GMT

Sergio Leone\'s monumental picture, here in its original form, ranks among his most admirable achievements. In the dying days of the Old West, a struggle to control water in a dusty desert town embroils three hard-bitten gunmen in a epic clash of greed, honor and revenge. Henry Fonda stars in his most sinister role as Frank, a hired killer who ruthlessly slays an entire family. Jason Robards plays Cheyenne, an ...more

Sergio Leone only has seven official credits as a director.  Certainly such little output may make him forgettable, but when we look at the style and quality of those films it etches his name into film history.  Now one of his greatest comes to high definition in all its glory.  A must have for western and film enthusiasts.

Mail-order-bride Jill (Claudia Cardinale) is arriving from New Orleans to meet her new husband Brett McBain (Frank Wolff).  Her happy arrival is turned horrific when she finds that McBain and his children have been gunned down and the main suspect is the recently escaped bandit Cheyenne (Jason Robards) and his gang. 

Crippled railroad tycoon Morton (Gabrielle Ferzetti) and his vile henchman Frank (Henry Fonda) are scheming to take McBain’s land but the mysterious man-with-no-name Harmonica (Charles Bronson) keeps coming to the aid of the widow McBain and has a mysterious connection to Frank. 

Cheyenne also comes to her aid as the widow discovers that McBain’s secret plan for the land proves that her late husband dreamt large. 

I argue with myself whether Once Upon a Time in the West or the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is Leone’s best film.  Not that the argument goes no too long since I love all of Leone’s films.  Leone’s revisionist use of Henry Fonda has to put this one on top though.  The film is a sweeping epic of the old west and also allowed Leone to make the trek across the pond and to actually shoot in John Ford country. 

Leone cast Fonda against his usual type and the film scores mightily for it.  Fonda’s Frank is one of the screen’s nastiest villains for the mere fact that all of the western film history that comes with the actor is thrown aside and against the audience’s expectations.  A twist that Leone reveled in.  Although the rest of the cast are not slouches. 

Bronson is quiet, yet musical, cool, Robards a likeable rogue, and Cardinale a beauty worth fighting over.  Ferzetti even adds a James Bond mystique as the railroad magnate with his portable lair.  Ennio Morricone’s score only highlights the grand doings that are going on visually before us as well as a creative use of sound effects.  Blu-ray fans can only soak in the fabulous transfer and its pure Leone heaven. 

Once Upon a Time in the West is presented in a gorgeous 1080p transfer (2.35:1).  You also set the theatrical version (165 minutes) and the restored version (166 minutes).  Special features include a commentary with historians Sir Christopher Frayling and Dr. Sheldon Hall with reminiscences from directors John Carpenter, John Milius, Bernard Bertolucci, and Alex Cox, and Cardinale. 

All recorded separately and stitched together.  It seems the historians got the majority of the audio time.  A very nice commentary though.  The only high definition extra is the 3 minute trailer. 

The remainder of the special features are in standard definition and include the 29 minute “An Opera of Violence,” the 19 minute “Wages of Sin,” and the 18 minute “Something to do with Death” making up a three-part making of, the 6 minute Revolutionizing the West” about the railroad, the 4 minute “Locations then and now,” and a 5 minute production gallery.

Once Upon a Time in the West should be on the top of your buying list this week.  Paramount has ported over the fine special features as well as providing a grand high definition transfer. 

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