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     Once Upon a Time in the West

1968  PG  WESTERN  2h 45min

CAST— Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda, Claudia Cardinale, Jason Robards, Gabriele Ferzetti, Paulo Stoppa, Frank Wolff, Jack Elam, Woody Strode, Lionel Stander, Keenan Wynn

MUSIC— Ennio Morricone  DIRECTOR— Sergio Leone

     In his follow-up to the Dollars trilogy director Sergio Leone once again asks the mysterious stranger to do the dirty work. Charles Bronson plays this particular stranger who protects a recent widow, a bitter ex-prostitute of New Orleans. It seems that everyone is out to get her; Jason Robards as the outlaw who was framed for the murder of her family, and Henry Fonda, the despicable gunman who actually did the deed. The question is “why her”? Could it be that the land she possesses is prime land for the railroad to roll through, and if an upstart town were to spring up it could mean massive amounts of dollars for everyone involved? A somewhat slow moving tale, interspersed with action and prime drama. Beautifully directed with a fine score and memorable performances by Bronson and Fonda. A slight disappointment; nominally entertaining. Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.

OUR RATING— ** ½