It’s a conservative movie for conservatives.
How can anyone put any stock in Roger Ebert’s opinion about anything? After all, he recommended that we vote for algore.
Personally, I prefer the Man With No Name trilogy.
I love that film.
Choose Revolution wisely
1969 was a highlight year for Gabriele Ferzetti. Morton in “Once Up on a Time” and as James Bond’s father-in-law (for about 1 minute) in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”.
You know, I finally got around to seeing Once Upon... just last fall. I won’t say I liked it better than Good, Bad, and The Ugly, but it was a great film nonetheless. Quite a kick seeing Henry Fonda in such a villainous part.
BTW, another western that got a lot of criticism (though admittedly also a lot of praise) when it came out that I just love is “The Wild Bunch”. Bill Holden, Ernie Borgnine, and Robert Ryan all in the same film? Fuggadaboutit!
Funny behind the scenes about the movie was that Henry Fonda was tired of doing nice guy roles, and so really put his back into being an evil villain, enjoying himself immensely.
And, as a rule of thumb, the villain, not the hero, make the drama.
This is where some of the best screen villains come from. Lionel Barrymore had just come off several roles playing a sickly sweet grandfatherly type doctor, so truly enjoyed playing mean Mr. Potter, the banker, in It’s A Wonderful Life, in full snarl.
This was one of Henry Fonda’s favorite roles [as Frank]. I believe it was the only time he ever played a villain ...
BTW: If you liked OUATITW, Once Upon A Time In America [w/ Robert Deniro, Elizabeth McGovern, and James Woods] is another oft-overlooked Sergio Leone gem ...
I love the music by Ennio Morricone!
thanks for ping. Never saw it. I dont take Roger Ebert’s reporting for squat. I use the rankings at IMDb. Not Rotten Tomatoes.
“Once Upon a Time in the West”
In 1984, the film was completely restored to its original 165 minute run-time. Since then, it has steadily been gaining acclaim, and is now considered an all-time classic.