Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
(Sergio Leone, Italy/US 1968, 165 min., 35mm)
Brilliantly cast against type, Henry Fonda is Frank, a cold-hearted, avaricious monster who shows no remorse while gunning down a family to access their land. While the surviving widow (Claudia Cardinale) defends the farm with the outlaw Cheyenne (Jason Robards), a mysterious drifter with a harmonica (Charles Bronson) — introduced in the film's virtuoso opening scene — joins the struggle to seek revenge on Frank. For this Italian-American co-production, director Leone shot on American locations for the first time, choosing John Ford’s beloved Monument Valley as a backdrop. Topping their success with The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Leone and his composer Ennio Morricone reached new operatic heights in matching music with image. The film was shot in the seldom-used Techniscope format to take advantage of superior lenses and their deep focus to capture the never-ending landscapes.