Once Upon a Time in the West

Directed by Sergio Leone

The last of Leone’s true Spaghetti Westerns is the first in our season celebrating the influence of the director plus that of his composer counterpart Ennio Morricone. A true masterpiece, the film represents the acme of Leone’s myth-breaking/myth-making arsenal: ‘excess’ of extreme close-ups; silence, sound effects and a soaring, seminal soundtrack; counter-casting, iconic actors and classic Western locations. Glorious in a new 35mm print of the original version

The Leone-Morricone season runs through May and June. For a different take on the Spaghetti legacy, The Return of Linderland is in Gallery 2 through to 14 May (see exhibitions page)

 

Don’t miss this chance to see the remastered print of Sergio Leone’s classic Spaghetti Western. With superb performances from a stellar cast, a masterful Morricone score and iconic imagery, Sergio Leone’s revenge flick cements its place in cinema history. A true masterpiece, the film represents the acme of Leone’s myth-breaking/myth-making arsenal: ‘excess’ of extreme close-ups; silence, sound effects and a soaring, seminal soundtrack; counter-casting, iconic actors and classic Western locations.

Previously screened as part of the Sergio Leone & Ennio Morricone film season.

 

Reviews

“Leone showed with Once Upon A Time In The West that it was possible to honour the Western tradition while raising the artistic bar to such a level that nobody has made a better Western since. In fact, nobody has made a better Western, period. *****” Kim Newman, Empire 

“A wonderful spectacle. These days, cartoonish, genre-pastiching movies are everywhere, but Leone’s films in this vein are still more enjoyable than most. *****” Edward Porter, The Times

Duration:
165 minutes

Languages:
English

Country of origin:
Italy

Year of production:
1968