tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post3951681154862891264..comments2024-02-19T08:20:10.456-06:00Comments on Public Transportation Snob: List of Shame: Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-42397212305189921482022-07-30T19:04:22.046-05:002022-07-30T19:04:22.046-05:00When I was a preteen I heard the musical score fro...When I was a preteen I heard the musical score from this film but at the time I had no idea from where it came. I remember tape recording one of the songs off of the radio. The song drew me in and it touched me in a powerful and strange way. The melody was so melancholy, haunting , something about it attracted me deeply. <br />About 4 yrs ago I ran across this film on a western channel on cable. <br />I was complaining blown away as soon as I heard the music! I couldn’t believe I was hearing this again after so many years. I’m now 65. I n Never knew there was a film attached to this music. <br />This is my favorite Western of all time. <br />I’ve watched it many times and it never gets old. Sergio Leone and Ennio Morricone , what a collaboration! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-45810656827139808472022-07-27T03:44:15.370-05:002022-07-27T03:44:15.370-05:00my personal ranking of Leone's works puts '...my personal ranking of Leone's works puts 'Once Upon a Time...the Revolution', a.k.a. 'A Fistful of Dynamite' a.k.a. 'Duck, You Sucka ' right with this film. without Polk's war with Mexico, a direct cause of the Mexican Revolution, the u.s. doesn't gain its southwest territory and californy when it did, our military doesn't get tuned and trained for the war between the states, and 'winning the west' doesn't follow the course it did. the anti-romantic nihilism of Leone in his 'westerns' is a priceless antidote to the sentimentalization of yanqui/hollywood mythologizing.<br /> <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-54885608221235999382021-08-10T22:12:54.646-05:002021-08-10T22:12:54.646-05:00That's a great story! I didn't see it unti...That's a great story! I didn't see it until much later, and I can't imagine what it was like to see such an original film back in 1968.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-22554992405317822042021-08-10T18:08:28.530-05:002021-08-10T18:08:28.530-05:00I saw this in high school in '68 at the drive-...I saw this in high school in '68 at the drive-in. It was the second feature which was always the worst of the double feature, which gave everybody great make-out time. However, the dialogue and music interrupted me from my original plans and I ended up watching the movie rather than doing other things. And it became my favorite movie of ALL TIME! I watch it every year or two and I remain blown away. And I've had the film score in all the iterations since then--record, cassette, CD and DVD soundtrack. I wonder what my date thought of the movie!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-71491518472206462962021-06-01T12:53:25.235-05:002021-06-01T12:53:25.235-05:00Thanks! It does hold up really well, which is sayi...Thanks! It does hold up really well, which is saying a lot given how much time has passed. I can see why people would go see it over and over. In terms of Ebert's review, there are a lot of examples from critics and others where their initial opinions can vary from the consensus now. It's part of the job where they're just watching so much and having to come up with a response right away. Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-19749238181688506312021-06-01T05:22:17.522-05:002021-06-01T05:22:17.522-05:00Thanks for this great review of a timeless masterp...Thanks for this great review of a timeless masterpiece! And while the production value is only one amongst many other aspects which make the movie so great, the movie still looks good - even in the second decade of the 21st. century! Maybe, even better than many recent movies, because there was no use of CGI in Leone´s days. <br />Did you know, btw, that the great Roger Ebert - may he r.i.p. - gave the movie a mostly negative review? ;) Goes to show that even well respected reviewers have a bad day once in a while! And I tend to remember that the movie which went into the US theaters, was a trunkated version. The full length version was only shown in Europe, where the movie was an instant hit and made a ton of money! I know that for a few years many people saw the movie regularly every Sunday - instead of going to church! And since there were no videos back then, they had to buy theater tickets! In the US however the movie was a financial flop. So, Roger Ebert was not the only one who did not get the movie. He changed his mind later, though....atennisfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04264000117931513863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-49888852330724238002020-07-12T20:27:04.434-05:002020-07-12T20:27:04.434-05:00Actually fake eyelashes were coming into their own...Actually fake eyelashes were coming into their own then. There were accounts of women wearing them. They wear often real eyelashes sewn onto gauze or silk. A few years later (I assume the film supposedly takes place around 1880s) around mid-1890s, Parisians actually had them sewn into the eyelids. Ugh. But probably not much different from tattoos today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-58603454724219530682020-06-10T11:55:42.568-05:002020-06-10T11:55:42.568-05:00Jill is a prostitute from New Orleans.She had Fren...Jill is a prostitute from New Orleans.She had French blood and European accent.The eyelashes was her trademark.oponganon64https://www.blogger.com/profile/10072946386543734412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-46252104539435176522018-02-10T10:14:14.148-06:002018-02-10T10:14:14.148-06:00I need to check it out again, at least to see that...I need to check it out again, at least to see that scene. I guess it's possible that it's just a great stunt, but you never know...Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-69901514777435062452018-02-09T04:11:03.545-06:002018-02-09T04:11:03.545-06:00The shooting scene where the shooter falls through...The shooting scene where the shooter falls through the roof and lands on his neck, makes you flinch. I’m sure he snapped his neck, too hard a fall. Watch it in slow mo, very interesting stunt...fromo1946https://www.blogger.com/profile/15503327274946437072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-89937672936278383402015-05-11T11:02:56.795-05:002015-05-11T11:02:56.795-05:00I'm sad to admit that I'm unfamiliar with ...I'm sad to admit that I'm unfamiliar with Keoma. I'm definitely adding it to the watch list. Thanks!Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-35846739575131328972015-05-08T13:10:45.131-05:002015-05-08T13:10:45.131-05:00Totally agree with you regarding the setpieces. It...Totally agree with you regarding the setpieces. It's a very lavish production, especially by spaghetti standards. If you haven't seen it already, I can hesitantly recommend Keoma. If not only for the fact that it marked the end of the spaghetti western era (released in 1976), it's also surprisingly good on many levels while never really reaching "great" on any level. Be warned, the musical score is beyond polarizing!Georgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-89226046354021802752015-05-08T09:38:46.462-05:002015-05-08T09:38:46.462-05:00I'm not as much of an expert on spaghetti west...I'm not as much of an expert on spaghetti westerns (though I do like For a Few Dollars More), and I can see how Wallach might have brought more to Robards' character. Even so, I can think of few westerns that I've seen that match this one in terms of great setpieces. The introduction is amazing, and there's enough throughout the film to make it work for me. I appreciate the comment!Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-43794904864910272562015-05-07T13:39:28.344-05:002015-05-07T13:39:28.344-05:00Like it a lot, but there are spaghetti's that ...Like it a lot, but there are spaghetti's that I like a lot more (The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, For a Few Dollars More, Django, etc). I don't mind the slow pace of the film. Love the opening scene. Jason Robard's Cheyenne character is a little putsy. This part was originally written with Eli Wallach in mind, and I think he would have been better. Bronson is good as Harmonica, but was much more effective at the beginning when he didn't speak. Fonda played his part perfectly. Cardinale is stunning, but with all three lead characters fawning over her, it became tiresome to watch. Overall, just a little too much "fluff" in this movie for me. I prefer the grittier spaghettis, though I still rank this one in my top ten spaghetti western list.Georgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-26771343616925126842012-04-29T20:50:50.912-05:002012-04-29T20:50:50.912-05:00Eric, I think that's one of the great openings...Eric, I think that's one of the great openings to any movie, especially if you're just looking at westerns. I was hooked right from the start, which isn't that easy to do. Thanks!Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-44163438419482087592012-04-29T18:49:33.925-05:002012-04-29T18:49:33.925-05:00Great review, Dan. I just saw this for the first t...Great review, Dan. I just saw this for the first time last year and I loved it as well. I am glad that you highlighted the opening scene -- such beautiful use of scenery, with very little dialogue to boot. It really sets the tone for the entire film.Erichttp://twscritic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-41150428899000512212012-04-29T14:05:56.588-05:002012-04-29T14:05:56.588-05:00James, it's definitely my favorite of the Leon...James, it's definitely my favorite of the Leone movies that I've seen so far. Once Upon a Time in America has some great sequences, but I had a lot of issues with it. Thanks!Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-11597191673210529172012-04-28T23:02:37.074-05:002012-04-28T23:02:37.074-05:00It's a great film, glad you dug it. I think it...It's a great film, glad you dug it. I think it's my favorite Leone. I think it contains some of his most suspenseful and creative sequences and the cast is stellar. <br /><br />Also, I'm with you on Once Upon a Time in America, a film that left a bad taste in my mouth.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00999103091301885129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-40437867225034093322012-04-27T22:45:52.980-05:002012-04-27T22:45:52.980-05:00Thanks Chip. I didn't notice the eyelashes, bu...Thanks Chip. I didn't notice the eyelashes, but I'm sure they'd now stand out if I watched it again. It's hard to rank this film with movies like Stagecoach or a few others that I've seen a bunch of times, but it's definitely right up there.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-91990022457460160362012-04-27T15:58:53.118-05:002012-04-27T15:58:53.118-05:00Great review of a great film. I'd actually pu...Great review of a great film. I'd actually put this in a list of the Top 3 Westerns ever made. I completely agree on Fonda's performance.<br /><br />The only complaint I have with the film, and it's minor, is that Cardinale's 1960's big, fake eyelashes just came across as comical to me and so out of sync with the rest of the film.Chip Laryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00787403805554027107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-18324964990623720772012-04-24T15:59:13.283-05:002012-04-24T15:59:13.283-05:00Pete, I'd definitely suggest that you check ou...Pete, I'd definitely suggest that you check out this film as soon as you can. It's been on my list for a long time, and I'm kicking myself for not watching it sooner. Thanks!Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-11518304486259849472012-04-24T14:58:44.650-05:002012-04-24T14:58:44.650-05:00Wow great write up. Another classic I need to see...Wow great write up. Another classic I need to see. Glad to hear it lived up to (and even smashed!) expectations!ilovethatfilmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11882133059882238037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-77745001911697622162012-04-24T11:17:46.163-05:002012-04-24T11:17:46.163-05:00I liked the slow burn of the story, which takes it...I liked the slow burn of the story, which takes it's time but isn't ever boring (like you say). Fonda is definitely a big draw here, and it doesn't feel like a stretch for him to play a villain. He really goes for it and plays it so well.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-6419290457578253972012-04-24T07:59:15.493-05:002012-04-24T07:59:15.493-05:002 things were enough to sell this movie to me. Hen...2 things were enough to sell this movie to me. Henry Fonda playing unconventional role as Villain and Story even though little slow but never boring. Definitely worth watching !!SDGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09331736603243732602noreply@blogger.com