Once Upon a Time in the West
There were three men in her life. One to take her… one to love her —and one to kill her.
Country
Production
Budget
$5 000 000
Box office
$5 345 791
Director
Actors
Scenario
Producer
Fulvio Morsella, Bino Cicogna
Camera operator
Composer
Artist
Carlo Simi
Audition
Editing
Short description
As the railroad builders advance unstoppably through the Arizona desert on their way to the sea, Jill arrives in the small town of Flagstone with the intention of starting a new life.
What's left behind the scenes
- Henry Fonda specifically ordered a pair of brown contact lenses for the role. Leone made him take them off – he needed the piercing gaze of Fonda’s blue eyes.
- Bernardo Bertolucci, co-author of the screenplay, claimed that the idea of introducing a woman into the story was his. Leone initially hesitated, but then, when he agreed, he had the idea to show Jill McBain from an angle that would immediately reveal she wasn't wearing underwear. He later abandoned this idea, and Claudia Cardinale said that if she had known about Leone’s whim at the time, she wouldn't have agreed to star in the film.
- The characters of Claudia Cardinale and Paolo Stoppa made the longest stagecoach journey in the history of cinema. It began in Spain and continued through Monument Valley in the USA.
- The Native American woman who fled the station at the beginning of the film was played by Hawaiian princess Luana Kalaeloa. She was the wife of actor Woody Strode.
- Claudio Mancini, the film's production manager, plays the unlucky brother Harmonica.
- John Landis, a future famous director, was one of the stuntmen on the film.
- This is the last film by Sergio Leone to feature opening credits lasting more than ten minutes.
- Jason Robards (Cheyenne) got drunk on the very first day of filming. Leone threatened to fire him, and Robards did not repeat this behavior. However, when Robert F. Kennedy was killed in June 1968, Robards got drunk again. Leone understood the situation and even halted filming for a day.
- Actor Al Mullock, who played in the opening shootout scene, jumped out of his hotel window the same day, still wearing the same costume. He died on the way to the hospital.
- After the "dollar" trilogy, Leone no longer wanted to make Westerns. He had been considering the project "Once Upon a Time in America" as early as the 1960s. However, American producers refused to finance the project until he made another Western for them.
- The idea was for Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach (stars of "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (1966)) to play the three bandits waiting for Harmonica at the station at the beginning of the film. However, when it became clear that Eastwood would not be filming, the idea had to be abandoned.
- Jill McBain's house served as a set for Orson Welles’ film "The Chimes" (1965) shortly before this.
- Henry Fonda initially refused to star in the film. Sergio Leone personally went to America to persuade him. Fonda asked: “Why do you want to film me?” Leone replied: “Imagine: the camera slowly pans up the figure of a bandit, from the bottom up, to his gun, which he draws and shoots at a running child. Then the camera rises to the bandit’s face… and it’s Henry Fonda.”
- Specifically for the role, Fonda ordered a pair of brown contact lenses. Leone forced him to take them off—he wanted the piercing look of Fonda's blue eyes.
- After the 'Dollars' trilogy, Leone no longer wanted to direct Westerns. As early as the 1960s, he was considering the project 'Once Upon a Time in America.' However, American producers refused to finance the project until he directed another Western for them.
- Co-screenwriter Bernardo Bertolucci claimed that the idea to introduce a female character was his. Leone hesitated at first, but once he agreed, he had the idea to show Jill McBain from an angle that would immediately tip off the audience that she wasn't wearing underwear. He later abandoned this idea; Claudia Cardinale later remarked that if she had known about Leone's whim at the time, she would not have agreed to star in the film.
- Leone originally intended for the three bandits waiting for Harmonica at the station at the beginning of the film to be played by Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach (the stars of 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' (1966)). However, when it became clear that Eastwood would not be participating, the idea had to be scrapped.
- The characters played by Claudia Cardinale and Paolo Stoppa undertook the longest stagecoach journey in cinema history. It began in Spain and continued through Monument Valley in the USA.
- The Native American woman who escapes from the station at the beginning of the film was played by Hawaiian princess Luana Kalaeloa. She was the wife of actor Woody Stroud.
- Jill McBain's house previously served as a set for Orson Welles' film 'Chimes at Midnight' (1965).
- One of the stuntmen on the film was John Landis, who would later become a well-known director.
- This is the final film by Sergio Leone, in which the opening credits last for more than ten minutes.
- Jason Robards (Cheyenne) got drunk on the very first day of filming. Leone threatened to fire him, and Robards did not do so again. However, when Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in June 1968, Robards drank heavily once more. Leone was understanding of the situation and even halted filming for a day.
- Actor Al Mulock, who appeared in the opening shootout scene, jumped out of his hotel window that same day while still wearing the costume. He died on the way to the hospital.
- Henry Fonda initially refused to act in the film. Sergio Leone personally traveled to America to persuade him. Fonda asked, "Why do you want to cast me?" Leone replied, "Imagine: the camera slowly pans up the bandit's figure, from the bottom up to his gun, which he draws and fires at a running child. Then the camera rises to the bandit's face... and it is Henry Fonda."
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Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
