History Film / OnceUponATimeInTheWest

* TheGunslinger: Harmonica, Frank, and Cheyenne

** Harmonica's motivation.

* AmericanDream: The deconstruction of the western finally gives way to civilization and allows the main character to the pursue the dream.
* AntiHero: Harmonica
* AntiVillain: Cheyenne, who also gains AntiHero traits.

* BadAss: Harmonica.
** Cheyenne as well.
** Frank. He's a psycho, but definitely qualifies.

* BadassLongcoat:

* BigBad: Frank
** BiggerBad: Mr. Morton, but definitely he's much less evil than Frank.
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: Frank doesn't remember who Harmonica is, although Harmonica isn't keen on reminding him untill the end. On the other hand, when Frank demands Harmonica's name, Harmonica responds with a list of pseudonyms -- which Frank ''does'' recognize as the names of other men he's killed. He does recognise Harmonica in the final duel, and [[WordofGod Leone has stated]] that he wished for the final flashback to be a shared experience.

* CombatPragmatist: Harmonica uses [[HiddenWeapons concealed weapons]] to get the drop on others.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Somewhat.
* DeadpanSnarker: Frank
* {{Deconstruction}}

* DragonInChief: Frank, a successful DragonWithAnAgenda, later TheStarscream.
* TheDrifter: Harmonica

* EvilCripple: Mr. Morton

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Cheyenne draws the line at killing children. He also doesn't kill priests.

* TheGunslinger

* {{Jerkass}}: Frank. In fact, he's a JerkWithAHeartOfJerk.

* {{Leitmotif}}: Most of the main characters have their own, with [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Harmonica]] having the most obvious one, also a ThemeMusicPowerUp.

* NotSoHarmlessVillain: [[spoiler:Mr. Morton, who convinces Frank's men to betray him, and kills Cheyenne.]] Still a pretty pathetic guy though.

* PetTheDog: Incredibly, '''[[TheSociopath Frank]]''' shows at least a trait of humanity thanks to the romantic relationship with Jill.

* QuickDraw

* {{Revenge}}

** Harmonica pushing Jill around and tearing at her clothes. He doesn't actually hurt her, but still.

* [[spoiler:[[DeadLittleSister Dead Older Brother]]]]

* BittersweetEnding

* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: In the flashback, [[spoiler:Harmonica is kicked to the ground by his brother, who had Harmonica as a platform as he was being hanged by Frank and his men. Harmonica's brother would rather commit suicide than let his younger brother be responsible for his death.]]

** BiggerBad: Mr. Morton

* AxCrazy: Frank. In fact, his acts of extreme cruelty resemble what El Indio did in ''Film/ForAFewDollarsMore''.

* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: In the flashback, [[spoiler:Harmonica is kicked to the ground by his brother, who had Harmonica as a platform as he was being hanged by Frank and his men. Harmonica's brother would rather commit suicide than let his younger brother be responsible for his death.]] It all goes to show just how evil Frank is.

* DarkerAndEdgier: WordOfGod says this. It may be hard to believe since the DollarsTrilogy also get some dark moments, but this film was a definite shift away from its predecessors lighthearted and quirky. While in the Dollars Trilogy was eased with a little humor, and scenes PlayedForLaughs, everything in this film was PlayedForDrama. Generally this film is seen as much darker and edgier than its predecessors.

* BadAss: Cheyenne.

* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: In the flashback, [[spoiler:Harmonica is kicked to the ground by his brother, who had Harmonica as a platform as he was being hanged by Frank and his men. Harmonica's brother would rather commit suicide than let his younger brother be responsible for his death.]] It all goes to show just how horrible Frank is.

* InnocentBlueEyes: Henry Fonda's eyes are given a lot of emphasis. Especially notable as Fonda originally wanted to wear brown contact lenses, [[GoodEyesEvilEyes as he was playing a villain]]. Leone told him to take them off.

* DarkerAndEdgier: WordOfGod says this. It may be hard to believe since the DollarsTrilogy also get some dark moments, but this film was a definite shift away from its predecessors lighthearted and quirky. While in the Dollars Trilogy was eased with a little humor, and scenes PlayedForLaughs, everything in this film was PlayedForDrama. Even the villain is almost as [[CompleteMonster monstrous]] as was El Indio. Generally this film is seen as much darker and edgier than its predecessors.

* AxCrazy: Frank. In fact, his acts of extreme cruelty resemble what El Indio did in Film/ForAFewDollarsMore.

* AxCrazy: Frank. In fact, his acts of extreme cruelty reminds resemble to what El Indio did in ForAFewDollarsMore.

* WouldHurtAChild: One of the earliest evil deeds Frank does is kill a child. He also [[spoiler:subjected Harmonica to a cruel torment at a young age, too]]. Henry Fonda, the actor who played Frank, was initially reluctant to take another a role in a western, having been in so many already and [[{{Typecasting}} always playing one of the good guys]]. That is, until director Sergio Leone told him, "Picture this: the camera shows a gunman from the waist down pulling his gun and shooting a running child. The camera pans up to the gunman's face and... it's Henry Fonda." Fonda signed on in a heartbeat.

* WouldHurtAChild: One of the earliest evil deeds Frank does is kill a child. He also [[spoiler:subjected Harmonica to a horrible torment at a young age, too]]. If anything, Frank seems to get a [[ChildHater special kick out of torturing kids]]. Henry Fonda, the actor who played Frank, was initially reluctant to take another a role in a western, having been in so many already and [[{{Typecasting}} always playing one of the good guys]]. That is, until director Sergio Leone told him, "Picture this: the camera shows a gunman from the waist down pulling his gun and shooting a running child. The camera pans up to the gunman's face and... it's Henry Fonda." Fonda signed on in a heartbeat.

* {{Deconstruction}}: This movie definitively deconstructs TheWestern even more than the ''Film/DollarsTrilogy'' did. Sergio Leone filmed much of it in Monument Valley, where the Creator/JohnFord classics were filmed, and the film bears specific allusions to other films such as ''Film/JohnnyGuitar'' and ''Film/{{Shane}}''. Complete with obvious inclusions of typical western stereotypes being used in a very not-typical manner. It says a lot that Leone intended to use the lead actors from ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly'' as the three thugs whom Harmonica kills in the first ten minutes of the film. (All three of the actors ''liked'' the idea, but it was scrapped when Creator/ClintEastwood wasn't available.)

It's remembered for its beautiful cinematography, cracklingly quotable dialogue, and its fascinatingly enigmatic characters. It's also remarkable for its brilliant casting: CharlesBronson as another [[NoNameGiven "man with no name"]] seeking revenge, Claudia Cardinale as Jill, the young, pretty widow [[spoiler:with a past as a prostitute]], Jason Robards as the bandit Cheyenne, and Henry Fonda as [[PlayingAgainstType the villainous]] Frank, who works for the [[RailroadBaron railroad tycoon]] Mr. Morton (Gabriele Ferzetti).

* BlueEyes: Henry Fonda's InnocentBlueEyes are given a lot of emphasis. Especially notable as Fonda originally wanted to wear brown contact lenses, [[GoodEyesEvilEyes as he was playing a villain]]. Leone told him to take them off.

* EstablshingCharacterMoment scene, [[ShowdownAtHighNoon when three of Frank's men are waiting for him]]:

* AntiVillain: Cheyenne, who also gains AntiHero traits
* BadassBoast: In Harmonica's EstablishingCharacterMoment scene, [[ShowdownAtHighNoon when three of Frank's men are waiting for him]]:

* {{Deconstruction}}: This movie definitively deconstructs TheWestern even more than the ''Film/DollarsTrilogy'' did. Sergio Leone filmed much of it in Monument Valley, where the Creator/JohnFord classics were filmed, and the film bears specific allusions to other films such as ''Film/JohnnyGuitar'' and ''Film/Shane''. Complete with obvious inclusions of typical western stereotypes being used in a very not-typical manner. It says a lot that Leone intended to use the lead actors from ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly'' as the three thugs whom Harmonica kills in the first ten minutes of the film. (All three of the actors ''liked'' the idea, but it was scrapped when Creator/ClintEastwood wasn't available.)