History Film / OnceUponATimeInTheWest

* RailroadPlot: [[spoiler:[=McBain=] knew that any train line through the region could only refuel water for the steam engine in a single place and build his farm on the site, expecting to make a small fortune by selling water to the train company. So Morton had the family killed by Frank so that he could buy the land himself.]]

* PostModernism: See {{Deconstruction}} or [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Upon_a_Time_in_the_West#Film_references Wikipedia]]. French theorist [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Baudrillard Jean Baudrillard]] once deemed ''Once Upon a Time in the West'' the first postmodern film.

* GaussianGirl: During their goodbye, the close-up shot on Gill is slightly out-of-focus while the shot on Harmonica is clear.

** When Cheyenne appears in the trading post, his theme is quite sinister, giving the impression that he's the villain. When the true nature of his character is revealed, his theme is more laid-back throught.

'''Frank's Man:''' Looks like we're shy one horse.\\

%%* BatmanGambit

* BlackDudeDiesFirst: [[spoiler:Averted, Stony is the last of the three gunmen to be killed in the opening. He even manages to shoot Harmonica as he goes.[[note]]He is, however, the only black character in the movie[[/note]]]]

* WeaponOfChoice: Frank uses a nickel-plated Colt Single Action Army revolver "Cavalry" style (7.5-inch barrel) with black grips.

* ForDoomTheBellTolls: [[spoiler: Harmonica's brother is hanged from a bell.]]

* DeathOfAChild: Frank kills the [=McBain=] family in his introduction scene, including a little boy. Not only that, but he saves the little boy for last (though it might be just because the kid happened to be inside at the time, and only came out after the others were killed). Also while the others were sniped from a distance, Frank goes right up to the boy, and ''smiles'' as he pulls out his gun.

* AbsoluteCleavage: Jill, towards the end of the movie.

** There's a subversion in a bizarre scene near the beginning where Harmonica ambushes Jill in a barn, roughs her up a little and rips her dress... but it turns out he's [[InvokedTrope deliberately invoking]] MaleGaze by [[AbsoluteCleavage tearing her dress]] and [[UnkemptBeauty having her hair whipped around a little]]. There may be assassins just outside, but [[AllMenArePerverts not even they can avert their eyes from the eye-candy]]... except for maybe Harmonica. Look at him closely. He's doing this almost surgically and with extreme care.

''Once Upon a Time in the West'' (in Italian: ''C'era una volta il West'') (1968) is considered Creator/SergioLeone's masterpiece (alongside the ''Film/DollarsTrilogy''); according to Wiki/ThatOtherWiki, it's a prime example of an Epic Western.

* DidNotGetTheGirl: [[spoiler:Jill has lots of sexual tension with Cheyenne, Frank and Harmonica, but no one gets her. Cheyenne dies, Frank never stood a chance considering who he was and what he did to her, and Harmonica couldn't return her feelings. And since this aspect of the resolution is played largely from Jill's point of view, it's also a case of Did Not Get The Guy]].

* DarkIsEvil: Frank is the TropeCodifier for classic westerns, along with [[Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly Angel Eyes]]. Frank always wears a black hat, and sometimes a black coat, something very typical for villains in western movies.
* DeadpanSnarker:
** Frank and Harmonica are both exceptionally sarcastic.
** Jill's a worldly woman who has her fair share of dry one-liners.

* DarkIsEvil: Frank is always wearing dark and black clothes, and that is perfectly adjusted to his extreme evilness.

* EvilWearsBlack
** Frank wears dark and black clothes, and that is perfectly adjusted to his evilness.
** In the opening scene, Stony wears dark purple.

* PunchSpinGape: A gunshot instead of a punch, but this happens to [[spoiler:Frank]].

-->'''Harmonica''': An ancient race. ''[looks to the approaching railroad]'' Other Mortons[[note]]The BiggerBad, who's a businessman[[/note]] will be along and they'll kill it off.

* InstantDeathBullet: ANY character hit by a bullet. Notable cases are the slaughter of the [=McBain=] family as well as the shootout at the railroad in the opening scene.

* TheExpyWithNoName: Like Leone's "Man With No Name" character, Harmonica is a skilled gunslinger with a MysteriousPast and a [[TheStoic stoic]] demeanor, whose [[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname actual name is never revealed]]. Eastwood himself was the first choice for the part.

* NoPlaceForMeThere: Once his business is completed, Harmonica leaves Sweetwater, as the new society has no use for him.

* RealityEnsues: Taking on three armed men out in the open, Harmonica was bound to get shot. Luckily, it was not a fatal one.

* SilenceIsGolden: The opening has no dialogue as a trio of gunman wait for their target to arrive on a train. The final showdown is over nine minutes long, in which a total of 8 words are spoken.

* FamousLastWords:
** "W-who are you?" [[spoiler:~ Frank]]
** "Go away. Go away. Go away, I don't want you to see me die." [[spoiler:~ Cheyenne]]

''Once Upon a Time in the West'' (in Italian: ''C'era una volta il West'') (1968) is considered Creator/SergioLeone's masterpiece (alongside the Film/DollarsTrilogy); according to Wiki/ThatOtherWiki, it's a prime example of an Epic Western.

[[quoteright:280:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ouatitwposter_6897.jpg]]

It features Creator/ClaudiaCardinale as Jill, the young widow with a past, Creator/HenryFonda as the [[PlayingAgainstType villain]] Frank, Jason Robards as the bandit Cheyenne, and Creator/CharlesBronson as a [[NoNameGiven "man with no name"]] seeking revenge.

* {{Leitmotif}}: Most of the main characters have their own - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyYg9oqL4Os Jill a romantic harmony]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt-GOugSPeE&list=PL0105A395C930F103&index=12 Cheyenne a comical banjo]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdPo_Ww6Dag Frank a haunting string theme]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbATgHJV6ak Harmonica is self-explanatory]]. During Frank and Harmonica's duel, their themes overlap.

* {{Leitmotif}}: Most of the main characters have their own - Jill a romantic harmony, Cheyenne a comical banjo, Frank a sinister electric guitar and Harmonica is self-explanatory. During Frank and Harmonica's duel, their themes overlap.