History YMMV / OnceUponATimeInTheWest

** The [[spoiler: rape scene]], in particular, can be very disturbing: the scene has almost romantic music, and Frank doesn't do the act with physical violence. However, his disturbing dialogue, combined with Jill being [[spoiler: forced into playing along so he won't kill her. It is still NOT EVEN REMOTELY consensual]].

* CrossesTheLineTwice: Frank does have a very dark, twisted viewpoint when he states that people scare better ''when they are dying.''

** Frank is certainly nuanced for a sociopathic murderer; is Frank serious about his desire to transition into a genteel retirement? Does he finally understand that money is more powerful than guns? Does Frank genuinely respect Morton for his determination and business acumen or is only hiding his contempt for a man who is more powerful than him despite being weaker? When Morton is dying, Frank at the last moment chooses not to finish him with a bullet... is Frank taking delight at watching the man crawling like a worm or is Frank allowing him to reach a puddle, a stand in for his beloved Pacific ocean? Likewise in Frank's first scene when he kills the McBain family, when he sees the sole surviving child, one of the member asks him by saying Franks name out loud, what he is going to do about the child. Frank shoots the child but before hand he looked noticeably annoyed at the member and states he has to kill the kid since he knows his name now. Was Frank maybe going to spare the child but basically (by his own logic) forced to kill the kid? Frank did seemly spare [[spoiler: Harmonica years ago when he was a kid]]. Or was Frank only mad at the gang member recklessly saying his name out loud to someone that could have ID him if they informed the authorities? It seem like Frank was regardless of what was supposed to kill the entire McBain family so maybe it was the latter. The final conversation with Harmonica suggests that he'll never outgrow the bandito mentality: "Not a businessman, just a man."

** Frank is certainly nuanced for a sociopathic murderer; is Frank serious about his desire to transition into a genteel retirement? Does he finally understand that money is more powerful than guns? Does Frank genuinely respect Morton for his determination and business acumen or is only hiding his contempt for a man who is more powerful than him despite being weaker? When Morton is dying, Frank at the last moment chooses not to finish him with a bullet... is Frank taking delight at watching the man crawling like a worm or is Frank allowing him to reach a puddle, a stand in for his beloved Pacific ocean? The final conversation with Harmonica suggests that he'll never outgrow the bandito mentality: "Not a businessman, just a man."

** The [[spoiler: rape scene]], in particular, can be very disturbing: the scene has almost romantic music, and Frank doesn't do the act with physical violence. However, his disturbing dialogue, combined with Jill being [[spoiler: forced into playing along so he won’t kill her]]. It is still NOT EVEN REMOTELY consensual]].

** The [[spoiler: rape scene]], in particular, can be very disturbing for [[spoiler: real-life survivors]]: the scene has almost romantic music, and Frank doesn't do the act with physical violence. But his disturbing dialogue, combined with Jill being [[spoiler: forced into playing along so he won’t kill her]], might bring back horrible memories for [[spoiler: real-life sexual assault victims, especially for anyone who has ever been blamed for not fighting back. It is still NOT EVEN REMOTELY consensual]].

* JerkassWoobie: Morton's certainly a villain, but ultimately it's hard not to feel sorry for him. [[TheDeterminator He just wants to get his railroad built before dying]]... even if it requires Frank's help. His [[spoiler: tragic death scene]] certainly helps.

* AwardSnub: The film received no Academy Award nominations, yet is widely regarded as a masterpiece.

* NightmareFuel: Frank. He is the most depraved character in the whole movie, as well as the most terrifying.
** The [[spoiler: rape scene]], in particular, can be very disturbing for [[spoiler: real-life survivors]]: the scene has almost romantic music, and the villain doesn’t do the act with physical violence. But his disturbing dialogue, combined with her being [[spoiler: forced into playing along so he won’t kill her]], might bring back horrible memories for [[spoiler: real-life sexual assault victims, especially for anyone who has ever been blamed for not fighting back. It is still NOT EVEN REMOTELY consensual]].

** The [[spoiler: rape scene]], in particular, can be very disturbing for [[spoiler: real-life survivors]]: the scene has almost romantic music, and the villain doesn’t do the act with physical violence. But his disturbing dialogue, combined with her being [[spoiler: forced into playing along so he won’t kill her]], might bring back horrible memories for [[spoiler: real-life sexual assault victims, especially for anyone who has ever been blamed for not fighting back. It is still ‘‘not even remotely’’ consensual]].

** The [[spoiler: rape scene]], in particular, can be very disturbing for [[spoiler: real-life survivors]]: the scene has almost romantic music, and the villain doesn’t do the act with physical violence. But his disturbing dialogue, combined with her being [[spoiler: forced into playing along so he won’t kill her]], might bring back horrible memories for [[spoiler: real-life sexual assault victims, especially for anyone who has ever been blamed for not fighting back. It is still ’’not even remotely’’ consensual]].

** The [[spoiler: rape scene]], in particular, can be very disturbing for [[spoiler: real-life survivors]]: the scene has almost romantic music, and the villain doesn’t do the act with physical violence. But his disturbing dialogue, combined with her being [[spoiler: forced into playing along so he won’t kill her]], might bring back horrible memories for [[spoiler: real-life sexual assault victims, especially for anyone who has ever been blamed for not fighting back. It is still ‘’not even remotely’’ consensual]].

* AwardSnub: The film receieved no Academy Award nominations, yet is widely regarded as a masterpiece.

* CompleteMonster: [[AxCrazy Frank]] is a sadistically cruel former bandit and the man the protagonist "Harmonica" owes his namesake to. Encountering [[WouldHurtAChild a young boy]] in the past, Frank forced the boy's brother to stand on his shoulders with a noose tied around the brother's neck, before placing a harmonica between the panting boy's lips and telling him to "keep your lovin' brother happy." Frank watched with glee as the young boy subsequently collapsed and caused his brother to be hanged. Becoming an [[PsychoForHire enforcer]] for railroad tycoon Mr. Morton, Frank kills off the [=McBain=] family for their property, happily shooting Mr. [=McBain=]'s son just for knowing his name--despite being told by Morton to just scare them--and frames the bandit Cheyenne for the massacre. Ignoring Morton's peace offerings with widow Jill [=McBain=], Frank takes Jill hostage, [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil rapes her]] in exchange for sparing her life, and forces her to auction off her land, [[TheStarscream later murdering Morton himself]] to gain control over his railroad company.

* CompleteMonster: [[TheDragon Frank]] is a former bandit turned enforcer for the railroad company. During the film's opening sequence, he and his men gun down the [=McBain=] family, with Frank shooting down the last survivor, [[WouldHurtAChild a small boy]], himself, before nailing a duster to the door so that local {{bandito}} chief [[AntiHero Cheyenne]] will be blamed for the crime. When he reports to his boss, [[EvilCripple Mr. Morton]], [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Morton]] says that he only wanted the [=McBain=]s scared. Frank's response: "[[PsychoForHire People scare better when they're dying]]." When Morton tries to cut a deal with [=McBain=]'s newly arrived widow (ex-HookerWithAHeartOfGold Jill), [[DragonInChief Frank]] sabotages the plan, takes Jill hostage, [[RapeAsDrama has his way with her]], and forces her to sell her land at an auction, positioning his own men there to intimidate the bidders. The arrival of Harmonica, the film's protagonist, ruins this plan, and sets the stage for TheReveal of Frank's worst crime. [[spoiler:When Harmonica was a boy, Frank made his older brother stand on his shoulders, and put a noose around the brother's neck. When Harmonica collapsed from exhaustion, his brother was hanged. To add an appropriately {{sadist}}ic touch, Frank instructs him to "[[KickTheDog keep your]] [[WhamLine lovin' brother]] [[KickTheDog happy]]." He then places a harmonica between the younger brother's lips.]] No reason is ever given for his actions, and Frank has ultimately gone down in film history as one of the most vicious villains of his era.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Frank is certainly nuanced for a sociopathic murderer; is Frank serious about his desire to transition into a genteel retirement? Does he finally understand that money is more powerful than guns? Does Frank genuinely respect Morton for his determination and business acumen or is only hiding his contempt for a man who is more powerful than him despite being weaker? When Morton is dying, Frank at the last moment chooses not to finish him with a bullet... is Frank taking delight at watching the man crawling like a worm or is Frank allowing him to reach a puddle, a stand in for his beloved Pacific ocean? The final conversation with Harmonica suggests that he'll never outgrow the bandito mentality: "Not a businessman, just a man."

* EarWorm: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6BQKFs3-VM "Man With a Harmonica"]].

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: It's Music/EnnioMorricone, so this might be a given, but [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6BQKFs3-VM "The Man With A Harmonica"]] has got to be one of the most badass film cues of all time.

** Jill, when she becomes a widow and a woman alone in the West.
** Cheyenne crosses into this when we're revealed that he's [[spoiler: SecretlyDying]].

* LoveToHate: Frank is admired for being amazingly evil, and in fact, the role of Creator/HenryFonda in this movie was meant to be shocking to the audience, as Fonda, before this, was a perennial "good guy". The sarcasm and cynism of Frank provided by Fonda's great performance are memorable.

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* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: It's Morricone, so this might be a given, but [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6BQKFs3-VM "The Man With A Harmonica"]] has got to be one of the most badass film cues of all time.

* EvilIsCool: Frank is a devious badass, ProfessionalKiller, DeadpanSnarker and his suit practically makes him a cool villain even before taking into account that he's played by Henry Fonda