MovieChat Forums > C'era una volta il West (1969) Discussion > Serious Question (real fans only please)

Serious Question (real fans only please)

posted a year ago by buzzlightbeer (1812)
7 replies | jump to latest

Has there ever been an indepth commentary/analysis done anywhere? BluRay, youtube, etc? How it was filmed, locations and sets, etc?

If you know of one please post it here.

Thanks in advance.

[–] Ace_Spade (9343) a year ago

So, I have the Special Collector's Edition DVD set of this film and it has a commentary by John Carpenter, John Milius, Alex Cox (he's a director, but I'm not familiar with his work), and Sir Christopher Frayling (a film historian), and Dr. Sheldon Hall (another one). It also says, "Plus additional comments from cast and crew."

It also has documentaries included.

Thing is, I've never listened to the commentaries, and I think I watched one or two of the documentaries, but I don't remember them. So, while these exist, I can't vouch for the quality of any of them. I guess when I bust out the DVD, it's mostly to just watch the movie.

I haven't seen anything on youtube. I looked on the Nerdwriter's channel (he's great at art analysis), but he only had something more generally on Leone's use of on-set music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiQLHL10BYo

Punching "Once Upon a Time in the West analysis" into youtube got me these hits:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PEZT8NhtCQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYpp_UTGA9I

But I haven't watched them, so I can't speak to their quality either.

[–] pjl69 (2430) a year ago

Blu-ray also has the Carpenter/Milius/co commentary. Listened it once, but don't remember much of it, so can't say if its something the OP is looking for.

[–] Ace_Spade (9343) a year ago

Do you remember if you liked the commentary? I should probably give it a shot, anyway...

I think OP just wants to learn more about the film, but yeah, I don't know what specifically is being looked for.

[–] buzzlightbeer (1812) a year ago

Thanks!!!!

I may have to buy that judt for posterity.

What Im wondering is how did they do that monument valley backdrop if they filmed in spain. Things like that.

[–] Ace_Spade (9343) a year ago

Apparently it was shot in Utah: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Once-upon-a-Time-in-the-West

So that's really Monument Valley, I guess. Leone must have gathered up enough clout and cash to shoot in the States.

[–] buzzlightbeer (1812) a year ago

Hmmmm. I did not realuze that

[–] Ace_Spade (9343) a year ago

Nor I until I looked it up just now. You got me curious (so, I thank you for that; curiosity is almost always great, even if it does kill a few cats along the way). I would have assumed he shot it in Spain like his other westerns, too.