A Closer Look at the West: Once Upon A Time In The West

Once Upon a Time in the West, 1968

Directed By: Sergio Leone

Link to Trailer

Once Upon a Time in the West begins with a hitman named Frank who works for a man named Mr. Morton on a railroad. Frank is given the task of forcing Jill off the land so that the land can be built and improved. Also, a woman named Harmonica shows up in Flagstone and becomes a major piece of the story. After Harmonica shows up, it becomes more and more clear that she has a personal vendetta against Frank. And in the beginning, the audience is not aware of why just yet. The flashbacks shown in the film provide insight into why certain characters act the way they do and give more context clues into the film. The look into Harmonica's past and her relationship with Frank gives the characters and their interactions a deeper meaning.

The Plot Driver/ Device in the film was the land because it was what the entire story centered around. It drives the plot forward because it creates conflicts between different characters in the film. 

The first act begins with an unknown character named Harmonica. She is first seen in a town that is new to us called Flagstone. We are also introduced to Jill, a mysterious widow, and Frank, an odd killer (hitman) who works for the local railroad. 

Flashbacks throughout the second act show insight into the characters' pasts and explain why Harmonica had a grudge against Frank. The characters' motives and drivers are shown in this act. As the characters' lives connect with one another, Harmonicas' need for revenge gets stronger. The predicted conflict between Harmonica and Frank is building up in this act.

The end of the film concludes with Harmonica and Frank and an intense conflict in the end which comes together in a solution to the issue of the land. The end of the film brings closure to the audience when Harmonica allows Frank to be killed by Jill. As Frank was near death, it dawned on him as to why Harmonica had such animosity over the course of the time they knew each other. It was revealed that Frank had killed Harmonica's brother all those years ago. Causing Harminoca to lack remorse towards his death. 

The main character change that I noticed in the film was in Harmonica herself. In the beginning of the film, she is much more dry and bland and it seemed as though her one driver was her revenge against Frank because of her brother. But as the film progresses,  it is then revealed her traumas of the past which led her to where she was. But, the film showing us her flashbacks and moments really showed the depth of her personality, explaining why she was the way she was. This is significant and to me, it is a change because, in the beginning, the audience is under the impression that she's just that way just to be that way. But, with further reflection, the explanation says a lot about who and how she is.