The Best Western Opening Scene Ever

If you’re like me, and over 50, you realize that the fact that few movies, let alone scenes within movies, are made at this pace any longer because society has evolved to the point where most people don’t have the attention span required to enjoy this kind of directing. In the age of tweets, instagrams, and other social media, messaging is delivered in 5-10 second bites and then it’s on to the next message. This has resulted in a society generally unable to endure the time scenes like this one require, unfortunately. It’s a shame, as a true art has been lost.

you know he is a badass when he plays his own theme music

The fact that the scene moves at a normal pace and isn't rushed makes it very special. Today's filmmakers as a whole are impatient and feel the need to push scenes rather than let them play out as they would in real life. The framing of the scenes with the intense close ups complimented with wide shots really grounds the viewer into the scene. We are present at this gunfight. We hear it,see it and in our minds we can even smell the gunpowder discharged!

A big part of the scene is missing - they were waiting for this train for almost 10 minutes. It's a pretty bold move to open a movie with 10 minutes of nothing happening, just watching a squeaking wind wheel and some flies buzzing around. Epic!

Can we please acknowledge that _every_ camera shot in this scene is an entire oil painting in itself! Sergio Leone and his crew were a bunch of geniuses. They don't make'em like that no more.

Jack Elam (the cowboy in the center who said "Frank sent us") was such a great actor. Over 200 films and TV show appearances. He lost the sight in his eye at age 11 during, of all things, a Boy Scout meeting, when a kid hit him with a pencil. He once mentioned to movie mogul Daryl Zanuck that he could have it fixed and Zanuck stopped him, telling him it was part of his mystique. Despite being known as a bad guy through most of his career, he did some outstanding comedy too, some poking fun at his many villain roles. He was also well respected by many of his peers and considered a great guy on a personal level.

Hi everyone! What grade (out of 10) would you give this video?

"You brought two too many" is such a badass line

"Did you bring a horse for me?" .. one simple line gives us all the context we need. No unnecessary dialogue, no needless cursing, no Hollywood bs. Perfection

Agreed 100%. "You brought two too many". Loved that line. And that he takes a hit as well just added a layer of realism you didn't normally see in westerns. Leone was a master of the art.

The way that line, "You brought two to many" wipes the smiles off all 3 cowboys is priceless.

The minutes leading up to this make this scene iconic. Almost monotonous in the pacing. 3 men waiting. The whole movie is a masterpiece. Every character with their own theme music. The story itself. The score. One of my top 5 movies of all time.

Oh Charlie Bronson....what a fantastic actor, what a great guy. RIP

Once Upon A Time In The West. Absolutely brilliant.

you brought two horses too many, that's a nice way of delivering a death threat.

" Once Upon A Time In The West" Is one of the best westerns ever made. It had an incredible cast and being a western. The music even had a starring roll.

Charles Bronson was a real life tough guy. He served in ww2 flying bombing raids on Japanese islands. He receive wounds in action and was awarded the purple heart medal. Absolute legend.

How Charles B improvises a sling for his arm, just adds a classic real world touch to the scene.

You couldn't carve faces like that today. Those are 'character' actors in their heyday. Truly one of the greatest opening scenes to any motion picture. Brilliant

Best ever. Never will I forget watching this with my old man. We watched it over a few times. Now he is gone one year. I miss you dad, and remember to play that harmonica.