Once Upon a Time in the West 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
C'era una volta il West Paramount Presents #44
Score: 81
from 8 reviewers
Review Date:
Once Upon a Time in the West is a masterful Western deserving top-tier treatment, but the 4K UHD release, while visually impressive with new HDR, suffers from compression and DNR, ultimately making it a divisive recommendation for purists.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
DTS-HD MA
Video: 77
Paramount's restored 4K UHD Blu-ray of 'Once Upon a Time in the West' offers stunning Dolby Vision HDR-enhanced visuals and a faithful color palette, yet suffers from overcompression and grain smoothing, better captured in a higher-capacity format.
Audio: 83
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of 'Once Upon a Time in the West' presents the same audio tracks as the 2011 Blu-ray, including a 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix and a 2.0 Dolby Digital mono track. While not upgraded to Dolby Atmos, the existing tracks still deliver clean dialogue, an immersive soundfield, and Ennio Morricone's stunning score with impressive clarity and resonance.
Extra: 77
The 4K UHD release of *Once Upon a Time in the West* boasts an impressive array of old and new extras on the bundled Blu-ray, including insightful commentaries by the hosts of the Spaghetti Western Podcast and Leonard Maltin, legacy commentary featuring notable directors and historians, and various galleries and historical features, packaged with art cards, a poster, and a sturdy slipcase.
Movie: 97
"Once Upon a Time in the West" in 4K UHD is hailed as a meticulously crafted, visually stunning epic that epitomizes Sergio Leone's mastery of the Western genre. The 2160p/Dolby Vision video enriches the film's iconic cinematography, while the inclusion of existing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 ensures an immersive sound experience. Accompanied by new and legacy extras, this release captures the genre-defining essence of Leone's work, offering a poignant tribute to the end of the Old West.
Video: 77
"Once Upon a Time in the West" arrives on 4K UHD Blu-ray courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment with a restoration process detailed by contributions from Paramount’s archive team, L'Immagine Ritrovata, and The Film Foundation. Utilizing the original 35mm Techniscope camera negatives, the result is a 3840x2160/24p BT.2020 image presented in its native widescreen aspect ratio of 2.39:1, featuring WCG, High Dynamic Range (HDR10 and Dolby Vision), and encoded via HEVC (H.265). While the restoration stays faithful to the 2007 photochemical restoration overseen by Martin Scorsese, the video presentation yields mixed results.
The transfer excels in several visual aspects, offering significant improvements over the previous Blu-ray iterations. Fine detail is particularly noticeable in close-ups, revealing the distinct textures of the actors' skin and the rugged details of the Western set pieces. The HDR application notably enhances the color palette, providing depth and tonal complexity across various scenes, especially in the depiction of sun-burnt skin tones and rich wood browns. Black levels are predominantly solid, contributing to an improved contrast that adds a cinematic depth to the image.
However, the entire 165-minute film is compressed onto a BD-66 disc, creating visible compression artifacts and a notable, though occasionally inconsistent grain structure. While some scenes display a clear and detailed image, others, particularly those involving wide shots or fast motion, reveal a slight loss of focus and fine detail. Additionally, a subtle but discernible layer of digital noise reduction (DNR) appears to have been applied, softening the natural grain and resulting in some scenes appearing overly clean and almost too sharp for a film of this vintage. Despite these drawbacks, the overall visual presentation is engaging, largely due to the effective utilization of Dolby Vision HDR and a careful, if occasionally flawed, restoration effort that genuinely enhances the viewing experience for this cinematic classic.
Audio: 83
Paramount's 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Once Upon a Time in the West" retains the previously issued audio tracks from the 2011 Blu-ray, including the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and the original mono in Dolby Digital. These tracks, although not modernized with a Dolby Atmos upgrade, deliver an impressive auditory experience. Dialogue clarity is maintained excellently, despite the inherent studio dubbing typical of the era, ensuring that voices are always clear and coherent, a particularly important factor as much of the film involves overdubbing of Italian actors. Morricone's iconic score is rendered flawlessly across the channels, enveloping listeners and enhancing the film’s expansive visuals and dramatic face-offs.
The 5.1 lossless mix offers a broad, atmospheric soundfield with subtle yet effective ambient effects—such as the whispering wind or distant train whistles—blending into quiet scenes. The surround channels deliver mild ambiance that enrich the overall experience without overwhelming it. While not brimming with overextended directional effects or powerful bass drops, the track presents a brooding undercurrent and powerful resonance, making it striking in its own right. The mono audio track preserves the vintage essence of the film, though it would have benefited from being in a lossless format.
Technical sound design remains front-heavy with precise dialogue reproduction and well-balanced channel distribution. The mid-range is consistent and expansive, allowing Morricone’s score to spread warmly across the soundstage. Remarkably, even in pivotal moments like the McBain household scene, ambient sounds like critters fill the room artfully. Despite occasional harshness, particularly in high-frequency train whistles, the low-end frequencies provide considerable weight to gunshots and locomotives, delivering a robust presence that contributes significantly to the immersive experience. Including extra audio options and multiple subtitles ensures accessibility for a global audience.
Extra: 77
The 4K UHD Blu Ray release of "Once Upon a Time in the West" boasts an impressive array of extras, enhancing the overall package with a blend of new and previously available content. Paramount has bundled these features on the accompanying Blu-ray disc, bringing nostalgic insights and rare behind-the-scenes details to enthusiasts. Notable highlights include two fresh additions: an engaging audio commentary from Jay Jennings and Tom Betts of the Spaghetti Western Podcast, and a concise, thoughtful retrospective by Leonard Maltin. These supplements add depth to the package, offering a comprehensive exploration of the film's production, history, and enduring legacy. The legacy commentary features contributions from renowned directors and film historians, creating an enriching and informative experience. This release not only serves die-hard fans but also caters to new audiences with its curated content.
Extras included in this disc:
- Commentary by the Hosts of the Spaghetti Western Podcast: Insightful discussions by Jay Jennings and Tom Betts.
- A Look Back with Leonard Maltin: A brief yet thorough analysis of the film's impact and history.
- Commentary with John Carpenter, John Milius & Alex Cox: In-depth contributions from directors and historians.
- An Opera of Violence: A detailed look into the film’s legacy.
- The Wages of Sin: Continued discussions from previous featurettes.
- Something To Do With Death: Additional explorations into the film's themes.
- Railroad: Revolutionising the West: A historical perspective on the American railroad.
- Locations Then & Now (Gallery): A visual comparison of shooting locations.
- Production Gallery: Behind-the-scenes images from production.
- Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional material.
Movie: 97
Once Upon a Time in the West, directed by the legendary Sergio Leone, remains one of the most iconic Westerns ever made, embodying a near-perfect synthesis of thematic depth and technical prowess. The story begins with a mysterious Harmonica-playing stranger (Charles Bronson) arriving in a dusty town, met by three gunmen intent on dispatching him. Meanwhile, the villainous Frank (Henry Fonda) is on a ruthless mission for a greedy rail baron to secure land from a farmer who’s subsequently murdered. Claudia Cardinale plays Jill McBain, the new widow who gets intertwined in this web of greed, revenge, and redemption. Leone's direction transforms a simple narrative into an epic ballet of tension through minimal dialogue and atmospheric aesthetics.
From a technical perspective, Leone’s use of prolonged close-ups and expansive vistas works in conjunction with Ennio Morricone’s haunting score, achieving a seamless blend of sight and sound. Cinematographer Tonino Delli Colli’s framing turns even mundane shots into pieces of cinematic art. The nearly wordless first 20 minutes exemplify this, building almost unbearable tension through environmental sounds—the creak of a windmill and drip of water—before erupting into sudden violence. The casting choices are equally masterful. Henry Fonda's portrayal of Frank subverts his usual morally upstanding roles, while Charles Bronson’s performance as Harmonica and Jason Robards’ Cheyenne imbue their characters with layers of stoic complexity.
Leone’s film not only marks the end of his Dollar Trilogy era but also aims to be the Western to end all Westerns by paying homage to and evolving past genre conventions. Every scene meticulously conveys the impending doom of the old American West being overrun by modernity and capitalist greed. The score by Morricone, written to the shooting script itself, complements each motion and emotion conveyed onscreen, further amplifying the film's operatic quality. Once Upon a Time in the West remains an unparalleled cinematic achievement that captures the essence of an era, delivering a rich, contemplative experience that continues to awe audiences decades after its release.
Total: 81
Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West remains an unparalleled classic in the realm of Western cinema, often hailed as the greatest Western film ever made. Featuring standout performances from Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda, and Claudia Cardinale, and an iconic score by Ennio Morricone, the film is a richly textured tribute to the genre. On its 55th Anniversary, Paramount Pictures has released a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray edition that brings this epic film to modern audiences with mixed results.
While the new HDR pass and Dolby Vision presentation offer some moments of visual splendor, the disc suffers from compression artifacts and discernible digital noise reduction (DNR). These technical choices diminish the gritty, authentic feel that enthusiasts cherish. Audio is faithfully represented with DTS-HD MA 5.1 and a restored Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono track for purists. However, the inclusion of both old and new supplementary materials, like a Filmmaker Focus with Leonard Maltin and an audio commentary from Spaghetti Western Podcast hosts, does elevate the package a bit.
Ultimately, this release is a bittersweet offering: it’s essential viewing for fans of Leone and the genre, but the compromised video quality may deter some. If you’re a completist or have never owned this masterpiece, it might be worth picking up—perhaps at a more reasonable price point. Otherwise, it remains a must-watch film that will inevitably find its way into your collection through some edition or another.
The Western to end all Westerns, Sergio Leone's epic classic Once Upon a Time in the West is an operatic ballet of perfectly framed, timed shots, matched with an amazing soundtrack. Paramount's handling of the 55th Anniversary release is frustrating, with compressed video losing some fine details to DNR. The result may please fans but doesn’t meet expectations. Completists might wait for a sale on the standard edition.
avforums review by Casimir HarlowRead review here
Video: 70
Certainly this won't be great news for fans, who really wanted to celebrate the 55th Anniversary of this classic with a definitive rendition, and instead have that painful choice to make - swallow a notional...
Audio: 90
This isn’t a track full of whizzing directionality, thumping bass and explosive bombast – nobody could have ever expected that either – but it is a potent mix, with a brooding LFE undercurrent, active...
Extras: 90
Once Upon a Time in the West's UK 4K release, enjoys an impressive selection of extra features - old and new - as well as, for those who stumped up for the earlier-released limited edition set, a nice...
Movie: 100
The story for this, the first chapter, was devised by Leone and fellow grand auteurs, Bernado Bertolucci and Dario Argento, who basically sought to make a Western to end all Westerns – consisting almost...
Total: 80
The result is an image which will still likely please fans, not least because the film itself rises above it all, and certainly looks impressive with its new HDR pass, but doesn't meet the expectations...
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 70
Fine details are off the charts usually, and the warm sandy brown coloring of the film is lovingly restored to probably the best I have ever seen it....
Audio: 80
The 5.1 mix is a solid performer, with good usage of the haunting score in the mains, and some mild ambiance in the surround channels (such as horses hooves clopping, or the sound of a train whistle in...
Extras: 70
A Look Back with Leonard Maltin • Commentary with contributions from directors John Carpenter, John Milius & Alex Cox, film historians Sir Christopher Frayling & Dr. Sheldon Hall, and cast and crew • An...
Movie: 100
Leone and Dilli Colli’s work is so magnificently done that both the director and the cameraman are able to turn boring and mundane landscape shots into cinematic works of art, with that haunting Spaghetti...
Total: 70
The film is intensely engaging, and blends multiple story lines together with ease, and still manages to capture the hearts and minds of new cinemafiles to this day....
Blu-ray.com review by Martin LiebmanRead review here
Video: 70
The picture appears rock solid at-a-glance, yielding what can be very high levels of complex detail that present faces with the sort of telltale complexity and depth that scream "UHD" while clothing is...
Audio: 90
Rather than offer a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack, this UHD presentation of Once Upon a Time in the West retains the legacy Dolby Digital mono and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtracks from the 2011...
Extras: 80
Audio Commentary: Jay Jennings and Tom Betts, hosts of the "Spaghetti Western Podcast," explore the film and offer a well versed and very listenable track that looks at the film from a multitude of perspectives....
Movie: 100
On the audio side of the ledger, Paramount has merely repurposed the existing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack from the 2011 Blu-ray....
Total: 80
It's a watchable, even mostly good image, but with some tender loving care it could have been a classic on the format....
Blu-ray Authority review by Matt Brighton and Christopher BlighRead review here
Video: 90
There’s a bit of grain in some scenes, but considering the age of the film, it’s one of the better looking transfers I’ve seen....
Audio: 80
Ennio Morricone’s score is at the heart of the film here and though a bit on the harsh end at times, it does resonate throughout the channels....
Extras: 70
A Look Back with Leonard Maltin — Maltin, as he does for many of the Paramount Presents titles, offers up some nice comments about the film, its history and so forth....
Movie: 0
There are the ones that the viewer ponders when the movie is going to end and there are the ones that go on and give you a curiosity of what’s going to happen next and this film is certainly a case of...
Total: 80
Regardless of your personal feelings, Paramount’s new 4K version of Sergio Leone’s classic has never looked better....
The Digital Bits review by Bill HuntRead review here
Video: 80
Per the studio press release, it’s been graded for high dynamic range (both HDR10 and Dolby Vision are available) in such a way as to honor “the 2007 Film Foundation photochemical restoration overseen...
Audio: 90
The 5.1 soundfield is nicely wide, subtle and atmospheric in quiet scenes to render the squeak of a windmill and or the whispering wind, yet muscular during moments of explosive gunplay....
Extras: 90
Shooting a Masterpiece (2019), who offers anecdotes about the making of the film, interesting historical information, and comments on the many intentional references to classic Westerns in this film....
Movie: 100
When you live in a place that embodies vastness, you quickly begin to appreciate the value and impact of opposition—the individual in an expansive landscape for example, the yin and yang of land and sky,...
Total: 90
Once Upon a Time in the West was, is, and remains a true classic—one of the all-time great and most pleasurable movie viewing experiences any cinephile can have....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
When enlarged to the more common 2.35:1 and 2.39:1 widescreen ratios, that film grain is greatly exposed and more pronounced, giving the cinematography a thick, harsh grittiness that is one of the characteristic...
Audio: 80
Working mostly from the film's original sound design, the track has been elegantly enhanced to the rear speakers with very subtle ambient effects, employed only when a scene or the narrative requires it....
Extras: 60
NEW A Look Back (HD, 6 min) with popular film critic Leonard Maltin sharing his thoughts and knowledge of the film....
Movie: 100
Every scene and conversation has its purpose and delivers a great deal of weight to the storyline, which sees a small group of strangers brought together by the brutal murder of the McBain family....
Total: 80
Celebrating the film's 55th Anniversary, Paramount Pictures brings the epic western classic to 4K Ultra HD with an excellent but also somewhat disappointing Dolby Vision HDR presentation, one that sadly...
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 92
Audio: 84
The release also includes access to a Digital copy of the film and a Blu-ray Disc™ with a new Filmmaker Focus featuring film historian Leonard Maltin and new audio commentary by The Hosts of the Spaghetti...
Extras: 90
• Commentary with contributions from directors John Carpenter, John Milius & Alex Cox, film historians Sir Christopher Frayling & Dr. Sheldon Hall, and cast and crew • An Opera of Violence • The Wages...
Movie: 100
Meanwhile, a mysterious gunslinger with a score to settle (Charles Bronson) and McBain's new wife, Jill (Claudia Cardinale), arrive in town and things get interesting....
Total: 92
The release also includes access to a Digital copy of the film and a Blu-ray Disc™ with a new Filmmaker Focus featuring film historian Leonard Maltin and new audio commentary by The Hosts of the Spaghetti...
Why So Blu?Read review here
Video: 70
The result is the definitive home release of the film, which features the 165-minute extended cut restored to its glory....
Audio: 80
Height: N/ALow-Frequency Extension: There isn’t much for the subwoofer to do overall, but the train in the beginning does add some heft to the scene....
Extras: 70
Bonus content presented on the Blu-ray Disc™ is detailed below:Commentary by the Hosts of the Spaghetti Western Podcast –NEW!...
Movie: 80
The slow burn nature of the film tested my patience, and it took a few stops and starts to get through it....
Total: 80
Admittedly it won’t be for everyone, especially young viewers looking for more going on in their films....
Director: Sergio Leone
Actors: Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Claudia Cardinale
PlotIn the expansive landscape of the American West during the transformational period of the railroad expansion, a mysterious harmonica-playing gunman seeks revenge. Meanwhile, a ruthless killer named Frank works on behalf of a railroad tycoon, Morton, to secure valuable land by any means necessary. Their paths cross when Frank executes a newlywed homeowner, leaving the property in the hands of the recent widow, Jill, who arrives from New Orleans unaware of her husband's fate. As Jill embarks on a quest to start a new life on the frontier, she finds herself in the midst of a growing conflict over the future of the land and the railroad.
While the harmonica player continues his enigmatic pursuit, he forms an uneasy alliance with a notorious outlaw named Cheyenne. Together, they plot to protect Jill and her inherited property from Frank's aggressive takeover attempts. As tensions rise, the characters' backstories unravel, revealing a complex web of betrayal, vengeance, and greed. The impending completion of the railroad promises growth and change, but also brings a showdown that will determine the fates of all parties involved, with the harmonica player's haunting past gradually coming to light amidst the dust and drama of the Wild West.
Writers: Sergio Donati, Sergio Leone, Dario Argento
Release Date: 04 Jul 1969
Runtime: 166 min
Rating: PG-13
Country: Italy, United States
Language: Italian, English, Spanish