Once Upon a Time in the West 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 90
from 7 reviewers
Review Date:
Once Upon a Time in the West remains a classic with a stunning 4K UHD release slightly marred by compression and DNR, offering remarkable yet imperfect visual quality.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
DTS-HD MA
Video: 87
Paramount's 4K UHD release of 'Once Upon a Time in the West' has a notable upscaling to 2160p/Dolby Vision with enhanced warm tones and black levels, yet is marred by compression issues on a BD-66 disc and some overly smoothed grain due to DNR, offering a better, yet not definitive upgrade over past Blu-rays.
Audio: 92
Retaining the legacy tracks from the 2011 Blu-ray, 'Once Upon a Time in the West's' 4K Ultra HD audio delivers a satisfying mix of DTS-HD MA 5.1 and Dolby Digital mono, immersing listeners with a broad, clear, and atmospherically rich soundstage that honors Ennio Morricone's score.
Extra: 89
Once Upon a Time in the West's UK 4K release offers an extensive array of both new and legacy features, highlighted by insightful commentaries from Spaghetti Western Podcast hosts, directors, and film historians. While extras are limited to the bundled Blu-ray, the set includes a slipcase, art cards, and a digital code, ensuring a comprehensive collector's package.
Movie: 98
Once Upon a Time in the West, by Sergio Leone, is hailed as a masterpiece of the Western genre, beautifully showcasing epic themes of revenge, survival, and transformation with impeccable direction, magnificent cinematography, and a haunting score by Ennio Morricone. The UHD release solidifies its status with stunning 2160p/Dolby Vision video.
Video: 87
Paramount Home Entertainment’s 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Once Upon a Time in the West" presents a meticulously restored version from the original 35mm Techniscope camera negative. The press notes highlight that the restoration was spearheaded by Paramount’s archive team, L'Immagine Ritrovata, and The Film Foundation, acknowledging the photochemical restoration overseen by Martin Scorsese in 2007. The disc boasts a 3840x2160/24p BT.2020 image in its native 2.39:1 aspect ratio, with Wide Color Gamut (WCG), High Dynamic Range (HDR10), and Dolby Vision, all encoded using the HEVC (H.265) codec.
The visual clarity manifests as balanced yet conflicted. Close-ups are sharp with rich fine details, capturing iconic shots with high precision. However, a recurring critique involves the near absence of the film’s original grain structure due to apparent Digital Noise Reduction (DNR). The image tends to lose its natural texture and appears softer in some scenes, especially noticeable during panoramas and mid-range shots. Fans of cinema might find this deviation problematic as it strays from the film’s known gritty visual style inherent to its Techniscope roots. The film’s encoding on a BD-66 disc with compression issues exacerbates these shortcomings, leading to occasional loss of detail and minor blurring.
On a positive note, the Dolby Vision color grading provides a revitalized palette, rendering wood browns, sandy deserts, and azure skies vibrantly. Skin tones retain a natural sun-burnt warmth while black levels offer substantial depth without compromising shadow details. However, some faces might appear excessively smooth due to over-processing. Despite these concerns, the HDR enhancement, particularly Dolby Vision's handling of brightness and contrasts, elevates the overall viewing experience by offering a more immersive, visually dynamic rendition compared to previous Blu-ray releases. This UHD transfer is not without its flaws but represents the best home video presentation of this cinematic classic to date.
Audio: 92
Paramount's 4K UHD release of "Once Upon a Time in the West" retains the impressive audio qualities from the 2011 Blu-ray version, offering both a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix and a Dolby Digital 2.0 mono track. The dialogue, despite the evident ADR and dubbing, is rendered clearly and coherently. This preservation of original sound design ensures that Ennio Morricone’s iconic score remains broad and engulfing, perfectly complementing the dramatic visuals. The sound design adheres closely to the original with ambient effects subtly enhancing rear speaker activity when necessary, creating a richly atmospheric environment. The result is an immersive audio experience that continues to captivate audiences.
While the absence of modern Dolby Atmos is noted, both tracks serve the film's audio needs well. The 5.1 mix effectively utilizes the haunting score with expansive mid-range and upper-frequency response. Sound effects like the clopping of horse hooves and whispering wind create an almost tactile presence. The Dolby Digital mono track preserves the vintage theatrical experience with clarity and fidelity. Despite some nitpicks regarding the lossy format in comparison to other releases, the overall audio presentation stands robust, providing a muscular soundtrack during explosive gunplay and a quiet subtlety during calmer scenes. The low-end, while not overpowering, delivers a satisfying heft during critical moments like train sequences and gunshots. This audio mix ensures fans of this classic film will not be disappointed by its auditory representation on this latest release.
Additional audio options include 2.0 mono mixes in multiple languages and various subtitles, making it accessible to a broader audience. Each track maintains an excellent balance between channels, with a front-heavy mix that remains precise and intelligible. Ennio Morricone's score bleeds across the entire soundstage with rich clarity and warmth, contributing significantly to the film’s legendary status. Though not groundbreaking by today's standards, this audio preservation from the original magnetic tracks ensures that "Once Upon a Time in the West" remains a timeless cinematic experience.
Extra: 89
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Once Upon a Time in the West" showcases a robust array of extras, with both newly added and legacy content included. Notably, the new commentary by Jay Jennings and Tom Betts from the Spaghetti Western Podcast provides a fresh, engaging perspective, while Leonard Maltin's retrospective offers a concise yet insightful exploration of the film's production and legacy. The legacy commentary features contributions from renowned directors and historians, seamlessly blending their insights into a compelling track. Existing documentaries and featurettes delve into various aspects of the film's creation and impact, providing extensive contextual background for fans and scholars alike. Note that these features are housed on the Blu-ray disc, with the UHD disc being extras-free.
Extras included in this disc:
- Commentary by the Hosts of the Spaghetti Western Podcast: New commentary track exploring the film's facets.
- A Look Back with Leonard Maltin: Analysis of the film's photography, cast, music, and legacy.
- Commentary with contributions from John Carpenter, John Milius & Alex Cox, Sir Christopher Frayling & Dr. Sheldon Hall, and cast: Legacy commentary with valuable insights.
- An Opera of Violence: Documentary focusing on the film’s thematic elements.
- The Wages of Sin: Featurette on moral complexities within the film.
- Something To Do With Death: Examination of Leone's directorial choices.
- Railroad: Revolutionising the West: Exploration of historical context.
- Locations Then & Now (Gallery): Visual comparison of film locations.
- Production Gallery: Behind-the-scenes photos.
- Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional content.
Movie: 98
"Once Upon a Time in the West" is a masterclass in Western filmmaking and a crowning achievement in Sergio Leone’s oeuvre. The film opens with a mysterious harmonica-playing stranger (Charles Bronson), who deftly dispatches a trio of assassins at a desolate train station. From there, it unfolds into a complex tale of revenge and survival set against the backdrop of burgeoning railroad expansion. Leone crafts an intricate narrative where each character—a nameless hero, a wrongly accused bandit (Jason Robards’ Cheyenne), a vulnerable but strong widow (Claudia Cardinale’s Jill McBain), and a malevolent killer (Henry Fonda’s Frank)—is intricately woven into a bleak tapestry of the dying Old West.
Technically speaking, the film sets an impressive benchmark. The precision of Leone’s direction, combined with Tonino Delli Colli’s sweeping cinematography, turns mundane landscapes into visual poetry. The opening scene alone, nearly 20 minutes of tension-filled silence broken only by ambient sounds, sets the tone for the entire film and is a testament to Leone’s mastery of suspense. Ennio Morricone's haunting score is seamlessly interwoven with the cinematography, amplifying the mood and complementing the slow, deliberate pacing to create a perfect symphony of sight and sound.
The character portrayals are another standout feature, with Charles Bronson providing a stoic, almost mythic performance as Harmonica, and Henry Fonda breaking out of his traditional roles to deliver an unforgettable portrayal of cold-blooded evil. Claudia Cardinale and Jason Robards add depth and complexity to their characters, making them more than mere archetypes. Every scene drives the film's narrative forward, culminating in a final showdown that feels both inevitable and deeply satisfying. This elegy to the American frontier brilliantly blends thematic depth with cinematic artistry, affirming its place as one of the greatest Westerns ever made. Leone’s film remains an enduring epic of greed, violence, and the inexorable march of progress.
Total: 90
Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West stands as an undisputed classic of the Spaghetti Western genre, celebrated for its operatic storytelling and Ennio Morricone's iconic score. Paramount Pictures commemorates the film’s 55th Anniversary with a 4K Ultra HD release. This edition, however, reveals both strengths and weaknesses in its presentation. The Dolby Vision HDR treatment offers moments of striking visual appeal but is marred by the application of digital noise reduction (DNR) and disc compression, which dilute the film's originally grainy and gritty aesthetic. Audiophiles will appreciate the DTS-HD MA 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio tracks, which provide an immersive experience, complemented by some valuable new extras including a Filmmaker Focus segment featuring Leonard Maltin and a new audio commentary.
Despite these technical shortcomings, the film itself transcends the limitations of the medium. Charles Bronson, Claudia Cardinale, Henry Fonda, and Jason Robards deliver unforgettable performances, and the narrative’s convergence of multiple storylines remains engaging. Fans of Leone's meticulous direction and Morricone's masterful composition will find much to admire, even as they yearn for a more perfected transfer. The collectible packaging featuring a foldout image of the film’s original theatrical poster and additional art cards adds a touch of nostalgia and value for collectors.
In conclusion, Once Upon a Time in the West is an epic tale that deserves the utmost care in its presentation. While this 4K release offers some improvements over previous Blu-ray editions, it falls short due to its compromised visual fidelity. Nonetheless, the film remains essential viewing for any cinephile. Potential buyers, especially Leone purists, may find this edition to be a mixed bag and might consider waiting for a future sale. The Western to end all Westerns, Once Upon a Time in the West continues to embody the quintessential elements of the genre and remains a must-have in any serious film collection.
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....
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