The masterpiece Sergio Leone was one of cinema's most instinctive visual masters, Leone used the full spectrum of CinemaScope with controlled abandon. But this is his powerful masterpiece. He will always be remembered for the awe-inspiring crane-tracking shot, To the brilliance of Ennio Morricone's music, he follows Claudia Cardinale as she alights from a train, then swoops over the station house as she enters, only to pick her up again on the far side as she stares at one of the mythical west's most convincing border towns. I truly believe that particular scene is one of the greatest moments in all of cinema.
Claudia Cardinale's beauty, the breathtaking panoramas, and hard bold close ups are difficult to forget. Henry Fonda gives his best performance here playing against character (He usually plays good guys and not bad guys). Charles Bronson was equally fantastic as the vengeful Harmonica. This movie is pure art from start to finish, its beautiful to look at. And Sergio Leone when at his best form truly was...cinema