A "contender" is Lee Marvin's inspiredly leering, grinning, resourcefully sadistic, Oscar calibre turn as the titular villain in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence (1962). In part reprised, if camped up, in his dual role in Cat Ballou (1965) as a ruthless gun killer (of Jane Fonda's character's father) and as his twin brother Kid Shaleen, a once legendary, now ex~ sharpshooter gone alcoholic whom she hires as avenger. He takes the challenge, and his sobering up, series of situps and target practice regeneration until his big contest win prefigures the Rocky film.
The whole film, from first shot to last -- the framing, the pace, the music, the drama -- is just epic! If you've not seen it, do yourself a favour. It's a masterpiece.
Leoni actually had his composer, Ennio Morricone, write and record the music before starting filming. And Leoni had the music playing while scenes were shot making the movie 1 big choreographed dance between the music, the actors and the cameras.
You can tell Fonda was excited about playing Frank in "Once Upon A Time in The West"; his enthusiasm in retelling his character's deadly intro scene is fantastic.
His daughter Jane did an interview with Norm Macdonald a few years ago. She said that he had to be convinced to do the movie as he really did not want to play a bad guy
@@Dyslexic_Anorexic Correct, if it wasn’t for his buddy Eli Wallach, who was in the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, convincing him that Leone was a genius, he wouldn’t have done it. Fonda realized after the film came out how powerful it was to put a saint like him as the villain. This was the 70s in Hollywood, Henry was afraid of ruining his image as the good guy, but thank God he accepted the role. There is something so oddly chilling about seeing a clichè good guy be an absolute menace.
He also did My Name is Nobody while he was there. A very silly Western with a small role for Fonda as an old gunfighter trying to retire. Quite endearing.
It's funny to hear Fonda talking about Once Upon A Time in the West as a little-known film, and Cavett asking at the end if it was finished. One of the greatest Westerns ever.
because these were the days long before vhs/dvds , youtube etc, and if you missed a movie in the theater, good chance you never got to see it, unless maybe If they showed it on tv years later.
Such a delight to hear Fonda share this story. Once Upon A Time In The West is the best western ever made. The music, writing, direction, acting and cinematography were all brilliant and perfect. Most great films have maybe one of those of those things. This one had them all.
I loaned a copy to one of my best friends - he watched it with his three teen-aged kids. All four of them hated it. To them it was slow and ponderous, and not nearly enough "action." That's what modern quick-cut short-attention-span media has done to the culture...
yes. it is rare to get it all right. I know it's an entirely different genre, but movies that have staying power for me ALWAYS have a great soundtrack - Blues Brothers.
The incongruity of the handsome, blue-eyed Fonda as the worst villain imaginable was truly delicious and a masterstroke of pure genius by Sergio Leone. The soundtrack by Ennio Morricone was sublime. My favourite western and Fonda movie.
Let's not forget Jason Robards and Charles Bronson's characters - they were superbly cast and acted as well. And Claudia Cardinale had to be the one of the loveliest actresses of that time and very versatile in her role as well.
I watched a short bit of a documentary on Sergio Leone, where it is mentioned that he described the storyboard to Ennio Morricone, so he could do the music and then Sergio could shoot over the musical score. Insane level of genius from both sides, to be able to create like that.
The scene referenced in this clip is one of the most bone-chilling sequences ever committed to film. It was masterfully executed in terms of music, editing and acting. A true classic.
he had it wrong- the hole arrangement in the yard is to welcome his wife (claydia Cardinale) he just married in N orleans etc- but before she arrives from the station : father and son is in the yard- suddenly some pheasents flapping away-promting people is somewhere up there-.. and then the 3-4 Dusters... arriwe and shoot the family- and the little boy after nr 2 says- what about him- frank- ? 1. frank says.....hm...now that you said my name..... bonechilling... he justy can´t shoot the kid ?...but he does...
Meh. Possibly a set up so Fonda could tell the story. These talk shows aren't as spontaneous and casual as they want us to think. Partially scripted I believe. This kinda proves it. Fonda was well known for this character
@@nicholasmuro1742 Meh, Fonda wasn't know for this part in the US until much later. When After a strong debut in Europe, the film was released in the US when I was 13, to lackluster reviews and dismal box office. Leone films were thought of as a joke in the US. Years later, when I was 18 I hung out with a bunch of film kids, and we saw repertory movies for a dollar on Saturdays at midnight, stuff like Fellini, Goddard, etc. One guy was older, like 25, and he borrowed The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from the library along with a projector. We watched it at his place, and he extolled its virtues, but the rest of us were still skeptical. Later still, around age 21 I saw Once Upon a Time in the West. It was the first time I'd seen Fonda as a villain, or knew he had played one. So it's not hard for me to imagine Cavett not knowing, especially since he's not the type to want to suffer the embarrassment of pretending there was anything he didn't know.
@@dalegreer3095 Ok. If you say so. I guess it's possible if the movie bombed in the US as you say. Maybe Cavett didn't know. But what do I know. I thought it was crap the first time I saw it. Still do. Time changes things. The Searchers with John Wayne wasn't well received. Now some say it's his best. Whatever
@@nicholasmuro1742 Amazing to realize, but ONCE UPON A TIME flat out bombed in the U.S. (only $2.1 million, not even half its production budget), not even finishing in the top 20 domestically. It didn't have a very long run as a result. In a pre-streaming, pre-DVD, pre-VHS, pre-cable, age, when foreign films rarely made a dent in the American consciousness, I can actually well believe that it could have slipped right past Cavett's radar. It did gonzo numbers in Europe, though, and that laid the foundation for its cult status in later years.
This is with no doubt the “Best Western Movie EVER”! Let’s never forget one person that made this film Amazing besides the incredible actors and director. Ennio Morricone! Without his incredible music this film would not be as great! The entire movie was a MASTERPIECE…!!!
"Once Upon a Time in the West" is one of the best westerns ever made, here or abroad. There is a reason that films like this endure the passing of time.
Oh Lord, I remember renting this on my own as a kid because I loved westerns & the Eastwood films. I remember this was the 1st time my dad came in & sat down to watch & 11 year old me, a bit taken aback by this, said "You want to watch this too?" And my Dad answered "Just watch...you'll remember the 1st time you watch this when you're my age." Well, I'm about his age at the time & he was so right. I remember him explaining to me after the movie how crazy it was to see Henry Fonda playing a villain. And what a villain he was. OUATITW is still one of my absolute favorite films. God bless for the upload!
At this point Leone wasn't taken seriously and Once Upon A Time in the West was totally unknown in the US. How things have changed. Also, if you haven't seen this movie this is indeed a 100% accurate description of the introduction of Frank.
I heard that Leone wanted Fonda for “Fistful of Dollars” but couldn’t get near him and had to settle for Eastwood. A few years later when “Once Upon a Time in the West” came up Leone tried Fonda again. Fonda got wind of the offer, hadn’t seen any of the “Dollars” movies yet, but did know Eli Wallach well enough to call him up and ask about Leone. Wallach said Fonda should accept whatever it is and just go do it - don’t worry about the script or anything, just go, he was gonna have a great time and the movie was probably gonna kick ass. So Fonda asked his agent to arrange a screening of the “Dollars” movies and his agent said in passing that Fonda was approached to be in them but the agent had chucked the scripts (which were very poor English translations of the Italian originals) into the trash and blown them off. “Huh,” thought Fonda, and he sat down and watched the three Clint Eastwood movies over a long afternoon. Afterward Fonda walked out and fired his agent - “I could have been doing these things, what else have I missed out on??”
So cool to have this clip preserved of Henry Fonda recounting the shock of his reveal in Once Upon A Time In The West. That kind of background information is priceless and it's great to see how into it he was.
If only Henry had lived long enough to see it restored to its present glory and recognized for the masterpiece it is. When it was released, Once Upon A Time In The West was horribly edited down for US theatrical release and largely dismissed by critics.
Same thing happened to once upon a time in America it was critically panned when it originally came out because of the studio’s massive butchering of the film and horrible edits of the story but thanks to Martin Scorsese and film restoration we got leone’s original and masterful version
In hindsight it is almost unbelievable that Fonda has to explain what the movie is called and what it is about. If we'd be able to interview him in 2022, we'd be going into details like Franks eternally curled corner of the mouth, first observed in this scene, or how he absolutely nailed Franks cruelty by his half amused reaction 'Now that you've called me by name...' Dunno about others, but I have always been fascinated by this movie and basically know it by heart. I was born a few years before it was made so to me, it has always been the classic, the probably best movie ever made. I can speak all the lines, have savoured all the scenes over and over. Then to think that this once was an unknown, b-rated movie is well neigh unthinkable.
I drove truck long haul for 30 years. I remember buying this at a truck stop for $12 on VHS. I had a TV and a tape player that plugged in the cigarette lighter. Lol. Watched it way too many times.
This is the one Western that I even like (OK, maybe Butch Cassidy too). My tastes in film are very different from that genre. Yet I too know this film virtually by heart and I watch it regularly on DVD.
Did you make coffee? (smile) This time I did. I like Cheyenne. Why didn't Jill love him, rather than the other, emotionally unavailable guy? I must admit, I don't like to think about how they must have smelt.
Cavett: "Was This Film Made?" Fonda: "Yes, and it was very successful." Only one of the most iconic Leone movies ever made, with one of the greatest actors of all time. Very successful, indeed.
The best western I have ever seen, and I have seen a few. Charles Bronson, Jason Robards, Claudia Cardinale and Henry Fonda all in amazing roles. I can watch that movie over and over.
I bumped into Henry Fonda..... literally on the dance floor in Columbus Oh. Ten years after this movie was made- 1979. He was doing Play House Theater a couple miles east of Columbus. Charlie Bear's disco was the biggest in Columbus. I'm a photographer, shooting rock bands since 1974. I've hung with world wide bands backstage for decades, eat their chicken wings..... just another night But running into Henry Fonda in 79 was a big deal in my life.
I once met Anthony Hopkins pumping ⛽ gas on sunset Blvd..he liked me and invited ME for lunch.. although I could not accept due to I was working.. but my most memorable encounter was meeting the owner of the Highlands inn Carmel..under the restaurant in a cave over looking the complete ocean he was laying in bed and White sheets very ill but conducting business..I thought he was Howard Hughes to the tee!!!
Many years later, such a massively successful and important film, it's odd to hear Fonda have to explain the film and introduce the director and that young actor, Clint Eastwood. Great stuff.
I remember Once Upon A Time in the West exactly like that. When I saw his face I felt a bit of relief for the little boy, "Oh good Henry Fonda's arrived." Total shock. Brilliant. People used to tell me I sound like Dick Cavett and every time I'd immediately say (because this is how I'd remember his voice), "Well Yoko and John, it's a real honor to have you on the show." Leone's a brilliant director - you never forget the movies, you can watch them again and again.
Except it's NOT the opening scene. THAT was at the train station, between Charles Bronson, Jack Elam, Woody Strode, and the actor(whose name I can't remember) who'd been in every other Leone western
@@mikegrossberg8624 Al Mulock, who shows up in two of Gordon Scott's Tarzans. He's also the guy who talks instead of shoots in The Good The Bad and The Ugly. He committed suicide in his Once Upon a TIme costume. Pretty sad tale.
Sergio Leone movies have only really just since 2000 or so become acknowledged for the absolute masterpieces that they were. This movie was the absolute Pinnacle of Sergio's career. Fonda played the most evil western villain on screen at the time. I totally bought it.
No, no, no. Even in the US in the 80s were very well known. The TV showed them a lot. As far as other countries Italian westerns were huge, everywhere.
I saw this movie in December 1970 at a theater on base at Ft Lewis, Washington. I was waiting to find my name on the manifest for Vietnam. This movie was playing at the theater there and I had never heard of it. I saw it and it has been my favorite western movie ever since. All the characters were fantastic and perfectly portrayed by the actors.
Not the greatest film at all, but certainly among the best westerns ever made. It’s shocking that Cavett is not familiar with the film ... he usually does his research.
@@gerardhealy7227 I wonder if he would have remembered Eastwood's name if things went to plan? As the director originally wanted Eastwood, Wallach and Van Cleef to be the 3 men waiting for Bronson at the train station. All 3 agreed but Eastwood was locked up doing another movie.
My fave has gotta be 'Once Upon a Time in the West'. I saw this in a theater when it first came out... WOW! The blending of human dramas, the sound effects of the guns, the almost poetic script, the music, and of course... Claudia Cardinale.
Watched “once upon ..” almost 4 decades later and was wowed by it on so many levels. The music score is a classic today. Feels strange seeing this clip , with Fonda being asked “Was this movie made” ? Incredible 😂.. An all time great movie.. “Was it made” 😂😂😂 ?
What a fantastic movie, and what an entrance in a movie. The shock factor is lost on millenial audiences who don't know who he was before that film. They'd have to imagine someone like Tom Hanks in that role to understand how shocking it was.
It happens every so often, when you get a family friendly or "good guy" actor, and they suddenly do a 180 into a total opposite of their usual tropes. Robin Williams in One Hour Photo comes to mind, too. Sometimes, playing against type can produce spectacular results.
It’s hard to think that Once Upon a Time in The West wasn’t initially successful in The States, it’s pretty much regarded now as one of the greatest movies ever made.
He pulled up next to me and my friends on Sunset Blvd the night of the premiere opening of Once Upon a Time in the West . We had just left the theatre after seeing that , the greatest western ever , and there he was in a black Mercedes 280 SL roadster , a younger stunning blonde next to him . We were all staring and he glanced over , gave us a disapproving look , and blasted off when the green light came on . We were all 19 and facing getting drafted for Viet nam . '69 was a great year for movies 👍
Up to that point, Henry Fonda was used to playing heroics figures in him movies. His portrayal of the evil villain Frank shook the American movie public to its core and was part of the reason the film didn’t do well in 1969. Nowadays, the film is an epic classic, and Fonda’s performance was one of his finest.
The delayed love for Fonda in that villainous role is a perfect example of "I guess you guys aren't ready for that yet, but your kids are gonna love it."
Easily one of the greatest films of all time, not just a great Western, an all-around great movie. Fonda is a stone cold villain, one of the most ruthless ever, a true masterpiece of a film. The joke about blue eyes Fonda is no joke, either. Leone wanted to get Clint Eastwood- just to kill him off in the opening scene!
I looked up bronson’s Wikipedia page after watching this movie. He led an interesting life. He was dirt poor as a kid, barely knew his coal miner father, went to work at the age of 10 I believe when his father died. Didn’t speak English until later in life. He was a tail gunner in wwii. Hard times make good men.
If you haven't seen it do yourself a favor and watch it several times it just keeps getting better each time it knocked Shane off my #1 spot down to #2 all time westerns
Love watching Henry Fonda in movies, great actor. The British saw his talent before we did, they knew a star in those days, and helped us to see what we overlooked .
@@cathalmcdonough5247 Exactly! Put some respect on that man's name. He was magnificent (and incidentally, ALSO appeared in a similar scene in Four for Texas about five years earlier...but that time, BRONSON was the villain)!
It's amazing that a film of such great lines was written by four Italians, with English as their second language (in fact I'm not even sure that all of them did speak English!)
That's amazing how Henry Fonda talks about classic 'Once Upon A Time In The West' as (when) if it was an unknown movie, worth spoilering the scenes. Yet, seems that it actually was an unknown movie at the time, taking into consideration Dick's reaction - complete surprise for a man who supposedly was always updated on film industry and showbiz generally.
The Dollars movies did very well indeed, but Paramount cut like half an hour out of the American release of “…West” and nobody saw it here. It did amazing business overseas where they got the whole movie, but not in the States.
Great interview! Henry wanted that role of a bad man real bad and he got it and I'm so glad that they gave it to him, because he just killed it. I think they even used a little dark eye liner around his eyes too. He was just awesome. 👍👍
Amazing hearing his take on that scene.....I also remember my father saying he didn’t like Henry Fonda afterwards because of that scene.....totally brutal at the time.....actually still is......great Cavett clip.....thank you
Epic motion picture and a part any actor would love to savor. For Fonda, it was a departure from the norm and demonstrates the range of his craft, ability and talent..... The rest of the cast mirrored the energy and vision of Leone...
Wow, can’t believe Dick was not aware of Once Upon. A Time in the West. Despite what Fonda says here, it was a success in the US. And it made some headlines for Fonda playing a heavy.
Not too much got by Cavett. Cavett was brilliant. He probably was playing dumb to let Henry tell the story. Dick Cavett was an amazing host. Not the entertainer Carson was but much more intellectual than any of the others.
@@fifthbusiness1678 Gotta agree about the best opening scene. I remember it pretty well and I can't remember what I had for breakfast most of the time.
@@bambam5000 True. But I mention it because Cavett was usually very educated on all things regarding film. The more I thought about it, I think maybe Leone wasn’t taken seriously as an artist until years later.
Este é um dos filmes que os anos passam, mas o filme não passa, nunca cansa de ver. Atores famosos no deserto de Taberna em Espanha-onde milhares de filmes de faroeste foram gravados e outras super produçôes como : Canon-Laurence Arábia-Patton etc
I recon Once Upon A time in the West, was the equal of the Good The Bad and the Ugly. They are both mesmerising to watch, with simply sublime Ennio Morricone scores. Remarkable films by a remarkable Italian director, with arguably the greatest film score composer who ever lived.
Sometimes its worse when somebody you normally love plays somebody you hate...the niceness of Fonda just went out of him, the warmth, the life even...Frank was just a cold, evil man with Death in his eyes...
It was incredible casting. I don't think I first saw the film until the 90's, but I was old enough to feel the shock of seeing the usual warm and heroic Fonda playing that role in that first scene. And the shock continued to echo throughout the movie. A brilliant performance of icy villainy made somehow more sinister by coming from Fonda, as if Satan had somehow turned a holy soul.
Once upon a time in the West was an excellent film I've watched it several times and those opening scenes of the family being shot certainly gets your attention.
From the opening scene of Once Upon A Time In The West … Jack Elam’s character, “Looks like we’re shy one horse.” Harmonica (C. Bronson), “Looks like you brought two too many.” Then it got serious …
What's your favourite Henry Fonda movie?
Once Upon a Time in the West
The Grapes of Wrath
Hard to pick but my answer has two replies: favorite role is in Once upon a time in the west but my favorite movie of his is Grapes of Wrath
on golden pond
OUATITW
His role in Once Upon a Time in The West was brutal. One of the meanest, most savage villians ever put on film.
Henry Fonda's "Frank" was described as the Coldest Killer in Westerns.
Charles Bronson gave it to him at the end, and Frank recognized him when Bronson stuck the harmonica in his mouth. Classic.
A "contender" is Lee Marvin's inspiredly leering, grinning, resourcefully sadistic, Oscar calibre turn as the titular villain in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence (1962). In part reprised, if camped up, in his dual role in Cat Ballou (1965) as a ruthless gun killer (of Jane Fonda's character's father) and as his twin brother Kid Shaleen, a once legendary, now ex~ sharpshooter gone alcoholic whom she hires as avenger. He takes the challenge, and his sobering up, series of situps and target practice regeneration until his big contest win prefigures the Rocky film.
@@ThePmfan - That reveal was so epic. One of my favorites in film.
@@JudgeJulieLit Lee Marvin scalding Gloria Graham's face in The big heat is him at his meanest.
The whole film, from first shot to last -- the framing, the pace, the music, the drama -- is just epic! If you've not seen it, do yourself a favour. It's a masterpiece.
Leoni actually had his composer, Ennio Morricone, write and record the music before starting filming. And Leoni had the music playing while scenes were shot making the movie 1 big choreographed dance between the music, the actors and the cameras.
@@markschroder4523 Fantastic. Thanks Mark.
An absolute masterpiece!
It certainly is and Henry Fonda was brilliant - A role where he played "against type" that showed even more what a truly great actor he was
@@markschroder4523 That is really interesting to know. Thanks. Just adds to my admiration for this film.
You can tell Fonda was excited about playing Frank in "Once Upon A Time in The West"; his enthusiasm in retelling his character's deadly intro scene is fantastic.
yeah i expected him to not like that experience but boy am i glad that he did
His daughter Jane did an interview with Norm Macdonald a few years ago. She said that he had to be convinced to do the movie as he really did not want to play a bad guy
@@Dyslexic_Anorexic Correct, if it wasn’t for his buddy Eli Wallach, who was in the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, convincing him that Leone was a genius, he wouldn’t have done it. Fonda realized after the film came out how powerful it was to put a saint like him as the villain. This was the 70s in Hollywood, Henry was afraid of ruining his image as the good guy, but thank God he accepted the role. There is something so oddly chilling about seeing a clichè good guy be an absolute menace.
He also did My Name is Nobody while he was there. A very silly Western with a small role for Fonda as an old gunfighter trying to retire. Quite endearing.
@@SalmiakAlert That's a great Western too.
It's funny to hear Fonda talking about Once Upon A Time in the West as a little-known film, and Cavett asking at the end if it was finished. One of the greatest Westerns ever.
because these were the days long before vhs/dvds , youtube etc, and if you missed a movie in the theater, good chance you never got to see it, unless maybe If they showed it on tv years later.
Exactly.
@@robertawesome2410 Good point.
Greatest films ever
It likely hadn't caught on outside of europe yet at that time.
Frank: "How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders? The man can't even trust his own pants." Classic!
ROTFLMAO 🤣
a masterpiece comment, in a masterpiece film (which includes masterpiece music) i watch it once a year.
that movie was amazing!
I recite this anytime I see it in public.
Thanks Les.
Such a delight to hear Fonda share this story. Once Upon A Time In The West is the best western ever made. The music, writing, direction, acting and cinematography were all brilliant and perfect. Most great films have maybe one of those of those things. This one had them all.
agree 100%..have the dvd..and watch the re-runs every single time on the tube..why it wasn't a blockbuster stateside I will never understand!
A masterpiece, and only equalled by The Wild Bunch, in my opinion.
I loaned a copy to one of my best friends - he watched it with his three teen-aged kids. All four of them hated it. To them it was slow and ponderous, and not nearly enough "action." That's what modern quick-cut short-attention-span media has done to the culture...
yes. it is rare to get it all right. I know it's an entirely different genre, but movies that have staying power for me ALWAYS have a great soundtrack - Blues Brothers.
You forgot the great Morricone score
The incongruity of the handsome, blue-eyed Fonda as the worst villain imaginable was truly delicious and a masterstroke of pure genius by Sergio Leone. The soundtrack by Ennio Morricone was sublime. My favourite western and Fonda movie.
Let's not forget Jason Robards and Charles Bronson's characters - they were superbly cast and acted as well. And Claudia Cardinale had to be the one of the loveliest actresses of that time and very versatile in her role as well.
I watched a short bit of a documentary on Sergio Leone, where it is mentioned that he described the storyboard to Ennio Morricone, so he could do the music and then Sergio could shoot over the musical score. Insane level of genius from both sides, to be able to create like that.
The scene referenced in this clip is one of the most bone-chilling sequences ever committed to film. It was masterfully executed in terms of music, editing and acting. A true classic.
he had it wrong-
the hole arrangement in the yard is to welcome his wife (claydia Cardinale) he just married in N orleans etc-
but before she arrives from the station :
father and son is in the yard- suddenly some pheasents flapping away-promting people is somewhere up there-.. and then the 3-4 Dusters... arriwe and shoot the family- and
the little boy after
nr 2 says- what about him- frank- ?
1. frank says.....hm...now that you said my name.....
bonechilling... he justy can´t shoot the kid ?...but he does...
The ending gunfight between Fonda and Bronson was one of the best film endings ever.
"Was this movie made?" Weird to think of a time when someone like Dick Cavett didn't know about such a legendary movie.
Exactly what I thought, Dick always appears to know a lot about film history. For him to not have even heard of this film is mind blowing
Meh. Possibly a set up so Fonda could tell the story. These talk shows aren't as spontaneous and casual as they want us to think. Partially scripted I believe. This kinda proves it. Fonda was well known for this character
@@nicholasmuro1742 Meh, Fonda wasn't know for this part in the US until much later. When After a strong debut in Europe, the film was released in the US when I was 13, to lackluster reviews and dismal box office. Leone films were thought of as a joke in the US.
Years later, when I was 18 I hung out with a bunch of film kids, and we saw repertory movies for a dollar on Saturdays at midnight, stuff like Fellini, Goddard, etc.
One guy was older, like 25, and he borrowed The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from the library along with a projector. We watched it at his place, and he extolled its virtues, but the rest of us were still skeptical.
Later still, around age 21 I saw Once Upon a Time in the West. It was the first time I'd seen Fonda as a villain, or knew he had played one.
So it's not hard for me to imagine Cavett not knowing, especially since he's not the type to want to suffer the embarrassment of pretending there was anything he didn't know.
@@dalegreer3095
Ok. If you say so. I guess it's possible if the movie bombed in the US as you say. Maybe Cavett didn't know. But what do I know. I thought it was crap the first time I saw it.
Still do. Time changes things. The Searchers with John Wayne wasn't well received. Now some say it's his best. Whatever
@@nicholasmuro1742 Amazing to realize, but ONCE UPON A TIME flat out bombed in the U.S. (only $2.1 million, not even half its production budget), not even finishing in the top 20 domestically. It didn't have a very long run as a result. In a pre-streaming, pre-DVD, pre-VHS, pre-cable, age, when foreign films rarely made a dent in the American consciousness, I can actually well believe that it could have slipped right past Cavett's radar. It did gonzo numbers in Europe, though, and that laid the foundation for its cult status in later years.
This is with no doubt the “Best Western Movie EVER”! Let’s never forget one person that made this film Amazing besides the incredible actors and director. Ennio Morricone! Without his incredible music this film would not be as great! The entire movie was a MASTERPIECE…!!!
Saw it at a theater, shortly after it came out. I freaked when Fonda showed up. Undoubtedly the best western ever filmed. Henry was awesome.
"Once Upon a Time in the West" is one of the best westerns ever made, here or abroad. There is a reason that films like this endure the passing of time.
One of the most terrifying yet sublime villain entrances ever
Oh Lord, I remember renting this on my own as a kid because I loved westerns & the Eastwood films. I remember this was the 1st time my dad came in & sat down to watch & 11 year old me, a bit taken aback by this, said "You want to watch this too?" And my Dad answered "Just watch...you'll remember the 1st time you watch this when you're my age." Well, I'm about his age at the time & he was so right. I remember him explaining to me after the movie how crazy it was to see Henry Fonda playing a villain. And what a villain he was. OUATITW is still one of my absolute favorite films. God bless for the upload!
No doubt!
Terrifying Yet Sublime is Spot on
True capable persona power is sublime. No self promotion or projection needed
At this point Leone wasn't taken seriously and Once Upon A Time in the West was totally unknown in the US. How things have changed. Also, if you haven't seen this movie this is indeed a 100% accurate description of the introduction of Frank.
yes he was, the good the bad and the ugly made him superstar director
Bronson, robards, Fonda .... unbelievable it didn't initially do well here.
One of the greatest westerns and arguably of any genre and Cavett asks " Did this film get made"? Only in the US... 😳
I heard that Leone wanted Fonda for “Fistful of Dollars” but couldn’t get near him and had to settle for Eastwood. A few years later when “Once Upon a Time in the West” came up Leone tried Fonda again. Fonda got wind of the offer, hadn’t seen any of the “Dollars” movies yet, but did know Eli Wallach well enough to call him up and ask about Leone. Wallach said Fonda should accept whatever it is and just go do it - don’t worry about the script or anything, just go, he was gonna have a great time and the movie was probably gonna kick ass. So Fonda asked his agent to arrange a screening of the “Dollars” movies and his agent said in passing that Fonda was approached to be in them but the agent had chucked the scripts (which were very poor English translations of the Italian originals) into the trash and blown them off. “Huh,” thought Fonda, and he sat down and watched the three Clint Eastwood movies over a long afternoon. Afterward Fonda walked out and fired his agent - “I could have been doing these things, what else have I missed out on??”
@@karlmortoniv2951 Source?
So cool to have this clip preserved of Henry Fonda recounting the shock of his reveal in Once Upon A Time In The West. That kind of background information is priceless and it's great to see how into it he was.
If only Henry had lived long enough to see it restored to its present glory and recognized for the masterpiece it is. When it was released, Once Upon A Time In The West was horribly edited down for US theatrical release and largely dismissed by critics.
Paramount removed 45 minutes and what was left made no sense. Was panned critically and a dud financially in the US.
Same thing happened to once upon a time in America it was critically panned when it originally came out because of the studio’s massive butchering of the film and horrible edits of the story but thanks to Martin Scorsese and film restoration we got leone’s original and masterful version
I saw it as a teenager in Europe and was blown away. It look more realistically wild west than most US westerns at that time.
It wasn't even appreciated by his later years? That's sad.
In hindsight it is almost unbelievable that Fonda has to explain what the movie is called and what it is about. If we'd be able to interview him in 2022, we'd be going into details like Franks eternally curled corner of the mouth, first observed in this scene, or how he absolutely nailed Franks cruelty by his half amused reaction 'Now that you've called me by name...'
Dunno about others, but I have always been fascinated by this movie and basically know it by heart. I was born a few years before it was made so to me, it has always been the classic, the probably best movie ever made. I can speak all the lines, have savoured all the scenes over and over. Then to think that this once was an unknown, b-rated movie is well neigh unthinkable.
I drove truck long haul for 30 years. I remember buying this at a truck stop for $12 on VHS. I had a TV and a tape player that plugged in the cigarette lighter. Lol. Watched it way too many times.
Isn't and never was a b-rated movie.
@@kevincrozier8625 that’s awesome lol. I didn’t know they made such a thing.
This is the one Western that I even like (OK, maybe Butch Cassidy too). My tastes in film are very different from that genre. Yet I too know this film virtually by heart and I watch it regularly on DVD.
Did you make coffee? (smile) This time I did.
I like Cheyenne. Why didn't Jill love him, rather than the other, emotionally unavailable guy?
I must admit, I don't like to think about how they must have smelt.
Even Henry Fonda loved that introduction
Cavett: "Was This Film Made?" Fonda: "Yes, and it was very successful." Only one of the most iconic Leone movies ever made, with one of the greatest actors of all time. Very successful, indeed.
You can tell how passionate he was about this film.
Love these old interviews being uploaded. I enjoy the class and wit of these discussions.
Great story. Once Upon a Time in the West is an absolute classic. Fonda, Bronson, and Woody Strode are magnificent.
Jason Robarbs is no slouch either.
@@ThePmfan of course, I should have mentioned his fine contribution.
Jack Elam?
@@joedellaselva1251 ah yes!
Claudia Cardinale
Once Upon A Time in the West is simply awesome. The soundtrack alone will absolutely floor you.
The movie and soundtrack is a masterpiece for the ages!
One of the best films of all time. Fonda owned this role.
Once Upon a Time in the West is an absolute masterpiece. So thrilling to see Henry Fonda talk about it. Never saw this interview. Thanks for posting.
The best western I have ever seen, and I have seen a few. Charles Bronson, Jason Robards, Claudia Cardinale and Henry Fonda all in amazing roles. I can watch that movie over and over.
This man was a gift to Hollywood.
Perhaps, but not a gift to his children.
@@fifthbusiness1678 He was a kind of a gift to them. Otherwise we wouldn't know the existence of Jane and Peter today.
but wasnt the film made in spains countryside in the south and italy studioes ?
I bumped into Henry Fonda..... literally on the dance floor in Columbus Oh. Ten years after this movie was made- 1979. He was doing Play House Theater a couple miles east of Columbus. Charlie Bear's disco was the biggest in Columbus. I'm a photographer, shooting rock bands since 1974. I've hung with world wide bands backstage for decades, eat their chicken wings..... just another night But running into Henry Fonda in 79 was a big deal in my life.
Great encounter.. the movie was priceless
I'm also a photographer by blood passion..I could have coached ..sr.leone..with my articulate eyes
Correction.. since..not my eyes but my eyelids is the lighting magic..as I understand it...wow you met frank..
I once met Anthony Hopkins pumping ⛽ gas on sunset Blvd..he liked me and invited ME for lunch.. although I could not accept due to I was working.. but my most memorable encounter was meeting the owner of the Highlands inn Carmel..under the restaurant in a cave over looking the complete ocean he was laying in bed and White sheets very ill but conducting business..I thought he was Howard Hughes to the tee!!!
Many years later, such a massively successful and important film, it's odd to hear Fonda have to explain the film and introduce the director and that young actor, Clint Eastwood. Great stuff.
1972, I think Eastwood was pretty well known by then. Dirty Harry came out in 1971.
I remember Once Upon A Time in the West exactly like that. When I saw his face I felt a bit of relief for the little boy, "Oh good Henry Fonda's arrived." Total shock. Brilliant. People used to tell me I sound like Dick Cavett and every time I'd immediately say (because this is how I'd remember his voice), "Well Yoko and John, it's a real honor to have you on the show." Leone's a brilliant director - you never forget the movies, you can watch them again and again.
That was the most impactful opening scene and villain introduction in cinema history.
A wonderful description of one the greatest character introductions in motion picture history. Pure movie magic.
Magnificent description of the opening scene of Once upon a Time in the West & Fonda’s character sure was dripping with evil as the smiling killer.
Except it's NOT the opening scene.
THAT was at the train station, between Charles Bronson, Jack Elam, Woody Strode, and the actor(whose name I can't remember) who'd been in every other Leone western
@@mikegrossberg8624 Al Mulock, who shows up in two of Gordon Scott's Tarzans. He's also the guy who talks instead of shoots in The Good The Bad and The Ugly. He committed suicide in his Once Upon a TIme costume. Pretty sad tale.
@@miked6335 He was also one of the gang in both Fistful of Dollars AND For a Few Dollars More
The opening is legendary long and slow, supportive actor is a fly😁
@@inlakesh555 "It looks like you brought two too many."
I can't believe Cavett had never heard of Once Upon a Time in the West. It's an amazing western - probably the best
henry fonda's voice is so satisfying to listen to... so happy to see another new video of him
Absolutely right. And an extraordinary face.
I've always loved listening to his voice too
Man... Henry Fonda understood the movie perfectly. Not an ordinary movie for him.
Sergio Leone movies have only really just since 2000 or so become acknowledged for the absolute masterpieces that they were. This movie was the absolute Pinnacle of Sergio's career. Fonda played the most evil western villain on screen at the time. I totally bought it.
No, no, no. Even in the US in the 80s were very well known. The TV showed them a lot. As far as other countries Italian westerns were huge, everywhere.
I saw this movie in December 1970 at a theater on base at Ft Lewis, Washington. I was waiting to find my name on the manifest for Vietnam. This movie was playing at the theater there and I had never heard of it. I saw it and it has been my favorite western movie ever since. All the characters were fantastic and perfectly portrayed by the actors.
One of the best westerns ever made, and Fonda's turn as a villain is spectacular. It is such a difference from his typical roles.
To think that he didn't know the name of the greatest film ever made is shocking .Once upon a time in the west .
Not the greatest film at all, but certainly among the best westerns ever made. It’s shocking that Cavett is not familiar with the film ... he usually does his research.
Forgot Clint Easwood's name too.
I'm a massive John Wayne and Eastwood fan. But Once upon a time in the west. Is easily the best western ever made. And one of the best movies overall.
@@gerardhealy7227 I wonder if he would have remembered Eastwood's name if things went to plan? As the director originally wanted Eastwood, Wallach and Van Cleef to be the 3 men waiting for Bronson at the train station. All 3 agreed but Eastwood was locked up doing another movie.
@@gerardhealy7227 Well, at that time, he did play "The Man With No Name".
One of my favorite movies of all time. Beautiful story, stunning cinematography, amazing soundtrack by the one and only Ennio Morricone.
He describes the opening of "Once upon a time in the west" verbatim. And he was a great villain on it, for sure.
Actually, that wasn’t the opening; the opening scene is just as good, with Charles Bronson and Jack Elam's conversation. Leone was a genius.
@@eronavbj Absolutely!
This guys acting had a huge passion with it. Legends for ever
My fave has gotta be 'Once Upon a Time in the West'. I saw this in a theater when it first came out... WOW!
The blending of human dramas, the sound effects of the guns, the almost poetic script, the music, and of course... Claudia Cardinale.
Watched “once upon ..” almost 4 decades later and was wowed by it on so many levels. The music score is a classic today. Feels strange seeing this clip , with Fonda being asked “Was this movie made” ? Incredible 😂.. An all time great movie.. “Was it made” 😂😂😂 ?
Excellent retelling of a classic by Mr. Fonda. Given how well he sets the scene for the audience, he might have made a great director as well.
What a fantastic movie, and what an entrance in a movie. The shock factor is lost on millenial audiences who don't know who he was before that film. They'd have to imagine someone like Tom Hanks in that role to understand how shocking it was.
Hanks did try his hand, with mixed results, playing a mob enforcer in The Road To Perdition.
It happens every so often, when you get a family friendly or "good guy" actor, and they suddenly do a 180 into a total opposite of their usual tropes.
Robin Williams in One Hour Photo comes to mind, too.
Sometimes, playing against type can produce spectacular results.
I watched the film in 2021 after having not seen it in over 40 years and was still shocked by the raw brutality of the scene.
@@mdteletom1288 Well he wasn`t a total villain in that film. At the end he cared about his family. Col. Parker in Elvis was more mean.
I had read somewhere that people walked out of the theaters when they saw it was Henry Fonda they were so upset.
It’s hard to think that Once Upon a Time in The West wasn’t initially successful in The States, it’s pretty much regarded now as one of the greatest movies ever made.
He pulled up next to me and my friends on Sunset Blvd the night of the premiere opening of Once Upon a Time in the West . We had just left the theatre after seeing that , the greatest western ever , and there he was in a black Mercedes 280 SL roadster , a younger stunning blonde next to him . We were all staring and he glanced over , gave us a disapproving look , and blasted off when the green light came on . We were all 19 and facing getting drafted for Viet nam . '69 was a great year for movies 👍
Up to that point, Henry Fonda was used to playing heroics figures in him movies. His portrayal of the evil villain Frank shook the American movie public to its core and was part of the reason the film didn’t do well in 1969. Nowadays, the film is an epic classic, and Fonda’s performance was one of his finest.
The delayed love for Fonda in that villainous role is a perfect example of "I guess you guys aren't ready for that yet, but your kids are gonna love it."
That was the best western I have ever seen. The plot was great
That and the Wild Bunch.
Easily one of the greatest films of all time, not just a great Western, an all-around great movie. Fonda is a stone cold villain, one of the most ruthless ever, a true masterpiece of a film. The joke about blue eyes Fonda is no joke, either. Leone wanted to get Clint Eastwood- just to kill him off in the opening scene!
Once Upon A Time in the West is the best western ever made. Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson's roles are among their best work as well.
...and to think Bronson got the role because Eastwood turned it down. Thank you Clint for letting Bronson shine in this film.
I looked up bronson’s Wikipedia page after watching this movie. He led an interesting life. He was dirt poor as a kid, barely knew his coal miner father, went to work at the age of 10 I believe when his father died. Didn’t speak English until later in life. He was a tail gunner in wwii. Hard times make good men.
To me, one key reason Once Upon a Time in the West is so effective (and a favorite film of mine) is that the villain is played by Henry Fonda.
That is why Leone wanted him.
An excellent cast all around! Fabulous movie, and the music theme from it is still my all time favorite!
If you haven't seen it do yourself a favor and watch it several times it just keeps getting better each time it knocked Shane off my #1 spot down to #2 all time westerns
One of the best westerns ever made...he was riveting in that scene...and yes, I had that reaction...Henry Fonda!
Love watching Henry Fonda in movies, great actor. The British saw his talent before we did, they knew a star in those days, and helped us to see what we overlooked
.
In my opinion Once upon a time in the west is the best of those westerns
My all time favourite movie. Seen it so many times. Classic.
Villain: "Looks like we're shy one horse!" Charles Bronson shakes head. "You brought two too many."
Jack Elam is the name of the villain.
One of my favorite movie lines of all time!
@@cathalmcdonough5247 Exactly! Put some respect on that man's name. He was magnificent (and incidentally, ALSO appeared in a similar scene in Four for Texas about five years earlier...but that time, BRONSON was the villain)!
It's amazing that a film of such great lines was written by four Italians, with English as their second language (in fact I'm not even sure that all of them did speak English!)
@@stuco81 I think Mickey Knox is responsible for the great dialogue (who also brilliantly translated "Good, Bad, Ugly")
After watching this epic masterpiece, I cannot understand why it wasn't popular in the US.
That scene in that film is one of the best ever!!
That's amazing how Henry Fonda talks about classic 'Once Upon A Time In The West' as (when) if it was an unknown movie, worth spoilering the scenes. Yet, seems that it actually was an unknown movie at the time, taking into consideration Dick's reaction - complete surprise for a man who supposedly was always updated on film industry and showbiz generally.
That was funny, it's tricky to imagine something like the Dollar trilogy, Sergio Leone, Clint Eastwood as underground nowadays
The description of the scene shocked him.
The Dollars movies did very well indeed, but Paramount cut like half an hour out of the American release of “…West” and nobody saw it here. It did amazing business overseas where they got the whole movie, but not in the States.
Great interview!
Henry wanted that role of a bad man real bad and he got it and I'm so glad that they gave it to him, because he just killed it. I think they even used a little dark eye liner around his eyes too.
He was just awesome.
👍👍
In my opinion, one of the top 5 Westerns ever made.
That shot with his blue eyes and the stubble made him all that much more monsterous.
It's the loving smile and glinting gleam in Frank's eyes that makes it absolutely chillingly cold.
Love the movie. Especially the opening scene at the train station. wow! the build up was fantastic!
That's true, Henry Fonda had a very elegant and distinctive way of walking...
Superb actor, very articulate man.
Amazing hearing his take on that scene.....I also remember my father saying he didn’t like Henry Fonda afterwards because of that scene.....totally brutal at the time.....actually still is......great Cavett clip.....thank you
Epic motion picture and a part any actor would love to savor. For Fonda, it was a departure from the norm and demonstrates the range of his craft, ability and talent..... The rest of the cast mirrored the energy and vision of Leone...
Once Upon a Time in the West is one of the greatest movies ever made. Henry Fonda was *incredible* as Frank.
not one flaw in that movie. Charles Bronson opening scene is fantastic. and I love Jason Robards in that movie.
Thank you for the upload! I finally watched Once Upon A time a couple months ago! Masterful. The music, Claudia Cardinale!! Wow!
"People scare better when they're dyin" Best Western ever 🤘
Great movie. Great actor. He should have played more bad guys. He was good at it.
One of the best. A great film.
This movie and the 3 other spaghetti westerns with Eastwood are the greatest westerns in movie history.
@@elementrypenguin3116 OUTLAW JOSEY WAYLES.
@@ricogomez4020 yea, that’s a great one , too. And High Plains Drifter
Henry fonda truly one of the best I don't think he ever made a move that I didn't appreciate.
Sergio Leone had the immense genius of revealing to a great country like the United States the paradox that what is considered good can be evil
An absolute masterpiece of a scene. I'll never forget it.
What's the name of that unknown actor... Clint.... Eastwood.
From Australia, it took me years to get a DVD copy of the movie for my classic collection, a great movie full of a superb cast
He did an amazing job - his steely eyes were amazing
Sergio was so underrated and knew exactly what he wanted and Fonda was great in this part . Add Ennio and you have a masterpiece
Wow, can’t believe Dick was not aware of Once Upon. A Time in the West. Despite what Fonda says here, it was a success in the US. And it made some headlines for Fonda playing a heavy.
Indeed. One of the best westerns ever, IMO. And Fonda playing against type. That opening scene is one the very best in film.
Not too much got by Cavett. Cavett was brilliant. He probably was playing dumb to let Henry tell the story. Dick Cavett was an amazing host. Not the entertainer Carson was but much more intellectual than any of the others.
@@fifthbusiness1678 Gotta agree about the best opening scene. I remember it pretty well and I can't remember what I had for breakfast most of the time.
I suppose this is from a very different time. Pre-home video even. If you missed a film at the cinema, there's very little chance to see it again.
@@bambam5000 True. But I mention it because Cavett was usually very educated on all things regarding film. The more I thought about it, I think maybe Leone wasn’t taken seriously as an artist until years later.
Este é um dos filmes que os anos passam, mas o filme não passa, nunca cansa de ver. Atores famosos no deserto de Taberna em Espanha-onde milhares de filmes de faroeste foram gravados e outras super produçôes como : Canon-Laurence Arábia-Patton etc
It's amazing to realize that Once upon a time in the West was so little known back then!!
One of THE BEST Westerns with a superb cast.
He was scary AF in that role. Baby blues became ICE blue, cold as death. Great role to shake up his body of work.
I recon Once Upon A time in the West, was the equal of the Good The Bad and the Ugly.
They are both mesmerising to watch, with simply sublime Ennio Morricone scores.
Remarkable films by a remarkable Italian director, with arguably the greatest film score composer who ever lived.
Sometimes its worse when somebody you normally love plays somebody you hate...the niceness of Fonda just went out of him, the warmth, the life even...Frank was just a cold, evil man with Death in his eyes...
Amazing that none of them had heard of Once Upon A Time In The West, one of the greatest films ever made.
"Was this film made?" - this had me gasping.
It was incredible casting. I don't think I first saw the film until the 90's, but I was old enough to feel the shock of seeing the usual warm and heroic Fonda playing that role in that first scene. And the shock continued to echo throughout the movie. A brilliant performance of icy villainy made somehow more sinister by coming from Fonda, as if Satan had somehow turned a holy soul.
Still the best Western ever made. The cinematography, the music, the story...the best
I grew up with Henry Fonda performances, of course, but I fell in love with him only recently during his performance The Tin Star.
Once upon a time in the West was an excellent film I've watched it several times and those opening scenes of the family being shot certainly gets your attention.
Henry is a great story teller. I'm impressed.
From the opening scene of Once Upon A Time In The West …
Jack Elam’s character, “Looks like we’re shy one horse.”
Harmonica (C. Bronson), “Looks like you brought two too many.”
Then it got serious …