I view Bernard Hermann
and Ennio Morricone as examples of extreme cinema score opposites. Bernard
Hermann used traditional orchestral instruments and as Hermann said in the
interview from the readings, “I don’t like the leitmotif system”. In Once Upon
a time in the West, Ennio Morricone’s score is almost 100% leitmotifs from what
I recall watching the film. Each of the three main characters has a theme for
their appearance on screen: harmonica for Harmonica (which reminded me of a
lone wolf howling to match Harmonica’s rogue nature), a goofy drunken horse type
melody for Cheyenne (which really acts as comic relief since it’s so hard to
take him seriously with that music), a distorted guitar tune for Frank, and an
emotionally tender piece with strings for Jill who represents the only
redeeming quality for the west which would be destroyed if it were left in the
hands of these outlaws.
The one word I would
use to describe this film is operatic. The constant extreme close ups and
staring contests with pistols loaded are a trademark of Sergio Leone’s
spaghetti western style just as much as Ennio Morricone’s nontraditional musical
arrangements. And to be honest, this style wore thin pretty quick in my
opinion. I can’t quite put my finger on it but something about the ever present
threat of getting shot or the long tension of Harmonica playing just sitting in
a corner playing music. The melodrama just goes overboard. I felt like the
final shootout between Harmonica and Frank would be more exciting or emotional
if the rest of the movie wasn’t already more of the same. It feels like someone
is always a breath away from getting a bullet.
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