Once Upon a Time in the West
Jill McBain travels to the wild frontier, Utah, where she and her new husband planned to settle down, but upon arrival, she finds him and his children dead. There's a lot of land, and potential, but there are also those who want to take it--at any cost. Even if it means killing a man and his kids.
Working with a tight budget of $5.0M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $5.4M in global revenue (+8% profit margin).
6 wins & 5 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) exhibits strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Sergio Leone's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 45 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 4.1, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Harmonica
Jill McBain
Frank
Cheyenne
Morton
Brett McBain
Main Cast & Characters
Harmonica
Played by Charles Bronson
A mysterious stranger seeking revenge for his brother's death, identified only by the haunting harmonica he plays.
Jill McBain
Played by Claudia Cardinale
A former New Orleans prostitute who arrives to find her new family massacred and must fight to keep her land.
Frank
Played by Henry Fonda
A ruthless hired killer working for the railroad who murdered the McBain family and seeks to become a legitimate businessman.
Cheyenne
Played by Jason Robards
A charming outlaw wrongly accused of the McBain massacre who becomes an unlikely ally to Jill and Harmonica.
Morton
Played by Gabriele Ferzetti
A railroad tycoon dying of tuberculosis who wants to see the Pacific Ocean before his death and will stop at nothing to complete his railroad.
Brett McBain
Played by Frank Wolff
A widower farmer building a station at Sweetwater, murdered by Frank's gang before the main story begins.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Three gunmen wait at a desolate train station, establishing the harsh, lawless frontier where violence simmers beneath everyday moments.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 18 minutes when Frank and his men massacre the entire McBain family at their homestead, shattering any hope of peaceful settlement and revealing the brutal force opposing civilization's advance.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 37 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 22% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Jill decides to stay at Sweetwater despite the danger, refusing to sell to Morton. This choice commits her to the fight for her land and entangles her with Harmonica and Cheyenne., moving from reaction to action.
At 74 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 45% of the runtime—arriving early, accelerating into Act IIb complications. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Frank kills Morton and takes full control, eliminating his employer and becoming the sole threat. The stakes raise as Frank consolidates power and targets Sweetwater directly., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 111 minutes (67% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jill nearly loses everything at the auction, saved only by Cheyenne's hidden funds. The dream of Sweetwater almost dies, and the fragility of civilization against violence is starkly revealed., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 118 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 72% of the runtime. Harmonica reveals his identity to Frank through the flashback: Frank forced young Harmonica to support his dying brother. The revelation unlocks the final confrontation and completes Harmonica's arc., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Once Upon a Time in the West's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Once Upon a Time in the West against these established plot points, we can identify how Sergio Leone utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Once Upon a Time in the West within the drama genre.
Sergio Leone's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Sergio Leone films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 4.6, showcasing experimental approaches to narrative form. Once Upon a Time in the West takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Sergio Leone filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more Sergio Leone analyses, see The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, For a Few Dollars More and Once Upon a Time in America.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Three gunmen wait at a desolate train station, establishing the harsh, lawless frontier where violence simmers beneath everyday moments.
Theme
Brett McBain says to his daughter, "People scare better when they're dying," foreshadowing the film's exploration of survival through fear, power, and the death of the Old West.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of the frontier world: Harmonica arrives, the McBain family celebrates their new future, and we see the railroad's westward push. The world is shown through atmospheric stillness and brutal violence.
Disruption
Frank and his men massacre the entire McBain family at their homestead, shattering any hope of peaceful settlement and revealing the brutal force opposing civilization's advance.
Resistance
Jill arrives as McBain's widow to claim Sweetwater; Harmonica hunts Frank while protecting Jill; Cheyenne is framed for the massacre. The characters circle each other, revealing motivations and alliances.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jill decides to stay at Sweetwater despite the danger, refusing to sell to Morton. This choice commits her to the fight for her land and entangles her with Harmonica and Cheyenne.
Mirror World
Harmonica and Jill share a moment of connection at Sweetwater. She represents the future and civilization he's helping to build, contrasting his violent quest for vengeance.
Premise
The battle for Sweetwater unfolds: Cheyenne helps Jill hold the land, Harmonica stalks Frank, and Morton's railroad ambitions create mounting tension. The premise of Old West versus New West plays out.
Midpoint
Frank kills Morton and takes full control, eliminating his employer and becoming the sole threat. The stakes raise as Frank consolidates power and targets Sweetwater directly.
Opposition
Frank tightens his grip, sending men to intimidate Jill and eliminate threats. The auction for Sweetwater looms. Harmonica's vendetta intensifies as the final confrontation becomes inevitable.
Collapse
Jill nearly loses everything at the auction, saved only by Cheyenne's hidden funds. The dream of Sweetwater almost dies, and the fragility of civilization against violence is starkly revealed.
Crisis
Jill secures Sweetwater but realizes the cost of survival in this world. Harmonica prepares for his final confrontation with Frank. The darkness before the resolution settles over all.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Harmonica reveals his identity to Frank through the flashback: Frank forced young Harmonica to support his dying brother. The revelation unlocks the final confrontation and completes Harmonica's arc.
Synthesis
Harmonica faces Frank in a final duel and kills him. Cheyenne dies from his wounds. The railroad arrives at Sweetwater as Jill brings water to the workers, fulfilling McBain's dream. The Old West dies; the New West begins.
Transformation
Harmonica rides away as Jill nurtures the railroad workers at Sweetwater. The gunslinger era ends; civilization arrives. Jill has transformed from widow to pioneer matriarch, embodying the future.