C'era una volta il West
"There were three men in her life. One to take her… one to love her —and one to kill her."
Once Upon a Time in the West - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details
Easter Eggs
Numerous visual and thematic references to classic American Westerns.
Leone, a great admirer of the genre, filled the film with homages to the movies that inspired him. For example, the McBain massacre is reminiscent of a similar scene in "The Searchers." The choice to film in Monument Valley is a direct nod to the work of director John Ford. The opening scene with three men waiting for a train is a reference to "High Noon." The film acts as both a tribute to and a deconstruction of the classic Hollywood Western.
The character of the Sheriff, played by Keenan Wynn, is named Sam.
This is likely a reference to director Sam Peckinpah, another master of the Western genre known for his revisionist take on its classic tropes. Robert Ryan was originally offered the role but turned it down for a part in Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch."
Woody Strode's character uses a sawed-off Winchester rifle.
This is a subtle tribute to the TV series "Wanted: Dead or Alive," where Steve McQueen's character carried a similar signature weapon known as a "Mare's Leg."