Once Upon a Time in the West - Ending Explained

The central mystery of "Once Upon a Time in the West" is the identity of Harmonica and the reason for his relentless pursuit of Frank. This is withheld until the film's climax. During their final duel, a flashback reveals the source of Harmonica's trauma: as a boy, he was forced by Frank to support his older brother on his shoulders while the brother had a noose around his neck. To add to the sadistic cruelty, Frank shoved a harmonica into the boy's mouth, telling him to "keep your lovin' brother happy." The boy eventually collapsed, causing his brother to be hanged. This revelation re-contextualizes the entire film; Harmonica is not just an enigmatic gunman, but the survivor of an unspeakable horror, and his quest is one of deeply personal, righteous vengeance. The harmonica is not just a musical instrument but the very symbol of his suffering and motivation.

Another key plot point is the true reason for the McBain family's murder. It wasn't a random act of outlaw violence, as Frank tries to frame it, but a calculated move in a corporate takeover. Brett McBain had foreseen that the railroad would need to pass through his land because it contained the only water source for miles. He planned to build a station and a town, profiting from the railroad's arrival. Railroad baron Morton hired Frank to intimidate McBain, but Frank, wanting the land for himself, murdered the family instead. This plot twist reveals the film's core theme: the violent clash between the old West of personal dreams (McBain) and the new West of ruthless capitalism (Morton and Frank).

Cheyenne's fate is also a poignant turn. Despite his intimidating reputation, he proves to be an honorable man who protects Jill. He dies not in a blaze of glory but quietly, from a stomach wound he received off-screen during the gunfight on Morton's train. His death, like Harmonica's departure, symbolizes the end of the outlaw era. He acknowledges he isn't the man for the new world Jill is building before he succumbs, reinforcing that men of his "ancient race" have no future.

While the central narrative is straightforward, some elements invite alternative readings. One interpretation posits Harmonica as a supernatural figure, an avenging ghost or an embodiment of destiny rather than just a man seeking revenge. His sudden appearances, minimal dialogue, and singular focus lend him an otherworldly quality. He is less a character and more a force of nature, an agent of karma sent to correct a past wrong. In this reading, his departure at the end is not just him leaving a world where he doesn't belong, but a spirit fading away once its earthly business is concluded.

Another area of discussion is the film's portrayal of Jill McBain. While many see her as a symbol of resilience and the future, some critics have viewed her treatment as misogynistic, arguing that she is repeatedly objectified and subjected to sexual violence or the threat of it by the male protagonists. From this perspective, her ultimate success in building the town is less a feminist triumph and more a survival story within a deeply patriarchal and violent world that Leone, despite her strength, does not fundamentally challenge.