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 - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
You brought two too many.
— Harmonica
Context:
In the opening sequence, after a long, tense wait, three of Frank's gunmen confront Harmonica at a remote train station. When they point out they have three horses and he has none, one gunman remarks, "Looks like we're shy one horse." Harmonica, knowing a gunfight is inevitable, delivers this cold reply before killing them all.
Meaning:
This iconic line establishes Harmonica's deadly competence and laconic nature in the film's opening scene. It demonstrates his supreme confidence and foreshadows the violent encounter that is about to unfold, where he will single-handedly kill the three gunmen sent to ambush him.
People scare better when they're dying.
— Frank
Context:
Spoken to his employer, Morton, after the massacre of the McBain family. Morton had only instructed Frank to "scare" Brett McBain off his land, not to murder him and his children. Frank's reply is a cold justification for his extreme actions, highlighting the deep rift between Morton's business-oriented approach and Frank's purely violent one.
Meaning:
This chilling line encapsulates Frank's brutal and sadistic philosophy. It reveals his profound understanding of fear and his utter lack of morality. For Frank, violence is not just a tool but the most effective means of communication and control.
How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders? The man can't even trust his own pants.
— Frank
Context:
Frank says this to Wobbles, an informant, just before deciding to cut ties with him. It's a clever, dismissive insult that demonstrates Frank's attention to detail and his belief that a person's external choices reflect their internal nature.
Meaning:
A darkly humorous and insightful line that reveals Frank's sharp, cynical judgment of character. He sees the combination of belt and suspenders as a sign of profound distrust and unreliability, applying this sartorial observation to the man's moral character.
You know, Jill, you remind me of my mother. She was the biggest whore in Alameda and the finest woman that ever lived.
— Cheyenne
Context:
Cheyenne says this to Jill at the Sweetwater ranch. After initially treating her with suspicion, he comes to admire her strength. This line marks a turning point in their relationship, establishing his protective feelings toward her.
Meaning:
This quote reveals the core of Cheyenne's character: a man who operates by his own moral code, separate from society's judgments. He sees the inherent goodness in Jill despite her past as a prostitute, equating her with his beloved mother. It's a moment of vulnerability that shows his capacity for warmth and respect.
Keep your lovin' brother happy.
— Frank
Context:
In the flashback during the final duel, a younger Frank places a harmonica in a young boy's mouth while the boy struggles to support his older brother, who has a noose around his neck and is standing on the boy's shoulders. Frank utters this line as a final, cruel taunt before the boy collapses, causing his brother's death.
Meaning:
These are the haunting words spoken by Frank that are revealed in the film's climactic flashback. They are the epitome of his sadism, a taunt delivered during an act of unimaginable cruelty that forged Harmonica's entire existence and single-minded quest for revenge.