A woman arrives in a little town out west from New Orleans to meet her husband, and family. Only to find out that her new family has been murdered by a group of bandits hired by a wealthy businessman. Shortly afterwards, a known group of criminals which were blamed for the murders arrives looking for answers to why someone would pose as the group.
A nameless drifter only known as "Harmonica" arrives in town. He's on the trail of the murderous gang, and seems to have a personal vendetta against the gang's leader.
"Man with a Harmonica" by Ennio Morricone
Soon, a final showdown will occur for control of the widow's property which has been revealed to be very valuable, and sitting on a future railroad track.
— R. Ebert
Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in the West" is a painstaking distillation. of the style he made famous in the original three Clint Eastwood Westerns.
— S. Kauffmann
There is somethinetouching and maniacal about the two-and-three-quarter hour result.