1. Once upon a time in the West
The memories are somewhat blurry concerning the question whether I first saw the movie or whether I first heard Harmonica's theme. Fact is that Harmonica's theme was used every year for the school's Easter play of the Last Supper and the following events right up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. So, going to a religious school did have some benefit after all :-)
The use of Harmonica's theme during the epic crucifixion scene in the church made a big impression on me as a youngster and I fell in love with the music. My primary school performed this Easter play every year of the 6 years I went there and eventually in my final year I also had a role in the play. I ended up playing Judas Iscariot but that's another story...
Quite possibly I saw the movie some time after the first time I heard the music. Yet the combination of the western genre, the immense epic feel, the enigmatic role of Charles Bronson, and Ennio Morricone's dazzling score left me speachless. The story was so enticing, raw and one couldn't help but feel drawn in right away and root for Harmonica. There isn't that much dialogue but the characters speak volumes in their gestures, facial expressions and postures. Additionally, a strong sense of finality is present in this movie which resonated in me even back then. Not only as intented by Leone in the sense that the days of the wild west was over when the railroad started to make its way through the US, but also in the genre of the Western movie. This really is THE definite and ultimate Western.
I finally saw this brilliant movie on the big screen in the summer of 2007 and I had goosebumps pretty much the whole way through. Even thinking of Harmonica's theme at this very moment invokes goosebumps all over my body.
Honestly, how could I chose any other movie as my number one?
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