Ennio Morricone: Once Upon a Time in the West

Once Upon a Time in the West regularly tops polls as the best Spaghetti Western or even the best Western of all. The film was directed by Sergio Leone and its wonderful score was written by Ennio Morricone - remarkably, they were in the same class as schoolboys.

As Notes of a Film Fanatic explains:

In an unusual but inspired move Leone had Morricone write the score before filming began, and then had the music played on the set, which not only allowed Leone to synchronize camera movements and modulate editing rhythms with the tempo of the music, but also inspired the actors to shape their performances around the rhythms of the score. The result is an unrivalled marriage of music and image.

The footage that accompanies the music in the video above does contain spoilers, but you really should have seen this film by now.

If you haven't, then snap up this two-disc special collector's edition for only £4.69.