FAQ for
C'era una volta il West (1968)

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For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for C'era una volta il West can be found at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064116/parentalguide.

There are two main views, Harmonica as a human character (avenger) and the idea that he is Death personified. Harmonica does have a backstory linked to his revenge, so he might be a man who operates as death symbolically. To be too literal (Harmonica is Death himself) closes off other possible readings. If Harmonica is only Death symbolically, however, than he can also be other things: avenger, redeemer, man of the west, etc.

Some clues to a "supernatural" reading":

First of all why is he alive? Frank had no real restraints from gunning down Little Timmy when he heard his partner call him Frank, Harmonica would have known his name too, so he should have been gunned down right after his brother hung.

Harmonica was gunned down at Cattle Corner, bullet hole very close to the heart, he should not have gotten up, much less carry on as though nothing had happened, unless he is something other than what we think. He is also dressed the same as in the flash back, a coincidence, or something more eternal.

Harmonica names the names of all the people Frank has killed, again Death would know everything about Frank. He also carries off the body of Cheyenne (on a pale horse).

Harmonica as the "Angel of Death", some more observations to support that thesis:

A) Analysis of space; Harmonica often stands outside, perifferaly, always steps aside as if checking the situation in front of him, and monitors other characters reactions. 1) scene; In the saloon: Harmonica sits in the dark corner and waits for Cheyenee to introduce himself. He is watching and has it under control, but does not participate in Cheyenee's game. He leaves it to Cheyenee to lead the game for now. 2) scene;the scene on the ranch: Harmonica waits in the barn for Cheyenee and his people to leave. He is also watching Frank's gunmen move. He acts only when he wants to ruin Frank's plans, to prevent his killing of Jill and taking over the estate. 3) scene; trough the opening in the roof of the train Harmonica, ( once again from the background) listens to the conversation between Frank and Morton, and again, he is in a passive position. 4) scene; Harmonica (from the background, again) from upstairs in the saloon is watching the shameful auction of the ranch, and development of the events from a broader perspective-a bird perspective. He acts in the right moment to prevent Frank get hold of the ranch. 5) scene; Harmonica goes upstairs in the saloon, and watches from there (as from the background) the duel between Frank and his former gunmen, paid by Morton to kill him. 6) scene; Harmonica sits on the fence and has excellent view on who is approaching (also he is out of the house where main characters are). All of the above speaks in favor of the fact that Harmonica is somewhat unreal character. Something like he is present there but also not really part of that world. He is always in a way separated from the main focus of the scene, but only physically. In fact, he is always ahead of his oponents and anticipates their moves. He always acts timely, but only when Frank's plans need to be twarted. As Frayling observed, he just slides into the frame, as if present at all times, and only waits for his moment to act. From this facts we see that Harmonica is the character of his own, viewed from the spacial aspect, but also from his behavior.

B) Emotional aspect; He is never angry, he never loses control, and he is never sad in the true meaning of the word. The only thing that can bee seen in his eyes is a sort of melancholy, silent sorrow. all other characters cry, weep, lose their temper, laugh, rage but Harmonica is constant. Even when he smiles, it is a sad smile, accompanied with the look to the past. As if forever returning into that moment when his brother was hanged. That's where his life stopped, his thoughts, his senses. Body continued to live accompanied only with the emotion of hate and desire to revenge. Resume; Harmonica is literary physically out from the large number of scenes with a main characters, but he knows exactly what is happening out there. He chooses higher positions in order to have upper hand in every possible moment. Like he has some strange control over the events. He moves slowly, but that only makes him more omnipotent. Always at the right place at the right time. You can hurt him but you can't kill him.

There is enough evidence to support either "Angel of Death" (or death himself), or "realistic" aproach to Harmonica's subject.