On the set of the Wild West

If film noir is all mood, westerns are all about the set. Far from being an indoor drama, the western is set in grand canyons and valleys of the North America. And of these, it is Monument Valley (Utah) where the majority of westerns were shot (among them also The Searchers and Stagecoach).
This was probably on its own a good enough reason for Americans to detest European westerns. European westerns – typically produced by Italians and for that reason popularly labeled as spaghetti westerns - were for the most part shot on the semi-desert locations in Spain.
Despite all that, it so happens that the best western made – judging by public polls worldwide – is in fact a European rather than an "authentic" western.
The film in question is Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), directed by Sergio Leone and starring Henry Fonda in the role of the steel-blue-eyed villain. Charles Bronson appeared in the role of the troubled and avenging hero.
Leone wanted to make a film that would be an ultimate reference – and hommage – to westerns as a genre. He enlisted help from Bertolucci and Argento to turn this idea into a film.
The film that came out of this idea - Once Upon a Time in the West - was a complete financial flop in the United States, and that despite the fact that the film was in part shot also in Monument Valley. In Europe, on the other hand, it immediately clicked with audiences to such a degree that "authentic" American westerns seemed like references to Once Upon a Time in the West rather than the other way around.
In the post above, the various sets of the film are revisited. Please beware of spoilers.

Wild West music

The iconic opening music score for Hombre, a western directed by Martin Ritt and starring Paul Newman (1967). Composed by David Rose.

Sundance

A scene from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, an American Western about two partners in the enterprise of bank-robbing (1969). Directed by George Roy Hill.

Bang bang (Knockin' on the heaven's door)

Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), a song originally written by Sonny Bono for Cher (1966). Here it is arranged and performed by Nancy Sinatra (1966). Sinatra's arrangement remained relatively obscure until 2003, when it was used as the opening sequence theme in Quentin Taratino's film Kill Bill.
The second video features an unusual western scene from Pat Garrett and Billie the Kid, one of the later westerns shot by Sam Peckinpah (1973). The soundtrack for this film (including the song Knockin' On Heaven's Door) was created by Bob Dylan.

Bang bang, Lucky Luke

Lucky Luke is a gunslinger who shoots faster than his own shadow (the matter is proven beyond reasonable doubt, since his shadow was shot down).
This comics series was created by Morris aka Maurice de Bevere, a Belgian artist, who joined forces in 1955 with René Goscinny, a French writer (who has such cards up his sleeve as Asterix and Iznogud, to name a few).
Lucky Luke used to smoke, but he very conscientiously quit in 1984. Since then, he chews on a straw, as he rides off into the sunset, singing.
I'm a poor lonesome cowboy, and a long way from home...

The phony western

The title song from Johnny Guitar, an extravagant and theatrical gunslinger western in which cowboys vanish and die with the grace of ballerinas.
This is, as François Truffaut described, the beauty and the beast of westerns.
Directed by Nicholas Ray (1954).
Starring Joan Crawford and Sterling Hayden.
Song performed by Peggy Lee.

McCabe and Mrs. Miller

The opening scene of McCabe and Mrs. Miller, a western (one of the best there are) directed by Robert Altman (1971).

It's true that all the men you knew were dealers
who said they were through with dealing
every time you gave them shelter
I know that kind of man
It's hard to hold the hand of anyone
who is reaching for the sky just to surrender
who is reaching for the sky just to surrender

And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
you find he did not leave you very much not even laughter
Like any dealer he was watching for the card
that is so high and wild
he'll never need to deal another
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger

And then leaning on your window sill
he'll say one day you caused his will
to weaken with your love and warmth and shelter
And then taking from his wallet
an old schedule of trains he'll say
I told you when I came I was a stranger
I told you when I came I was a stranger

But now another stranger seems
to want you to ignore his dreams
as though they were the burden of some other
O you've seen that man before
his golden arm dispatching cards
but now it's rusted from the elbow to the finger
And he wants to trade the game he plays for shelter
Yes he wants to trade the game he knows for shelter

Ah you hate to watch another tired man
lay down his hand
like he was giving up the holy game of poker
And while he talks his dreams to sleep
you notice there's a highway
that is curling up like smoke above his shoulder
that's curling up like smoke above his shoulder

And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
you find he did not leave you very much not even laughter
Like any dealer he was watching for the card
that is so high and wild
he'll never need to deal another
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger