The influences behind Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

2019

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Film by Quentin Tarantino

Contemporary Hollywood. United States. In English.

Quentin Tarantino's 2019 film follows a fading TV western star, Rick Dalton, and his stunt double, Cliff Booth, through Los Angeles in 1969, alongside their neighbour Sharon Tate, and ends by rewriting the Manson murders. It is built from the westerns, spy films and war films of the period it depicts, filtered through Sergio Leone's 'Once Upon a Time' fable framing.

Where it came from

Find “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” on Amazon

1968

The Wrecking Crew

Film by Phil Karlson

1960s spy cycle. United States. In English.

The fourth Matt Helm spy comedy, starring Dean Martin, with Sharon Tate as a clumsy agent.

What it handed down

To Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Direct source, well documented.

Margot Robbie's Sharon Tate goes to the Bruin Theatre in Westwood to watch herself in The Wrecking Crew. Tarantino projects the real footage of Tate's fight scene, so the actual actress appears inside the fiction.

Where it came from

Find “The Wrecking Crew” on Amazon

1964

Goldfinger

Film by Guy Hamilton

1960s spy cycle. United Kingdom. In English.

The third James Bond film, which set the series formula of gadgets, a megalomaniac villain and glamorous set pieces.

What it handed down

To The Wrecking Crew (1968)

Stylistic influence, probable.

Columbia's Matt Helm series was made to cash in on and parody the Bond films after Goldfinger's success. The Wrecking Crew's gadgets, gold-heist villain and glamorous female agents follow that template.

Where it came from

The line stops here: adapted from Ian Fleming's novel; the Bond line is not followed here.

Find “Goldfinger” on Amazon

Where it came from

What it handed down

To Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Where it came from

What it handed down

To The Wrecking Crew (1968)

Where it came from

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