Once Upon a Time in America
Crime, passion and lust for power.
Plot:A former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan over thirty years later, where he once again must confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.
Cast & Crew
Robert De Niro
James Woods
Elizabeth McGovern
Joe Pesci
Tuesday Weld
Burt Young
Treat Williams
Danny Aiello
Richard Bright
James Hayden
William Forsythe
Darlanne Fluegel
Larry Rapp
Olga Karlatos
Frank Gio
Sound
Ennio Morricone
Costume & Make-Up
Gabriella Pescucci
Camera
Tonino Delli Colli
Writing
Sergio Leone
Directing
Sergio Leone
Crew
Gabe Videla
Louis Craig
Danilo Bollettini
Giovanni Corridori
Fun Facts of Movie
-
When filming was completed, the footage ran to a total of eight to ten hours. Director Sergio Leone and editor Nino Baragli trimmed the footage to around six hours, with the plan of releasing the film as two three-hour movies. The producers refused this idea, and Leone had to further cut the film down to three hours and forty-nine minutes.
-
A few days before the film’s premiere in 1984, Treat Williams found out the two-hour version, not the three hour and forty-nine minute version, would be shown in theaters. He was heard to have said that no one would understand the movie in the shortened version. Indeed, the film did not do well at theaters, and was shut out of the Oscars, and received no nominations. When the video cassette and DVD versions were released in the original three hour and forty-nine minute version, the film ultimately found commercial and critical success.
-
Robert De Niro requested a private meeting with renowned crime boss Meyer Lansky to prepare for his role as David “Noodles” Aaronson. The request was denied.
-
According to James Woods, a critic dubbed the film (in its two hour and twenty-four minute version) the worst of 1984. Several years later, that same critic watched the original three hour and forty-nine minute version, and called it the best of the 1980s.
-
Robert De Niro was the first person cast, having been approached for a role as David “Noodles” Aaronson during filming The Godfather: Part II (1974), and was later actively involved with choosing the remaining cast members.
-
To establish atmosphere, bits of Ennio Morricone‘s score were played during filming.
-
Sergio Leone had refused the offer to direct The Godfather (1972), an opportunity he deeply regretted. This may have partly inspired him to try a gangster film. Leone has also notably used the flashback technique pioneered in The Godfather: Part II (1974).
-
This was Jennifer Connelly‘s first feature film role, aged twelve at the time of principal photography in 1982/83.
-
This was Sergio Leone‘s final feature film and his first in 13 years since Duck, You Sucker! (1971).
-
Joe Pesci originally auditioned for Max, but Sergio Leone convinced him that he wouldn’t be quite right for the role. As a favor to Pesci’s friend Robert De Niro, Leone told Pesci that he could pick whichever of the available roles he wanted as his own instead. He chose the part of Frankie, which was considerably larger in the original script than it is in the finished movie.
-
The U.S. distributor reportedly failed to file the proper paperwork so that Ennio Morricone‘s score, regarded as one of his best, could be put up for nomination for an Academy Award.
-
Al Pacino and Jack Nicholson turned down the role of David “Noodles” Aaronson.
There are no reviews yet.