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IMDb > Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Once Upon a Time in America
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Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

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User Rating: 8.4/10 (50,404 votes)
Photos (see all 23 | slideshow) Videos

Overview

Director:
Sergio Leone
Writers:
Harry Grey (novel)
Leonardo Benvenuti (writer) ...
more
Release Date:
1 June 1984 (USA) more view trailer
Genre:
Crime | Drama more
Tagline:
Crime, passion and lust for power - Sergio Leone's explosive saga of gangland America. [Australia Theatrical] more
Plot:
A former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to Brooklyn over 30 years later, where he once again must confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 11 wins & 3 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Morricone Touched by Dion Tribute (From WENN. 27 February 2007)
Cinematographer Delli Colli Dies (From WENN. 19 August 2005)
User Comments:
Make sure you get the director's cut! more

Cast

 (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
C'era una volta in America (Italy)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for strong violence, sexual content, language and some drug use. (edited version)
Runtime:
229 min | USA:139 min (re-cut)
Country:
Italy | USA
Colour:
Colour (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
West Germany:18 (f) (original rating) (1984-2003) | Brazil:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:MA (TV rating) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Finland:K-16 (1990) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-18 (1984) | UK:18 (cut) | Iceland:16 | Germany:16 (f) (re-rating) (2003) | Australia:R | France:-12 (re-rating) (2003) | France:-16 (original rating) | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:12 (original rating) | Netherlands:16 (re-rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R
MOVIEmeter: ?
V 2% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Director Sergio Leone was noted for his dynamic use of the 2.35:1 format. This film, his last, was his only one not shot in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: Just before the boys demonstrate the salt trick to the Italians, fluorescent lighting is visible inside the large buildings in the background. Flourescent lights weren't commercially available until the 1940's. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Beefy: Where is he? Where's he hiding?
Eve: I don't know... I've been looking for him since yesterday.
[a second goon slaps her harshly]
Beefy: I'm gonna ask you for the last time: Where is he?
Eve: I don't know... What are you gonna do to him?
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Pulp Fiction (1994) more
Soundtrack:
LA GAZZA LADRA (from LP 894 103 ROSSINI OVERTURE) more

FAQ

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
I don't get it. Why did Mr Bailey want to get shot by Noodles?
more
232 out of 276 people found the following comment useful:-
Make sure you get the director's cut!, 19 September 2004
10/10
Author: Philip Van der Veken from Tessenderlo, Belgium

Many people compare "Once Upon a Time in America" with "The Godfather". In my opinion these two movies can't be compared. Both are masterpieces in their own way, but each of them has a different style. You don't compare a Picasso to Michelangelo's Sixteen Chapel either, do you?

What is it that makes this movie a masterpiece? Well, first of all there is the director. Sergio Leone is a real master when it comes to creating a special atmosphere, full of mystery, surprises and drama... He's one of the few directors who understands the art of cutting a movie in such a way that you stay focused until the end.

The way the movie was cut is also the reason why a lot of Americans don't think this movie is very special. There are three versions, but only the European version is how the director imagined it to be. He didn't want his movie to be shown in chronological order (1910's - 1930's - 1960's), but wanted to mix these three periods of time. The studio cut the movie in chronological order, loosing a lot of its originality and therefor getting a lot of bad critics. If you want to see this film the way Sergio Leone saw it, you have to make sure you get the director's cut.

The second reason why this movie is so great is the music. Ennio Morricone, who is seen as the greatest writer of film music ever, did an excellent job. Together with the images, the music speaks for itself in this movie. From time to time there isn't said a word, but the music and the images on their own tell the story. He understood perfectly what Sergio Leone wanted and composed most of the music even before the movie was shot.

Last but not least there is also the acting and the script. The actors all did an excellent job. But what else can you expect from actors like Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci... They helped making this movie as great as it is by putting there best effort in it. The script helped them with it. It took twelve years to complete, but it hasn't left any detail untouched. The writers really thought of everything when creating it.

I can really recommend this movie to everyone, but especially to people who like the gangster genre. When you want to see the movie, you better be sure that you will have the time for it. This isn't a movie that is finished after 90 minutes. You'll have to be able to stay focused during 3 hours and 47 minutes, which will certainly not be easy during the first 20 to 30 minutes. Some scenes at the beginning only make sense when you have seen the end of the movie. But when you are able to stay focused, you'll find this one of the best movies you've ever seen. I certainly did and I rewarded it with a well deserved 10/10.

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A few questions *spoilers* elevan89
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I just ordered my special edition 10 hour version.... polarmans
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Forget the opium-dream theory! atiauo
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