Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Sergio Leone's monumental crime epic charts the rise, betrayal, and haunted twilight of a Jewish gangster across five decades of American history.
Once Upon a Time in America - Movie Information
- Original Title: Once Upon a Time in America
- Release Year: 1984
- Directed by: Sergio Leone
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Crime
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 3h 49m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English, Hebrew, Yiddish, Italian, French
- Release Date (Theatrical): May 23, 1984 (France - TP), June 1, 1984 (United States - R), June 1, 1984 (Canada - 18A), October 5, 1984 (United Kingdom - 18), October 12, 1984 (Germany - 16), October 4, 1984 (Australia - R 18+), October 19, 1984 (Brazil - 18), September 28, 1984 (Italy), January 24, 1985 (Spain - 18), December 10, 1984 (South Korea - 19)
- Alternative Titles: 美國往事 (TW), Het Gebeurde in Amerika (NL), Suuri gangsterisota (FI), C'era una volta in America (IT), Once Upon a Time in America Extended (US), Il était une fois en Amérique (FR), Era Uma Vez na América (PT), Dawno Temu w Ameryce (PL)
- Production Companies: Embassy International Pictures, PSO, The Ladd Company, Rafran Cinematografica
- Production Countries: United States of America, Italy
Once Upon a Time in America - 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.
Once Upon a Time in America - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see Leone's sweeping vision of crime, memory, and betrayal unfold:
Crime, passion and lust for power.
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Once Upon a Time in America - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Sergio Leone
Main Cast
- Robert De Niro
- James Woods
- Elizabeth McGovern
- Treat Williams
- Tuesday Weld
- Joe Pesci
- Burt Young
- James Hayden
- William Forsythe
- Larry Rapp
Writers
- Sergio Leone
- Franco Arcalli
- Leonardo Benvenuti
- Enrico Medioli
- Piero De Bernardi
Producers
- Arnon Milchan
Once Upon a Time in America - FAQs
Where can you watch Once Upon a Time in America?
Once Upon a Time in America is available to stream for free on Plex and Plex Channel. It can also be rented or purchased digitally on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Check JustWatch for the most current regional availability.
What is the ending of Once Upon a Time in America explained?
The film's ending is deliberately ambiguous. Noodles visits an opium den and smiles enigmatically, suggesting the entire narrative may be an opium-induced dream or distorted memory. Many interpret it as Noodles choosing the comfort of illusion over the painful truth of his betrayal by Max and the loss of his friends.
Is Once Upon a Time in America based on a true story?
The film is based on Harry Grey's semi-autobiographical 1952 novel 'The Hoods.' Grey, born Herschel Goldberg, drew on his own experiences as a Jewish gangster on New York's Lower East Side during Prohibition. The characters and events are fictionalized composites rather than direct portrayals of real individuals.
Who are the main actors in Once Upon a Time in America?
The film stars Robert De Niro as Noodles and James Woods as Max, with Elizabeth McGovern, Treat Williams, Tuesday Weld, Joe Pesci, Burt Young, James Hayden, William Forsythe, and Larry Rapp rounding out the principal cast. Jennifer Connelly appears in an early role as Young Deborah.
How long is Once Upon a Time in America?
The director's cut of Once Upon a Time in America runs 229 minutes — approximately 3 hours and 49 minutes. This is the version Sergio Leone intended audiences to see. An earlier US theatrical cut was controversially edited down to around 139 minutes without Leone's consent, drastically altering the film's non-linear structure.
What is Once Upon a Time in America about?
The film follows David 'Noodles' Aaronson, a Jewish gangster who returns to Manhattan's Lower East Side decades after the Prohibition era, haunted by betrayal, loss, and regret. Told across multiple timelines, it explores the rise and fall of a tight-knit gang, the corrupting weight of ambition, and the elusive nature of memory.
Did Once Upon a Time in America win any awards?
The film received a BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design and earned numerous nominations, including a Golden Globe nod for Ennio Morricone's celebrated score. Despite its troubled US theatrical release, it has since been recognized on countless greatest-films-ever-made lists and is widely regarded as one of cinema's masterpieces.
Who directed Once Upon a Time in America?
Sergio Leone directed Once Upon a Time in America. It was his final film and the culmination of a decades-long passion project. Leone spent years developing the screenplay alongside writers including Franco Arcalli, Leonardo Benvenuti, Enrico Medioli, Piero De Bernardi, and Franco Ferrini before production began.
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