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Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
1 June 1984 (USA)
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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
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NewsDesk:
(15 articles)
'Red Cliff' Just the Latest Film Re-Edited for American Consumption
(From CinemaSpy. 26 November 2009, 9:10 PM, PST)
Jean-Jacques Beineix: The Hollywood Interview
(From The Hollywood Interview. 14 July 2009, 4:20 PM, PDT)
(From CinemaSpy. 26 November 2009, 9:10 PM, PST)
Jean-Jacques Beineix: The Hollywood Interview
(From The Hollywood Interview. 14 July 2009, 4:20 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
A masterpiece and an atrocity!
more (384 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Robert De Niro | ... | David 'Noodles' Aaronson | |
| James Woods | ... | Maximilian 'Max' Bercovicz | |
| Elizabeth McGovern | ... | Deborah Gelly | |
| Joe Pesci | ... | Frankie Manoldi | |
| Burt Young | ... | Joe | |
| Tuesday Weld | ... | Carol | |
| Treat Williams | ... | James Conway O'Donnell | |
| Danny Aiello | ... | Police Chief Vincent Aiello | |
| Richard Bright | ... | Chicken Joe | |
| James Hayden | ... | Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg | |
| William Forsythe | ... | Philip 'Cockeye' Stein | |
| Darlanne Fluegel | ... | Eve (as Darlanne Fleugel) | |
| Larry Rapp | ... | 'Fat' Moe Gelly | |
| Richard Foronjy | ... | Officer 'Fartface' Whitey (as Richard Foronji) | |
| Robert Harper | ... | Sharkey |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
C'era una volta in America (Italy)
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MPAA:
Rated R for strong violence, sexual content, language and some drug use. (edited version)
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
229 min | USA:139 min (re-cut)
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Finland:K-16 (1990) |
Finland:K-18 (1984) |
Canada:13+ (Quebec) |
Canada:18A |
Iceland:16 |
UK:18 (cut) |
Brazil:14 |
Germany:16 (f) (re-rating) (2003) |
West Germany:18 (f) (original rating) (1984-2003) |
Portugal:M/16 |
Australia:R |
France:U (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
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
According to an interview with Stuart Kaminsky (special edition DVD), the outline that was given to him was around 200 pages. Kaminsky was asked by Sergio Leone to fill in the dialog in the 200-page outline. Kaminsky came back with a draft that was 400 pages long and Leone read all 400 pages of the draft in front of Kaminsky as soon as it was given to him.
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Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Max and Noodles are on the beach, Noodles' girlfriend lays a newspaper across his face. When the wind blows, you can see duplicate pages, revealing that it's a fake newspaper.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
[In 1933, two goons rudely question a young woman]
Beefy: Where is he? Where's he hiding?
Eve: I don't know... I've been looking for him since yesterday.
[second goon slaps her harshly; she falls onto the bed]
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?
[Two shots are head]
Beefy: [to his partner] Stay here in case that rat shows up...
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[In 1933, two goons rudely question a young woman]
Beefy: Where is he? Where's he hiding?
Eve: I don't know... I've been looking for him since yesterday.
[second goon slaps her harshly; she falls onto the bed]
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?
[Two shots are head]
Beefy: [to his partner] Stay here in case that rat shows up...
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) (TV)
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Soundtrack:
LA GAZZA LADRA: Overture
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FAQ
What was the significance of the garbage truck outside of Mr. Bailey's house?Is this movie based on a book?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
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more (384 total)
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| IMDb Italy section | Add this title to MyMovies |



This movie was a masterpiece. It ranks as one of the very best in film history, if not the best. At Cannes people yelled and screamed, couldn't believe just how good it was. The profound atrocity was a combination of two completely brainless acts, the first being Zack Stienberg's hatchet job for US release, supposedly requested by either Warner Bros or The Ladd Company (one blames the other now) and the second was the lack of anyone (and everyone)to post anything in this great film for Academy Award consideration, of which probably as many as 14 nominations and 4 sure- fire Oscars went down the toilet.
These atrocities were perpretrated, I believe, with two reasons in mind, the first to preserve the dim hope of "The Killing Fields" (Daly & Semel's baby) of garnering any awards... and second, to try to boost up the non- foreign chances. Warner Bros knew just how good it was, that goes without saying. The problem was... they already had their share of cash cows and they wanted a real star- studded showpiece to point at. The small minds already had their showpiece but, alas, it was an "eye- tallyan" flick with a producer/director who didn't communicate well. The hatchet job was carefully planned, I believe... the so- called "sneak preview" was done in Canada and not well received, probably due to the fact that the sound system was over- amped and the film 'broke' 3 or 4 times during the showing, what a farce! The awards snub started with the GGs and carried right thru. What a myriad of stupid and utterly pointless decisions! Must have literally tore Leone's heart out when he learned what they had done.
Morricone's score was a sure- thing Oscar, no question about it. DeNiro and maybe even Woods would have fought it out for best actor, Tuesday Weld as supporting actress, any one of 4 or 5 other supporting actors & actresses, most notably William Forsythe, cinematography, film editing, the list goes on & on... (best picture...Amadeus???? give me a break!!) Just what in the hell were they thinking?
Saw it in a theater 20 years ago and then again on TV about 1998 and finally in its correct format(on DVD) about two years ago and again last week at a friend's house. Stirred up all those angry thoughts all over again... sorry about that, getting' old & crotchety.