Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

Director:

Sergio Leone

Writers:

Harry Grey (novel)
Leonardo Benvenuti ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 May 1984 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Crime, passion and lust for power - Sergio Leone's explosive saga of gangland America. [Australia Theatrical]

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.

Plot Keywords:

New York | Jewish | Gangster | Prohibition | Friend

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 13 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

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
Dutch Miller	...	Van Linden
Gerard Murphy	...	Crowning
Amy Ryder	...	Peggy
Olga Karlatos	...	Woman in the Puppet Theatre
Mario Brega	...	Mandy
Ray Dittrich	...	Trigger
Frank Gio	...	Beefy
Karen Shallo	...	Lucy Aiello
Angelo Florio	...	Willie The Ape
Scott Schutzman Tiler	...	Young Noodles (as Scott Tiler)
Rusty Jacobs	...	Young Max / David Bailey
Brian Bloom	...	Young Patsy
Adrian Curran	...	Young Cockeye
Mike Monetti	...	Young Fat Moe
Noah Moazezi	...	Dominic
James Russo	...	Bugsy
Frankie Caserta	...	Bugsy's Gang
Joey Marzella	...	Bugsy's Gang
Clem Caserta	...	Al Capuano
Frank Sisto	...	Fred Capuano
Jerry Strivelli	...	Johnny Capuano
Julie Cohen	...	Young Peggy
Marvin Scott	...	Interviewer
Mike Gendel	...	Irving Gold
Paul Herman	...	Monkey
Ann Neville	...	Girl in Coffin
Joey Faye	...	Adorable Old Man
Linda Ipanema	...	Nurse Thompson
Tandy Cronyn	...	Reporter 1 (as Tandy Cronin)
Richard Zobel	...	Reporter 2
Baxter Harris	...	Reporter 3
Arnon Milchan	...	Chauffeur
Bruno Iannone	...	Thug
Marty Licata	...	Cemetery Caretaker
Marcia Jean Kurtz	...	Max's Mother
Estelle Harris	...	Peggy's Mother
Gerritt Debeer	...	Drunk
Jennifer Connelly	...	Young Deborah
Alexander Godfrey	...	Newstand Man
Cliff Cudney	...	Mounted Policeman
Paul Farentino	...	2nd Mounted Policeman
Bruce Bahrenburg	...	Sgt. P. Halloran
Mort Freeman	...	Street Singer
Sandra Solberg	...	Friend of Young Deborah
Jay Zeely	...	Foreman
Massimo Liti	...	Young Macrò
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Susan Spafford	...	Nurse
Salvatore Billa	...	One of Beefy's Thugs (uncredited)
Matteo Cafiso	...	Boy in Park (uncredited)
Nelson Camp	...	Newspaper Salesman (uncredited)
Scott Coffey	...	Teenager (uncredited)
Francesca Leone	...	David Bailey's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Chuck Low	...	Deborah Gelly's Father (uncredited)
Ron Nummi	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Fabio Roscioli	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Sergio Leone

Writing credits
Harry Grey		(novel "The Hoods")
Leonardo Benvenuti		&
Piero De Bernardi		&
Enrico Medioli		&
Franco Arcalli		&
Franco Ferrini		&
Sergio Leone
Stuart Kaminsky		(additional dialogue)
Ernesto Gastaldi		uncredited

Produced by
Claudio Mancini	....	executive producer
Arnon Milchan	....	producer

Original Music by
Ennio Morricone

Cinematography by
Tonino Delli Colli

Film Editing by
Nino Baragli

Casting by
Cis Corman
Joy Todd

Art Direction by
Carlo Simi

Costume Design by
Gabriella Pescucci

Makeup Department
Vincenzo Cardella	....	hair stylist (as Enzo Cardella)
Randy Coronato	....	hair stylist: New York
Randy Coronato	....	makeup artist: New York
Maria Teresa Corridoni	....	hair stylist
Henry R. Dwork	....	dental makeup artist: New York
Nilo Jacoponi	....	makeup artist
Renata Magnanti	....	hair stylist
Manlio Rocchetti	....	makeup artist
Gino Zamprioli	....	makeup artist
Giancarlo De Leonardis	....	hair stylist: James Wood and Tuesday Weld (uncredited)

Production Management
Fred C. Caruso	....	executive in charge of production (as Fred Caruso)
Mario Cotone	....	production supervisor
Ginette Hardy	....	production manager: Montreal
Walter Massi	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dennis T. Benatar	....	assistant director: New York (as Dennis Benatar)
Fabrizio Sergenti Castellani	....	first assistant director
Philippe Landoulsi	....	assistant director
Luca Morsella	....	assistant director
Amy Wells	....	assistant director: New York

Art Department
Bruno Cesari	....	set dresser
Osvaldo Desideri	....	set dresser
Ronald Fauteux	....	prop man: Montreal
Gianni Fiumi	....	property master
Alain Giguère	....	scenic painter: Montreal
Nello Giorgetti	....	swing gang
Otto Jacoby	....	set builder: New York
Steven Kirshoff	....	prop man: New York
Walter Klymkiw	....	chief carpenter: Montreal
Joey Litto	....	construction coordinator: New York
Tullio Lullo	....	construction coordinator
Domenico Mancino	....	blacksmith
George Messaris	....	set builder: New York
Elouise Meyer	....	scenic chargeperson: New York
Giovanni Natalucci	....	set designer
Gretchen Rau	....	set decorator: New York
Claude Simard	....	chief carpenter: Montreal
James T. Singelis	....	art director: New York (as James Singelis)
Rejean Brochu	....	construction supervisor (uncredited)
Martin Cats	....	musical instrument props (uncredited)
Clément Hurel	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Tom Jung	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Dan Mahoney	....	construction grip (uncredited)
Kathy Wolf	....	head painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Fabio Ancillai	....	second assistant boom operator
Fausto Ancillai	....	sound recording mixer
Bruno Charier	....	boom operator
Daniele Quadroli	....	sound effects editor
Robert Rietty	....	dubbing editor
Jean-Pierre Ruh	....	sound engineer (as Jean Pierre Ruhu)
Paul J. Zydel	....	adr sound: New York (as Paul Zydel)
Chris David	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (uncredited)
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Louis Craig	....	special effects assistant: Montreal
Gabe Videla	....	special effects: Montreal
Danilo Bollettini	....	special effects (uncredited)
Brian Campbell	....	special effects crew (uncredited)
Giovanni Corridori	....	special effects (uncredited)
Jacques Godbout	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Benito Stefanelli	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Baker	....	key grip: New York
Sandro Battaglia	....	assistant camera
Rodney Bauer	....	grip
Augusto Diamanti	....	key grip
Amato Gabotti	....	grip
Normand Guy	....	key grip: Montreal
Walter Klymkiw	....	gaffer: Montreal
Romano Mancini	....	gaffer
John Newby	....	gaffer: New York
Crescenzo G.P. Notarile	....	assistant camera: New York (as Crescenzo Notarile)
Angelo Novi	....	still photographer
Antonio Scaramuzza	....	assistant camera
Carlo Tafani	....	camera operator
Carlo Vinciguerra	....	gaffer
Eraldo Barbona	....	grip (uncredited)
Edward Cohen	....	electrician (uncredited)
Jean Courteau	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sylvie Bourque	....	extras casting: Montreal
Flo Gallant	....	extras casting: Montreal

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Richard Bruno	....	associate costume designer: New York
Helen P. Butler	....	costumer: New York (as Helen Butler)
Marina Frassine	....	assistant costume designer
Raffaella Leone	....	assistant costume designer
Umberto Tirelli	....	wardrobe costumes

Editorial Department
Gabrio Astori	....	postint editor
Alessandro Baragli	....	assistant editor
Patrizia Ceresani	....	assistant editor (as Patricia Cerasani)
Ornella Chistolini	....	assistant editor
Maurizio Mancini	....	editing coordinator
Zach Staenberg	....	additional editor (re-cut)
Nicholas Stevenson	....	postint editor
Elvira Tonini	....	first assistant editor (as Vivi Tonini)
Giorgio Venturoli	....	assistant editor
J. Kathleen Gibson	....	first assistant editor (uncredited)
Howard Heard	....	assistant film editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Edda Dell'Orso	....	vocal
Sergio Marcotulli	....	music recording mixer
Ennio Morricone	....	musical director
Gheorghe Zamfir	....	musician: pan flute

Transportation Department
James Giblin	....	transportation captain: New York
Patrick Hogan	....	transportation captain: second unit (uncredited)
Bobby Marsh	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Sonny Abagnale	....	antique car coordinator: New York
Francesca Alatri	....	production secretary: New York
Bruce Bahrenburg	....	unit publicist: New York
Robert Benmussa	....	consultant to producer
Dominique Bruballa	....	accountant: New York
Fausto Capozzi	....	accountant
Diana Di Michele	....	accountant
Gianna Di Michele	....	production auditor
Lucie Drolet	....	accountant: Montreal
Brian Freilino	....	dialogue director
Herb Hetzer	....	location controller: New York
Gail Kearns	....	production coordinator: New York
Ted Kurdyla	....	production liaison: New York
Pierre Laberge	....	location manager: Montreal
Margherita Pace	....	body double: Jennifer Connelly
Tonino Palombi	....	production assistant
Sergio Rosa	....	accountant
Robert Rothbard	....	location manager: New York
Pietro Sassaroli	....	production assistant (as Piero Sassaroli)
Jennifer W. Shore	....	production secretary: New York (as Jennifer Wyckoff)
Eric P. Steckler	....	production assistant
Attilio Viti	....	location manager
Mark Del Costello	....	assistant: Mr. Leone (uncredited)
Reuben Gonzalez	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Simona Patitucci	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Alan Potashnick	....	personal assistant: Robert DeNiro (uncredited)
Eugene Rizzo	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Danièle Rohrbach	....	production coordinator (uncredited)

Thanks
Hedy Martinelli	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Ladd Company, The
• Embassy International Pictures
• PSO International
• Rafran Cinematografica (uncredited)

Distributors

• Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie (SNC) (1984) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1984) (France) (theatrical)
• Ladd Company, The (1984) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros (1984) (USA) (theatrical) (through)
• Jugendfilm-Verleih (1984) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Adams Filmi (1984) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Europa Film (1984) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Titanus Distribuzione (1984) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1984) (Canada) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros. Canada Inc.)
• European Video Corporation (EVC) (1984) (Belgium) (VHS)
• Flashstar Home Vídeo (1998) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Flashstar Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
• LW Editora (Brazil) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1994) (1999) (2003) (Finland) (TV)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1987) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Nelonen (1997) (2005) (2006) (Finland) (TV)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• Showtime (1980s) (Finland) (VHS)
• The Space Cinema (2012) (Italy) (DVD) (director's cut)
• Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2011) (Germany) (DVD) (blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Italy) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (Italy) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (extended)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (1984) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD) (two-disc special edition)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2003) (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Intrigue (special effects)
• Corridori G & A Cinematografica S.r.l.

Other Companies

• Borsalino  special thanks: for hats
• Bulgari  special thanks: for jewelry
• Cine Audio Effects  sound effects
• Fendi  special thanks: for furs
• Forum Studio  music recorded at
• Gasparucci Italo  special thanks: for furniture in rattan (as Italo Gasparucci - Sant'Ippolito [PS] Italy)
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  DVD publicity
• Rocchetti e Carboni  wigs
• Studio 4  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, sexual content, language and some drug use

Runtime:

229 min | USA:139 min (re-cut) | 259 min (2012)

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

English | Italian | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | France:U | 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 | Finland:K-16 (1990) | Finland:K-18 (1984) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Iceland:16 | UK:18 (cut) | Brazil:18 | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2003) | West Germany:18 (original rating) (1984-2003) | Portugal:M/16 | Canada:R (Ontario) | Finland:K-15 (DVD rating) | Philippines:R-18 | Italy:T (DVD rating) | UK:18 (re-rating) (uncut)

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Ladd Company, The

Trivia:

In the early days of the project Sergio Leone approached John Milius, a big fan of Leone, to work on the film. However Milnus was working on The Wind and the Lion (1975) and Apocalypse Now (1979)'s script and could not be available.

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.

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 heard]
Beefy:[to his partner] Stay here in case that rat shows up...

Movie Connections:

References A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Soundtrack:

Yesterday

Mesmerizing and haunting tale of love, greed, regret, betrayal and revenge

This is, for me, one of the finest examples of cinematic art. It isn't a simple, cut-n-dried 90 minute little package that gets wrapped up with a pretty bow at the end. You get pulled in by the enigmatic opening that unwinds the threads of the story to be found later. For many people having half an hour of purely visual story telling, of stories that are only mysteries at that point, before anything becomes truly linear is difficult to follow and discourages to many people. Our own memories are only snippets that only become linear as we concentrate on scenes from our lives. Once Upon a Time in America is like that as we follow Noodles through the `significant' part of his life - the times that formed him. When the story actually starts, we meet the girl that he always loved but could never have.

David `Noodles' Aaronson (DeNiro) was a kid on the very mean streets of Brooklyn when organized crime was born in America and he grew into and out of it. That's the simplest synopsis of the plot. The reality is that this isn't a movie about gangsters. Being a gangster is the easiest way for Noodles to survive and get ahead, but it also alienates and ruins his one love. Whenever he is close to giving himself to Deborah he always gets pulled back into the gang, in some form or another.

DeNiro's portrayal is of a gangster, through and through, who also has a conscience that, while not preventing him from being a ruthless killer, rules his life with regret, remorse and guilt. Leone takes a bit of poet/historic license by showing the Brooklyn Bridge being built in the background (the bridge had been built 40 years before), but it symbolizes Noodles' own growth. When the bridge is just pilings and incomplete towers, Noodles is just forming his future. By the time the bridge is complete, Noodles is nothing but a gangster and the bridge is majestic. When he returns 35 years later our view of the bridge is from under a freeway -- the world has moved along, but the bridge and Noodles are just as they were.

The length: If you're looking for a brief distraction that you'll barely remember 30 minutes later, this isn't the movie for you. However, if you are prepared and able to be undistributed for the nearly 4 hours that this film uses to compress a lifetime -- you will be rewarded with many facets of thought and examination.