The gangster film is now almost 100 years old. One of the genre’s greatest examples is on Netflix, but not for long: Once Upon a Time in America is a 229-minute, bloody, dazzlingly beautiful, but also controversial epic about love, betrayal and friendship. The film should actually be much longer.
Epic Gangster TV Masterpiece: The original plan was a 6 hour epic
As described by Den of Geek, director Sergio Leone wanted to publish his milestone in two parts of three hours each. The gripping story about friends Noodles (Robert De Niro), Max (James Woods) and her gangster career might have been even more epic.
Epic: Watch the English trailer of Once Upon a Time in America
Once Upon A Time In America – Trailer
Eventually he scrapped the plan and cut the film down. But even the much shorter European TV version of 229 minutes was still too long for his sponsors. A debacle happened.
Because even if film lovers often mistake a director’s longer version for the definitive work version, Distributors and cinema chains, on the other hand, are often up in arms: Films that are too long mean less screening time per day and therefore less money.
One of the greatest films of all time got a version that was hated by the critics
Probably for this reason, the producers of the Ladd Company cut Leone’s new version of 229 minutes down to two hours and 19 minutes without his consent, arranged all scenes chronologically and thus brought it to US cinemas. Contrary to the European version, which triggered 15 minutes of continuous applause at the premiere (via Esquire), the American version was cut shattered by criticism (via New York Post).
So it’s reassuring that the longer 229-minute version is now considered the definitive version on DVDs and TV and is therefore more widely distributed. It may not be six hours. But even so one of the greatest movies of all time will surely leave you speechless.
When does Once Upon a Time in America disappear from Netflix?
Once upon a time in America is still until August 31, 2022 on Netflix available. In addition to De Niro and Woods, the cast also includes Jennifer Connelly (Requiem for a Dream) and Joe Pesci (GoodFellas).
The best streaming films of 2022 on Netflix, Disney+ and Co.
In the latest edition of our podcast Streamgegefuehl we take a look back at the streaming films of the year so far. Netflix, Disney+ and Co. have outbid each other with elaborate productions. But which of the films are really successful? In the podcast we talk about our top 10 best streaming movies of 2022.
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The streaming year was very varied in the film sector. A red panda has thrown Toronto into chaos while a princess struggled from the top floor of a tower to the ground floor. We were also able to experience the first moon landing through children’s eyes and received an amusing Jackass encore.
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Would you have liked to see Once Upon a Time in America in the 6 hour version?