Sergio Leone has not only shot masterful Westerns like A Song of Death and Two Glorious Scoundrels. When it comes to the best films by the Italian director, many lists this one as well Completion of his America trilogy: the 1984 gangster epic Once Upon a Time in America.
Based on the autobiographical novel The Hoods by Harry Grey Once upon a time in America tells the story of a gang in New York City. Set in three intertwined timelines, we experience the rise and fall of the crime gang led by Noodles (Robert De Niro) and Max (James Woods).
Once upon a time in America: Sergio Leone’s gangster epic and its various versions
The story of Once Upon a Time in America stretches from 1922 to 1933 to 1968. It is framed by Prohibition in the USA and the associated opportunities that arise for Noodles and Max. Fast wealth and power: in the end, violence and betrayal characterize her career as a gangster.
Here you can watch the trailer of Once Upon a Time in America:
Once upon a time in America – Trailer (German) HD
To adequately tell this epic story, Leone made a 229-minute film that was released in May 1984 at the Cannes Film Festival celebrated its premiere and was showered with applause by the critics present. However, a new, significantly shorter and worse version was soon produced.
While the Cannes version as European version began a triumphal procession, a new version was made for the USA in the same year, which removed an hour and a half of material and completely restructured the film. Where Leone cheerfully jumps through the three time levels, the US version greatly abridged and arranged chronologically.
Once upon a time in America: In addition to the European and US versions, there are other versions
Although there was usually only a distinction between the European (229 minutes) and the US version (139 minutes) of Once Upon a Time in America, they still exist more versions of the film. In home cinema it was released with run lengths of around 160-218 minutes. Another version is particularly noteworthy.
Almost three decades after its premiere, Once Upon a Time in America returned to a restored version returns to the Cannes Film Festival with a running time of 251 minutes. This was created with the participation of Leone’s children and Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation, among other things, and is now available for home cinema.
Theoretically, we still haven’t seen the “complete” film. If all existing material were to be released in one long version one day, Once Upon a Time in America would have one Running time of 269 minutes. Due to the legal situation, however, this is not possible at the moment.
*. .
Which version of Once Upon a Time in America do you like best?