The final film from Italian master Sergio Leone, Once Upon a Time in America tells the story of David ‘Noodles’ Aaronson (Robert De Niro), a former gangster and bootlegger returning to New York to settle his affairs, and make amends with his past.
Through a complex series of flashbacks, his journey from street hood to kingpin, and his relationship with his three close friends, including his best friend Max (James Woods) unfolds over a span of more than four decades.
Based on the novel The Hoods by Harry Grey, Leone’s film employs dreamlike structure, unspooling a story of friendship, violence and regret, in a film free of glamourisation or heroes. Butchered by Warner Bros for its American release, with 90 minutes cut from its runtime without Leone’s approval and rearranged into chronological order, the complex structure from which the film derives its power was initially lost. The full, Extended Director’s Cut is presented here.
Whilst many elements of Leone’s film have not aged well – Once Upon a Time in America’s gender politics, in particular, are problematic and have rightly been criticised – Leone’ film remains one of the great cinematic epics, telling a story of wasted lives, and the failed promise of America.