ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA distributed by WARNER BROS. (1984). It was directed by Sergio Leone and was based on the book by Harry Grey called, "The Hoods." It starred Robert De Niro and James Woods. (This is number #4 on my favorite movie list of the 1980's).
The production budget climbed to $30 million and grossed $5.5 million at the box office. It was a major flop. There were two versions. The European version premiered at the Cannes Film Festival at 3 Hours and 49 Minutes. The American version was cut down to 2 Hours and 19 Minutes. The European version was never released in the United States until the restoration in 2003.
I walked into a movie theater in 1984 to watch this. I was totally confused and hoped to watch the European cut. I finally saw the long version and it makes sense. The problem was that the American producers wanted to make money by cutting the film. It didn't work.
The story is simple. At the beginning of the 19th Century. Two Italian boyhood friends grew up in New York. They become gangsters who live by greed and corruption which spans decades. The violence seeps into their personal lives and at times is hard to watch.
This is an underrated "Gangster" movie and it's a shame that the producers released it so poorly. Director Sergio Leone had wanted to release it in 2-parts. He was forced to cut it down from 4 Hours and 29 Minutes. He was not involved in the American version.
Film buffs love this movie and there is a lot of commentary on "YouTube." I say ignore it all and watch it on Blu-Ray 2014. (The long version). Make your own decisions about what the director wanted to say. I think it is Robert De Niro's finest performance.
Below is the original Trailer "Once Upon time in America" 1984.
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