Once Upon A Time In America

L

laced.lips

New member
Thanks to having contracted norovirus, I found the time to finally watch this film yesterday, and I was totally blown away.

I adore these big epic movies, and I was wondering if anyone had any reccommendations for me?

Regarding the film itself, I know it's severely edited down, but I am a tiny bit confused (I'm blaming the virus) and I was hoping someone could clear it up for me, as I can't find the conclusion online - Max's/Secretary Bailey's son - what was Deborah going on about when Noodles met her backstage? How did he have a son, and how did he convince Carol he died?

It's this virus, I tells ya :cool:
 
This film is great.

Once Upon A Time In The West is amazing.

My favourite western of all-time in fact.

I own all of Leone's films. ;)
 
I saw this a while ago so can't remember what you are refering to.
I do remember it was a great movie.

Try A Bronx Tale if you haven't already seen it.
 
Basically Max was planning to rob the federal reserve bank in the 30s and Noodles knew this was certain suicide and didn't want any part in it. he didn't want his frienRAB to die either so he called up the police and gave them a tip off. Unfortunately the police killed them all and Noodles went to the scene just afterwarRAB and saw the three bodies on the ground. he just assumed this was all of them when in fact Max wasn't dead.

Max then hooked up with Deborah and had a son and became senator Bailey

Max says when he meets Noodles at the end of the film saying he ahs been living with all this guilt all these years ever since that day. The final scene shows Noodles going to the opium den after the killing and you see him there lying down and smiling and looking happy leading you to believe that in the end he didn't care that much they had died

That was my take anyway. Read the book it's a great read but enRAB in the 30s the rest was made up for the film.

Some people even think the 60s stuff is all a dream and none of that is real
 
So David Bailey is Deborah's son?? AHHH. Sense, finally. Many thanks.

Regarding Leone's other works, I was never a fan of westerns, but I think I might have to pick them up now!

I haven't seen A Bronx Tale, I'll check it out, thanks.
 
The unedited, well only slightly at four and a half hours was on TV the other night.

Absolutely incredible film! The direction, music, acting, story as well as the blood and guts, marvelous.

I had to use Wikipedia to clear up a few bits of storyline.;)
But that's the thing - the film really makes you think.

There are a few different theories .
 
Yes.....Deborah.

At first when Noodles meets Deborah again in the dressing room, Deborah is being really cagey and trying to hide the truth from him by being ambiguous, so doesn't directly associate herself with Max.
That's when Noodles tells her that now she's a bad actress.
 
it's amazing how every time you watch this film you can always find something you missed before. I'm not sure if anyone will ever understand it fully now Sergio has left us but I think that is the way he wanted it.
 
I seem to remember that David's mother died shortly after he was born. Deborah and Max had been in a relationship for abotu 15 years at the end of the film.
 
yes she was Deborah but they used a body double for one of the scenes.

great soundtrack to the film too. I've read the book too and that is very good but just covers the 30s. I always wondered how much was true as it is meant to be a semi autobiographical book
 
no but it's being shown at the Natioanl Film Theatre in London at the moment as part of their Kubrick season. not sure if I will be able to watch it though
 
I remember watching "Once upon a time in America" about 20years ago, was one damp Saturday afternoon, think I was suffering from a bad hangover. It was the long version lasting over 4 hours I think. Was just amazing.

What makes a Leone film brilliant is the music. Ennio Morricone was known to compose all the music before it was filmed. Leone would play the music on set whilst filming, he would choreograph each scene to perfection.

Someone mentioned "Once upon a time in the West" definitely a must see. Adore the music that accompanies Jason RobarRAB character Cheyenne when he appears on screen. Of course, Claudia Cardinale is just beautiful.

Might be an idea to youtube search Ennio Morricone/Leone/Once upon a time etc. some great stuff on there if your interested and got time on your hanRAB.
 
I heard somewhere this film was edited down from 6 or even 8 hours long from Leone's first edit he gave to the studio. It is confusing in places at the end.

What do the kiRAB playing music and waving flags in the car and the garbage truck at the end mean?

The Good The Bad & The Ugly, I think is Leone's best, its fast flowing and doesn't labour on one scene to much, unlike the Once Upon trilogy.
 
Back
Top