Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4086 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-06-23
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Box set, Dubbed, PAL, Special Edition, Widescreen
• Original language: English, French, Italian
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 220 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Once Upon a Time in America has a chequered history, having been chopped from its original 229-minute director's cut to 139 minutes for its theatrical release. The longer edition presented here benefits from having the complete story (the short version has huge gaps) about turn-of-the-century Jewish immigrants in America finding their way into lives of crime, as told in flashback by an ageing Jewish gangster named Noodles (Robert De Niro). On the other hand, it's almost four hours long, and this sometimes-indulgent Sergio Leone film is no Godfather. Still, it is notable for the contrast between Leone's elegiac take on the gangster film and his occasional explosive action, as well as for the mix of the stoic, inexpressive De Niro and the hyperactive James Woods as his lifelong friend and rival. --Marshall Fine

Special Features
229-minute version
Feature-length commentary by Film Critic/Historian Richard Schickel
Revealing Once Upon a Time: Sergio Leone documentary
Filmographies
Photo gallery
Theatrical Trailer
1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Dolby Digital 5.1 English, French
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Special Features

• 229-minute version
  
• Feature-length commentary by Film Critic/Historian Richard Schickel
  
• Revealing Once Upon a Time: Sergio Leone documentary
  
• Filmographies
  
• Photo gallery
  
• Theatrical Trailer

DVD Technical Information:

• 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
  
• Dolby Digital 5.1 English, French
  
• Languages: English, French
  
• Subtitles: English, French, Arabic, Dutch

Customer Reviews

Leone's final masterpiece, finally on DVD.
Based on the dire pulp novel 'The Hoods' by Harry Grey (republished under this title by Bloomsbury), Once Upon a Time in America was the final film from legendary director Sergio Leone. Infamously it was edited from its 228minute duration- making it a nonsensical gangster flick. Leone never made another film again & eventually died in 1989...

Once...America is Leone returning to the form suggested by 1969's ultimate spaghetti western Once Upon a Time in the West- films like I'm Gonna Get You Sucka! (aka A Fistful of Dynamite) somehow mediocre. As with ...West, Leone failed to get Clint Eastwood on board here- though with a cast featuring great performances from De Niro (of course), James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Treat Williams & a (very) young Jennifer Connelly, he's hardly missed. There are also some great cameos from stalwarts such as Joe Pesci (against type), Danny Aiello & Burt Young.

It seemed absurd that this film, occasionlly shown on TV, was not available on video/DVD, & yet you could buy the (excellent)BFI book on it. The extra features are wonderful additions to this great gangster epic. Once...America for me is the end of the gangster genres- while Goodfellas (1990) was the brilliant encore, yet to be bettered. It is easily up there with the first two Godfather films, or Mean Streets- though it's complex flashback structure has more in common with Godfather Part II, or more pertinently, Nic Roeg films like Don't Look Now & Performance.

The film starts somewhere in the middle of things, shifting backwards and forwards revealing more about the before & after- taking in a gang of Jewish criminals between 1922 & 1968. To say much more would give this epic classic away- it is wonderfully shot (as great looking as films like Gangs of New York & Heaven's Gate and with a cityscape that would influence films like Road to Perdition) and complemented by one of the greatest film scores from one of the greatest film scorers, Ennio Morricone. The 'child' parts are wonderfully acted- easily up there with the early part of Goodfellas & there are some great comic moments (notably the baby mix up) & nice to see Treat Williams character standing in for Jimmy Hoffa! There are a few duff/false elements- the terrible muzak take of The Beatles Yesterday, & the end might irritate people. But that is countered by a vile petrol soaking scene (easily beating that in Reservoir Dogs), a dire rape in the back of a limo, De Niro lost in an opium haze, an opulent Gatsby like luxury & the way the childhood friends are ultimately corrupted- the corpses on the road in the rain, who once joyfully collected salt-encrusted booty, or in my fave scene, consumed a wonderful cake rather than having a look at some tush!

Once Upon a Time in America is proof, along with Blue Velvet, River's Edge and Drugstore Cowboy, that some great films were made in the 1980s. Contrast this to Coppola's generally dire The Cotton Club (also 1984); a classic that anyone with an interest in De Niro or crime films should own, in this the definitive version

Leone's final epic
OUATIA is an epic film in every sense. It follows the life of 'Noodles' (Robert De Niro) from early adolesense to adult and then as an older man discovering the truth about his past that he thought was dead and buried.

The cast are superb with DeNiro and James Woods as Max (at his most charismatic) playing the two leading roles roles. In the fact if anything the sections with the younger actors playing the adolesent Noodles and Max were probably even better.

Leone's view of the American gangster era is a little more poetic than say Goodfellas and The Godfather. The pace of this film is more measured. Its beautifully shot and a wonderful looking film. When the violence happens though, it is as viseral as anything you will find in those other two great gangster films. In particular there are two rape scenes, which whilst not that explicit tell you a lot about 'Noodles' attitude to women.

One of the characters in the film is called James Conway O'Donnell (as displayed in the cast list), but he is referred to as Jimmy Conway in the film. Interestingly Jimmy Conway was DeNiro's character in Goodfellas.

For me its just short of 5 stars. The reason is the length. At three hours and 40 minutes its just too long. I felt that it could have been trimmed a little (say 20 mins) and the film would have a little sharper. But this is a very minor critcism of what is otherwise a superb film.

a tragic masterpiece
Like many others I first watched this film(full version in its entirety) when I was young,and have been mesmerized by it ever since.For years I searched for 'that film I saw ages ago' when one day from the TV I heard Morricones haunting soundtrack and there it was, I was glued to the screen in a state of nostalgic bliss.I wont narrate the plot as many others have done but simply say that this film is nothing short of a masterpiece.It really angers me the fact that a short version was released for the cinemas,and I'm sorry to anyone who has had to sit and watch it(there is simply huge gaps cut out), and for this reason,this tragic masterpiece has wrongly been branded confusing by some,and flopped on its initial release at the cinemas(the short version).This truly is a great film that arouses the senses and I believe it should be on the same shelf as the godfather.it is one of those films you can watch over and over again,yes it is long,but I believe that is better than watching a short,predictable film that when you have seen the ending you'll never watch again in your life.it is like a Tarantino film in that the past and present are not shown in order scene after scene,which makes it all the more watchable.It is an amazing story and the legend that is Robert de niro beautifully depicts the character of noodles and you can actually feel for this gangster that has committed such crime,and leone leaves the audience in awe,wondering what happens to him in the end.To critics of this film I would say that they just don't 'get it',and cannot comprehend the power of this amazing story.If you are still skeptical after watching it,watch it again and try to realize how touching this film is.Woods and de niro are great, and leones genius is evident for all to see.the story is one of tragedy,as you follow noodles' life you can actually sympathize with this gangster and what he has been through.PLEASE watch this film;because even if your opinion differs from mine I challenge you to say that you weren't touched by this film.the dvd special edition is further reason to buy this as the picture quality is much better and the special features are extensive.you owe it to yourself to experience this masterpiece