Welcome to The Best Movies I’ve Never Seen! This is the part of the blog where I work my way through 100 films I’ve never seen that are generally considered to be great. You’re invited to watch along with me if you can find a copy or find it streaming. So grab some popcorn and let’s get started!

Once Upon a Time in America

1983

Directed by Sergio Leone

Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in America is an epic saga following the lives of Jewish gangsters in early 20th century New York City. Released in 1983, the film spans five decades and features an all-star ensemble cast including Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Joe Pesci, and Burt Young.

The plot follows the journey of Noodles (De Niro) and his gang of friends from their scrappy Lower East Side childhoods to the height of Prohibition-era organized crime. We see them rise from petty thieves to bootleggers and mobsters, only to ultimately face betrayal, loss, and broken relationships. De Niro delivers a fantastic performance as the complex and morally ambiguous Noodles, while Woods is captivating as his ambitious best friend and eventual rival, Max.

Of course, the film wouldn’t be complete without Leone’s masterful direction. Known for his iconic Spaghetti Westerns, Leone brings that same operatic style to the mean streets of New York. Sweeping camera moves, striking shadows, and stylized violence punctuate the story. And who could forget Ennio Morricone’s haunting score, perfectly complementing the dream-like atmosphere.

The production itself was an epic undertaking, with filming taking place in New York, Montreal, Paris, Florida, and Rome’s famous Cinecittà studios. After shooting over 250 hours of footage, Leone initially assembled a 4.5 hour cut before trimming it down to 3 hours and 49 minutes. However, the American distributors took it even further, re-editing the film into chronological order and slashing it to a mere 2 hours and 19 minutes. The resulting version bombed in the US, much to Leone’s dismay. It wasn’t until 2012 that his full director’s cut was restored and finally viewed as he intended.

Once Upon a Time in America is truly an amazing achievement, even with its troubled release history. The operatic style and expansive timeline create a mob epic unlike anything else in the genre. With incredible performances and Leone’s masterful direction, it deserves to be ranked among the all-time great gangster flicks. I highly recommend watching the full director’s cut to truly appreciate the scope of this film. It may require patience, but the payoff is well worth it. Let me know your thoughts on Once Upon a Time in America and how it compares to other mob movies of its era!