You nailed it. Great mini documentary. Looking forward to seeing more from you. This is one of my favourite movies. Everyone in it is demonstrably stretched to give their best performance. Two actors who will always get my attention are James Woods and Elizabeth McGovern. I could watch them all day. I actually met Elizabeth McGovern in Sainsbury’s a few years ago. She’s as magnetic in real life as she is on screen, and beautifully polite to starstruck lovers.
They sure did by not letting him make it into a three part movie like the The God Father what a shame great actors and they let it slip through their greedy little fingers.
I agree with your point but at the time this was released there really was no such thing as binge watching entire seasons, no internet so no streaming.
Here in Italy this is considered the absolute masterpiece of Leone, far ahead of the western trilogy. It's Leone's testament and the sum of his art, and we were lucky as we got to enjoy the film ever since it was released in theaters in the 80s (with a cut approved by Leone). When I was studying film in NYC I was surprised to know that the movie was never widely released in US theaters up until the late 90s, so the US audience never really grew with the film, they didn't live it when it came out and - it's my understanding - not many in the US have watched it if compared with the more widely known Spaghetty western trilogy. Production issues (the US co-producer had distribution rights for the US market and therefore could messed it up entirerly within that market) are among the reasons the film is so underrated in US, while in the rest of the world is widely accepted as an absolute masterpiece, one of the inconic De Niro performances and most likely the absolute sum of Leone's craft and his collaboration with Morricone.
I have a copy of the movie on two DVD's, but now I'm wondering what version that was. Truly loved this movie when I first saw it and still watch it a couple times a year.
The Dollars trilogy is far better, I like OUATIA but it’s not even in my top twenty films, the dollars trilogy is top five material, in fact one is number one.
Leone's Once Upon a Time in America is one of three movies that -- as a US teenager -- made me want to make movies. While Leone's Westerns are amazing, Once Upon a Time in America is on a whole other level. Brilliant.
how the hell did the studio screw up that bad, poor Morricone and Leone for making a masterpiece that was ultimately spat on. one of my favourites, great video
The producers who backed Leone also backed a film that was 4 hours long which ended up flopping, so they were worried the same would’ve happened. Ironically the intervention on the film and decreasing its time/quality only fulfilled its prophecy of being a flop.
Yeah, they screwed up. But HBO put on a magnificent 4 and a half hour version of the flick in the 80's that was just gorgeous. Yes, there were really great versions of this movie put out. I don't know why everyone is bitching so much. Extended versions were available.
In all fairness, The Ladd Company (U.S. production partner) was in dire financial straits by the completion of production and did not believe they could make any money on a film with a running time or more than two and a half hours. An extended running time means fewer theatre showtimes. Even with the success of Police Academy from earlier in the year, Ladd took at huge loss on the movie and was out of business by the end of the year.
@@greg6363 Exactly, and thanks for informing the readers here. I only saw the 4 and a half version, and felt lucky enough to see Leone's vision. It's still one of the 50 or so cinematic explorations that really hit me hard.
@@tillerman7272 That's what makes it great! But I'm talking about the scene where he's waiting on the steps tasting small parts of it, until he gives in. Great scene!
He's right about movies being long when they bore you, I rewatched this recently and it didn't feel like a 4 hour movie at all. Just a brilliantly paced and well-told story.
Truly the most truly underrated, and unappreciated gangster film of all time. An absolute epic. And the score is sheer beauty. My Wife walked out to Amapola on our Wedding Day.
somehow i miss the existence of this beautiful film. being a a big fan of goodfellas and casino. And being somehow letdown by the irishman, finding this was like finding gold, u cant imagine my surprise when out of nowhere Joe Pesci walk into the scene..
In my opinion, every word that Leone said in that interview is true. I've seen many normal length 1,5 hours movies, which felt way longer than they actually are. And then once again many movies that were close or over 3 hours long but felt like an hour long. Movies with bad directing, storytelling and acting often create an illusion of length, just because the movie is just too boring. But if over 2,5 hour long movie has everything on point and the general plot is interesting, time flies by. Here's a few examples of movies that are long but feel short. - The Good The Bad and The Ugly - Once Upon a Time in the West - Once Upon a Time in America - Any uncut Lord of the Rings movie - King Kong (2005) - Pulp Fiction And there are many many more.
I was a bit confused when I saw Pulp Fiction on your list as ive seen it so many times and never considered it a long movie. I just googled it and.....jesus, I had no idea Pulp Fiction was THAT long lol. Wow
@@johnwayne-3701 Unfortunately, there are some old movies that will never be seen again. That's the one problem with analog media, once the last copy gets damaged/lost, it's gone forever. Sergio unfortunately didn't have plans for his work after his death, so there's a lot we will never see because nobody knows where it is.
You can't find 6 hour cut. Martin Scorsese has made the efforts to restore the original but that's over 4 hours. I don't know how much exactly but I guess less than 4:30. But I don't know where to find it.
I saw the longer version of the film first time with my senior producer friend... and I can't tell you how lucky and blessed I feel after watching the Director's cut. The film is poetic and masterpiece Storytelling and background music...
Incredibly heartbreaking that this film was mishandled and never truly finalized in accordance with Leone's vision. I think it's the greatest gangster film of all time, a truly beautiful and monumental piece of cinema.
I saw a very long version when I was a kid, it was completely epic, I told everyone how great it was and what a masterpiece, and then got together with friends only to find out they butchered it and practically cut it in half...fucking disgraceful.
A 6 hour HBO max version, now we are talking. I love this film, I've seen many versions dating back to VHS and I think it may be one of the greatest films ever made, a true piece of art.
I was stationed in England in 1986 and was bored with British TV. So I walked to the local Video Store and picked out this movie on "whim." I watched it by myself on my VCR/TV. When it was over, I remember thinking "how is it possible to make a movie this good?" It's still at the top of my list of favorites.
That's exactly what you get when lawyers control the movie industry. And look at what this industry has now become. Get a green screen, some CGI, and stop bothering. So fucking sad.
Ebert's television film critic partner Gene Siskel considered the uncut version to be the best film of 1984 and the shortened, linear studio version to be the worst film of 1984.
I always enjoyed reading Ebert's reviews more than Siskel's, but as the years go by and I look back, I can see that Siskel is the one who had the better eye for genius.
He's right, I've seen 3+ hour movies where when I left the theater I was surprised at how much time had passed when it didn't fee like it. Then there are the 1 1/2 movies that just dragged on.
One of THE greatest movies ever, it drove itself into your brain and soul via Morricone´s stunning music. Watched it again and again over the years and have never found a boring minute in it. If you are a budding movie maker....watch this outcome of genius :)
0:25 They have to put Quentin Tarantino's name when he appears on camera because otherwise the viewer would mentally label him "Crazy Homeless Guy on Park Bench Who Talks With His Hands."
Thank! YOU! ❤️😂 Leone‘s influence on Tarantino‘s work is quite obvious, but his best films incorporated and emancipated Leone‘s footprint in cinema. Tarantino has perfected cinematic homage.
It's not "the Americans" it's Hollywood studios at the time. They would do exactly the same to "American" directors, producers, writers as well and continue to. Harvey Weinstein was famous for ruining movies when he wasn't molesting women.
Hollywood made some amazing movies as well. Normally these films have other people's money in them it is only natural that they would interfere in the film.
@@jmgmarcus808 it's so american to shove harvey weinstein and women's suffering into any argument, appropriate or not. we get it buddy, harvey is bad and you surely are different and surely would have acted differently in his position. but the issue in question is just not about it this time
Patsy in the stairway waiting.. Trading his desert for some nookie from the local neighborhood girl who puts out, but he loses his patience and woofs down the desert. What a brilliant way to perfectly illustrate male adolescence in just one scene.
Whenever I hear the soundtrack, from the first seconds, I leave to a different world, totally away from where I happen to be. And the feeling is neither of happiness nor sadness but the full awareness of being alive. No other piece of music does that to me. Not even "In The Air Tonight", "Imagine" or "Yesterday".
I love this film so much that I can only watch it every couple of years, if that makes sense. I’m 52 and it has been dear to my heart since seeing first at age 14. An extraordinary, elegiac film.
We’re roughly the same age and I saw it around the same time as you as well. I wasn’t really into movies but it was absolutely riveting. I remember HBO showed the 3-1/2 hour cut with an intermission.
55 years old. I went to the cinems to watch another movie but fortunatly was sold out so we went to see Once Upon a time in America. Almost 4 hours of truly amazing story. Sérgio Leone capture your attention through out the all movie. We left the cinema spechless...
Bad ninety minute films can seem too long; this masterpiece ends too soon after four hours. Truly one of the greatest films of all time. Leone was a brilliant director.
Yes I recall HBO back in the 80's had the balls to show the 4 and a half hour version, and yes they even a brief "intermission" at around the 2 hour mark or so we could all make a quick sandwich and/or go to the bathroom if needed haha.
Yes, and I was lucky to see that HBO filming in 1982 or so. I had no idea what the movie was about; but started watching at 11, and finished at 3:30 A.M. Lol, I remember the somewhat needed intermission!
One of my top five favorite movies of all time. Saw it in the theater and was so disappointed with how it was edited. I had read how it was shortened for theatres but when I saw it it really did not make sense. When I finally saw the extended version it was a million times better. Brilliant acting and incomparable music. Deborah's Theme still melts my heart today and I frequently find the score on TH-cam and listen!
The budget to make films made it really hard back in the day. At least today we have very portable cameras that shoot high quality and can edit from our homes
@@caturindrawananimation5288 bro download videobuddy app through chrome and you will get torrent link for full length version and I have watched it. At first I thought it would be boring but It wasso good.
I watched the 3h 45min version last night. Wasn’t long enough. I don’t know, I just found certain things here and there underdeveloped like Max’s relationship to Deborah or her ambitions as an actress. Just certain places here and there I sense a scene was cut. I feel that an even longer cut exists. I hope it comes to light because If not we may all lose something very special. P.S; by far my favourite part was really the whole flashback sequence to his childhood. The child performances are excellent. It’s probably the most visual stunning and to me the most complete.
In 2012 Leone's son and daughter released a new restored version sponsored by Gucci, they added a few inedited scenes that their father cut out when the production company first told him the movie was too long. This new version is 4 hours and 11 minutes long. This version might be what you're looking for, highly recommended anyway
It makes absolutely no dramatic sense that Deborah would end up with Max, who was an even worse thug than Noodles It also makes no sense that Max could fake his death so easily and end up becoming a big time politician that not one person from his past is aware of. In order for Max to pull off a deception of this magnitude, he would have had to kill off a lot more characters than just his three friends. My Dad thought the most laughable aspect of the movie concerned where the gang was keeping their million dollars: in a train station locker! This is totally stupid. Those lockers are not very secure to begin with, and they are cleaned out several times a week by train station employees. The gang had the huge speakeasy/deli as their headquarters and it looked to be a perfectly safe place to store the million dollars, but what vitally 'important' item do they actually store at this impressive stronghold? The key to the train locker! If you want to accept the movie as an 'opium dream', then these weaknesses do not matter, but the movie needed a lot more work in order for it to be at the level of "The Godfather". It needed much better story editing for one thing, and Elizabeth McGovern was truly terrible as the adult Deborah. I did not believe her in this role for one minute. I admire this movie, and it has a lot of strong points, but it is far from being a great movie. It needed a much tighter script and better editing. This story could have easily been told in three hours or less. If Leone didn't want the running time touched, then he could have made it as part one and part two.
I saw what was available as the 'so called' long version. I don't care how many times I have slept, I am still in love with this story. Thanks for all the brilliance!
But at least that was Coppola doing it himself! (He regretted it later.) And it was never intended to supplant the free-standing movies; it was just "The Complete Novel for Television."
@@johnkeeton8119 Exactly - my point is, the comparison isn't quite valid because the chronologically-edited Godfather was always intended as an alternative experiment, whereas the chronologically-edited OUATIA was supposed to replace and supplant Leone's version.
The story, the cinematography, the acting and the musical score is simply unbeatable unless by the great Sergio Leone himself. I have the original full length version and yes I’d still be gripped to my seat if it would have gone on for another 3 hours, 45 minutes.
I remember seeing this for the first time in the UK on channel 4 in mid 1990s, it was so long they showed it over 2 nights, an amazing masterpiece that deserves to be seen by anyone who appreciates film.
Leone is right. I once was so engrossed in this film that I really didn't notice the time go by. My cat fell asleep on my legs, and when the movie ended I realised my legs were asleep too. An absolutely amazing film.
I know when I first watched it I started it late at night without knowing how long it was.. when it was over I was so emotional and also very shocked to see the sun had risen
Such an underrated masterpiece. It might would rank in the top 10 of IMDB and would have won a few oscars back in 1984 / 1985 if the real version (uncut) would have been released. But Hollywood just screwed it completely up. It's interesting that Louise Fletcher was also in the movie but her scene had been cut out as well which is a pity.
Wonderful, wonderful film. Needs to be seen at least twice to understand all the nuances and threads running through the film. The music score always brings tears to my eyes. It is an underrated masterpiece. So rarely on television.
Thank you for this! I love this movie. It barely gets the credit it deserves. My father was in this film, and I remember always cracking up as a kid when I saw him (he beats up and kills a woman very early on in the movie). He was good friends with Sergio. We used to go to his house on Sundays for lunch way back in the 80's.
The dollar movies? He topped them? Well we should not forget Once upon a time in the West! That is another true masterpiece in all aspects - script, acting, camera, score, costumes, sets, just everything.
I've seen the so-called "original release" and the extended director's cut. As pointed out by so many, the original release is a butchered product that makes almost no sense. The director's cut, which of course is indeed longer, contains much of the needed "glue" to piece the sequences together into a powerful and moving story. Truly one of the best movies of its type ever made and certainly one of the best musical scores ever written. Unforgettable.
@@gleam6370 original cut doesn't exist anymore , they tired their best to put together the complete movie after the director's death but could only get a runtime of 4 hours 11 minutes .
My favourite movie of all time, the story is Excellent and the music score well what can I say only it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand, just beautiful !! 👍
Reminds me of the cuts made to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Though the film didn't suffer as bad as this one, it's heartbreaking the number of laughs and tears we could've had if the original 3 Hour and 40 Minute cut had been released alongside the Theatrical version. An injustice caused by big wigs in the film industry!!!
This beautiful film, marinated throughout with a beautiful musical score, the betrayal of loved ones always breaks my heart and brings tears to my eyes.
When I was a young aspiring DP in LA I would go to the Formosa Cafe and hang out hoping I could meet anyone that could help me out. I met Tom Rolf and sat many times with him at the bar chatting away. Tom who was a legendary Hollywood editor told me this story. Tom was the editing consultant for the Ladd Company that had US rights to the film. Leone was behind on his delivery schedule and Alan Ladd Jr. sent Tom to Rome to see what the hold up was. Tom went and saw the cut of the film and called Ladd and told him it was perhaps one of the greatest films he had ever seen but the film ran 3:45. Ladd told him to cut it to 2:10 and Tom told Ladd that the only way that could work is if it was recut in sequential order, but it would destroy this piece of art. Ladd didn't give a shit, he wanted a film that ran no more than 2 hours and 10. Tom told me had never been more ashamed to work in the business than the day he turned in the Producers cut and destroyed a masterpiece.
@@albundy774 Aveva iniziato una pagina di quaderno. Il film doveva intitolarsi "Leningrado". E' morto due giorni prima di partire per NewYork per firmare il contratto con il produttore.
@@eliopetriccioli2567 Was a terrible shame that Sergio Leone died before he could make "Leningrad". Luckily I'm from the UK and saw the full length theatrical cut of "Once Upon A Time In America" but it did suffer from some cuts at the time by the BBFC "British Board of Film Classification" for the rape scene.
I'm with James Woods, the movie was a masterpiece!! Saw it properly when the 2 disc DVD came out, loved it, made a hell of a lot more sense!! There's a comment below that says that the movie still doesn't have an ending. The ending is there, near the beginning, just after he goes to the opium den. Most of the movie thereon is either a flashback to Noodle's childhood or his imagining of what the future might be like after he has betrayed all of his friends (in reality). A work of brilliance.
@@mariaprepara7340, Hi there!! You're absolutley right Maria. That's one of the reasons I love the movie. Leone was enough of a genius to leave it to speculation.. Have a great weekend.
One famous director said that when studio asked him to shorten movie for a 30 minutes he was taken out the best scene and some more. But after 40 years despite cult movie status no studio was interested to put some money for restoration and for directors cut with deleted scenes.
I tried for ages in the 90's to get a copy of this film with no luck , then a friend brought me a 2 Video box set back from America in 2000 , then on June 23 2003 , my Birthday the DVD extended edition was released in UK , so i got that , then when i lived in America i got the edition with the missing 20 minutes , It is one of the very few films that once you watch it , it stays with you forever . A true cinema Masterpiece
I used to watch the European cinematic release length version whenever Channel 4 showed it, as a KID. Loved every minute of it. Any film that can communicate its profundity to you as both a child and an adult is more than likely a poetic masterpiece.
For everyone here: go see thus masterpiece in its 251 minutes cut on prime video. 251 minutes that feel like 1:30 hours!! Every damn Marvel film felt like 4.11 hours in its first 15 minutes! Once upon a time in America is the definitive masterpiece... It's a part of cinema that set the bar so high!
A cinematic tour de force that will never ever be bettered.Makes me sad that a studio would touch and mess with a masterpiece, like re touching the mona Lisa.
can we all agree that the shot of them walking across the street in front of the Manhattan bridge is one of the most iconic shots in cinema? Little Dominic dancing.
Music always moved me. Remembering my youth similar life beginnings. Italian immigrants, poverty stricken neighborhood. All we had was each other we would gladly defend one another to the death. I remember all my friends who died much to young. All my family who died in their 40's. I listen to that music sadly I'm reminded it's now all gone. It will never be again. My heart actually aches when I hear the music.
My girl and I started to watch the original 4 and a half hour version of "Once Upon A Time In America" at about 11 P.M. on HBO in the 80's. It was mesmerizing. All the way to 3:30 AM, we didn't get up once. U mean there's an even longer version?
The 3 hour 47 minute version is the only version that was ever put on VHS, DVD, and digital streaming. A Blu ray came out last year that’s right at 4 hours.
The film is the equivalent of the Mona Lisa. It might be Sergio Leone's best work but he has so many including oh IDK the GTBATU...probably the best film ever made.
I thought I was one of the few people who love this movie I absolutely love this movie for so many years it’s a pleasure seeing that people thought the same way and no way was it too long just perfect movie The music absolutely perfect just a great movie
I thought again about this movie and rarely have I been moved like this but a movie or music and for people who love things like this check out Euge Groove ‘ Rain down on me’. A really beautiful piece of music must watch the video
God it’s so tragic that Leone never got to see how respected OUTA would become. Everyone I know who has seen it will confidently say it’s one of the best movies they’ve ever seen.
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The music is so wonderfully beautiful it will pull the tiers from your eyes. Thank you.
Nawh. Ya did fine. Your interest and commentary was great. As are all the other comments here.
kenneth bredow tears perhaps?
You nailed it. Great mini documentary. Looking forward to seeing more from you.
This is one of my favourite movies. Everyone in it is demonstrably stretched to give their best performance. Two actors who will always get my attention are James Woods and Elizabeth McGovern. I could watch them all day. I actually met Elizabeth McGovern in Sainsbury’s a few years ago. She’s as magnetic in real life as she is on screen, and beautifully polite to starstruck lovers.
They sure did by not letting him make it into a three part movie like the The God Father what a shame great actors and they let it slip through their greedy little fingers.
People would binge watch entire seasons in a day, but a 3.5hour movie is too long for them. Humans...
I agree with your point but at the time this was released there really was no such thing as binge watching entire seasons, no internet so no streaming.
Dopamine is a helluva drug
attention spans were longer 35 years ago... so I don't think it should have been an issue
@@anti4330 people sat back and smoked in theatres back in the day, made it much more enjoyable to watch long movies
@@myndwork only for the smokers.
Here in Italy this is considered the absolute masterpiece of Leone, far ahead of the western trilogy. It's Leone's testament and the sum of his art, and we were lucky as we got to enjoy the film ever since it was released in theaters in the 80s (with a cut approved by Leone). When I was studying film in NYC I was surprised to know that the movie was never widely released in US theaters up until the late 90s, so the US audience never really grew with the film, they didn't live it when it came out and - it's my understanding - not many in the US have watched it if compared with the more widely known Spaghetty western trilogy. Production issues (the US co-producer had distribution rights for the US market and therefore could messed it up entirerly within that market) are among the reasons the film is so underrated in US, while in the rest of the world is widely accepted as an absolute masterpiece, one of the inconic De Niro performances and most likely the absolute sum of Leone's craft and his collaboration with Morricone.
I have a copy of the movie on two DVD's, but now I'm wondering what version that was. Truly loved this movie when I first saw it and still watch it a couple times a year.
The Dollars trilogy is far better, I like OUATIA but it’s not even in my top twenty films, the dollars trilogy is top five material, in fact one is number one.
Leone's Once Upon a Time in America is one of three movies that -- as a US teenager -- made me want to make movies. While Leone's Westerns are amazing, Once Upon a Time in America is on a whole other level. Brilliant.
That's when I got it in the 90s heard about it and just went and bought it Loved it
Still.
@@johnlovell2956 ice 2 Video tapes uncut yours would say so at least when menu screen comes up
how the hell did the studio screw up that bad, poor Morricone and Leone for making a masterpiece that was ultimately spat on. one of my favourites, great video
The producers who backed Leone also backed a film that was 4 hours long which ended up flopping, so they were worried the same would’ve happened. Ironically the intervention on the film and decreasing its time/quality only fulfilled its prophecy of being a flop.
@@davidosorio9427 that was only in America, though. In Europe the movie was released as Leone wanted
Yeah, they screwed up. But HBO put on a magnificent 4 and a half hour version of the flick in the 80's that was just gorgeous. Yes, there were really great versions of this movie put out. I don't know why everyone is bitching so much. Extended versions were available.
In all fairness, The Ladd Company (U.S. production partner) was in dire financial straits by the completion of production and did not believe they could make any money on a film with a running time or more than two and a half hours. An extended running time means fewer theatre showtimes. Even with the success of Police Academy from earlier in the year, Ladd took at huge loss on the movie and was out of business by the end of the year.
@@greg6363 Exactly, and thanks for informing the readers here. I only saw the 4 and a half version, and felt lucky enough to see Leone's vision. It's still one of the 50 or so cinematic explorations that really hit me hard.
Deborah's Theme transports me to times of innocence, possiblity, hope, and longing. The wonder of Mr Morricone can't be understated.
And still. This is the understatement of the century.
I know what you mean, I play the theme all the time in my mind and hum it too, it's such a beautiful piece of music.
The scene where the kid buys a pastry for the little girl is one of my favorite scenes...ever
yeah but one tends to forget why that little kid buys a pastry for the little girl
@@tillerman7272 That's what makes it great! But I'm talking about the scene where he's waiting on the steps tasting small parts of it, until he gives in. Great scene!
@@skygriffin1317 oh yeah I love that. I think him succumbing to temptation represents the greed of their future selves
@@tillerman7272 and shows the economic state of poverty they grew up in
Leone said that scene Is an omage to Charlie Chaplin!
He's right about movies being long when they bore you, I rewatched this recently and it didn't feel like a 4 hour movie at all. Just a brilliantly paced and well-told story.
Truly the most truly underrated, and unappreciated gangster film of all time. An absolute epic. And the score is sheer beauty. My Wife walked out to Amapola on our Wedding Day.
not unappreciated at all. I appreciated the genius even in the worst version released ,at the time.
somehow i miss the existence of this beautiful film. being a a big fan of goodfellas and casino. And being somehow letdown by the irishman, finding this was like finding gold, u cant imagine my surprise when out of nowhere Joe Pesci walk into the scene..
@@n4ko Yeah, it suprised me when i saw Joe Pesci! Although i thought The Irishman was absolutely brilliant.
@@n4ko you must be young if you didnt know about this one
It’s so much more than just a gangster film. It’s almost an entire genre of it’s own. Calling it a gangster film is not fair
In my opinion, every word that Leone said in that interview is true.
I've seen many normal length 1,5 hours movies, which felt way longer than they actually are.
And then once again many movies that were close or over 3 hours long but felt like an hour long.
Movies with bad directing, storytelling and acting often create an illusion of length, just because the movie is just too boring.
But if over 2,5 hour long movie has everything on point and the general plot is interesting, time flies by.
Here's a few examples of movies that are long but feel short.
- The Good The Bad and The Ugly
- Once Upon a Time in the West
- Once Upon a Time in America
- Any uncut Lord of the Rings movie
- King Kong (2005)
- Pulp Fiction
And there are many many more.
Yep, very well made long movies feel short however many of the bad money grab movies nowadays feel painfully long
And godfather trilogy
this isn't a feel good film. it's a film to sit and watch.
Another one is Visconti's "Ludwig". The short version dragged, but the full length cut flashed by.
I was a bit confused when I saw Pulp Fiction on your list as ive seen it so many times and never considered it a long movie. I just googled it and.....jesus, I had no idea Pulp Fiction was THAT long lol. Wow
What I'd give to see the original 6 hour cut.
Ditto!
Tell me about it!
Surely it's out there somewhere? It's 2021 nothings hidden
@@johnwayne-3701 Unfortunately, there are some old movies that will never be seen again. That's the one problem with analog media, once the last copy gets damaged/lost, it's gone forever. Sergio unfortunately didn't have plans for his work after his death, so there's a lot we will never see because nobody knows where it is.
You can't find 6 hour cut. Martin Scorsese has made the efforts to restore the original but that's over 4 hours. I don't know how much exactly but I guess less than 4:30. But I don't know where to find it.
The cinematography was astounding.. I truly felt like i was in New York in the 30's
I saw the longer version of the film first time with my senior producer friend... and I can't tell you how lucky and blessed I feel after watching the Director's cut. The film is poetic and masterpiece Storytelling and background music...
How?? Where, When and How Much!!
1,000,256 views Yes.
@@lukeatbrandynightful my friend has a DVD because he belong to Film Fraternity and that's the reason he got the longer version with No Cuts.
@@jatingibs how different is it from the released one
Background music: That flute ("pan" flute?) throughout the movie eventually got irritating.
I agree, a 3 hour 40 minute film can seem like one hour when it's as all engrossing as Once Upon A Time in America. I loved it.
Incredibly heartbreaking that this film was mishandled and never truly finalized in accordance with Leone's vision. I think it's the greatest gangster film of all time, a truly beautiful and monumental piece of cinema.
I'm grateful that the cut we got in Europe ran at 4 hours and kept the structure that Leone had wanted. To mess with that is to eviscerate the film.
I'm 65 years old ..been watching movies all my life ... And this is the greatest movie I have ever seen !!!
Wow, can you recommend some of movies you consider the greatest. I too started watching films and wish to watch more.
@@Hritik9000 try Milano Calibro 9
@@Hritik9000. Kick Ass.
@@OKuusava no weaknesses
I'll make an attempt to watch it.
I saw a very long version when I was a kid, it was completely epic, I told everyone how great it was and what a masterpiece, and then got together with friends only to find out they butchered it and practically cut it in half...fucking disgraceful.
A 6 hour HBO max version, now we are talking. I love this film, I've seen many versions dating back to VHS and I think it may be one of the greatest films ever made, a true piece of art.
Wait what???? There’s a 6 hour version in HBO Max?????
I was stationed in England in 1986 and was bored with British TV. So I walked to the local Video Store and picked out this movie on "whim." I watched it by myself on my VCR/TV. When it was over, I remember thinking "how is it possible to make a movie this good?" It's still at the top of my list of favorites.
We in the UK were spared the horrendous US version but did suffer cuts at the hands of the BBFC with the rape scene at the time
That's exactly what you get when lawyers control the movie industry.
And look at what this industry has now become. Get a green screen, some CGI, and stop bothering.
So fucking sad.
Lawyers?
Very antisemitic of you
@@user-zy9yg2eu5t lol
Ebert's television film critic partner Gene Siskel considered the uncut version to be the best film of 1984 and the shortened, linear studio version to be the worst film of 1984.
I always enjoyed reading Ebert's reviews more than Siskel's, but as the years go by and I look back, I can see that Siskel is the one who had the better eye for genius.
He's right, I've seen 3+ hour movies where when I left the theater I was surprised at how much time had passed when it didn't fee like it. Then there are the 1 1/2 movies that just dragged on.
One of THE greatest movies ever, it drove itself into your brain and soul via Morricone´s stunning music. Watched it again and again over the years and have never found a boring minute in it. If you are a budding movie maker....watch this outcome of genius :)
Really good video. I never knew about the cuts from the original as I was born in 1993. But this video examined it excellently
_"They let the editor of Police Academy cut it to ribbons. It was dead in the water!"_ -James Woods.
0:25 They have to put Quentin Tarantino's name when he appears on camera because otherwise the viewer would mentally label him "Crazy Homeless Guy on Park Bench Who Talks With His Hands."
Lol tarantino is kind of a weirdo tho
Thank! YOU! ❤️😂 Leone‘s influence on Tarantino‘s work is quite obvious, but his best films incorporated and emancipated Leone‘s footprint in cinema. Tarantino has perfected cinematic homage.
What a cretin indeed...
@@pangeo1259 Yes, Ingrid
What? He is the most famous guy in this video.
The Americans would have made Da Vinci paint a smiley face on the Mona Lisa if they could have
It's not "the Americans" it's Hollywood studios at the time. They would do exactly the same to "American" directors, producers, writers as well and continue to. Harvey Weinstein was famous for ruining movies when he wasn't molesting women.
Hollywood made some amazing movies as well. Normally these films have other people's money in them it is only natural that they would interfere in the film.
@@jmgmarcus808 it's so american to shove harvey weinstein and women's suffering into any argument, appropriate or not. we get it buddy, harvey is bad and you surely are different and surely would have acted differently in his position. but the issue in question is just not about it this time
Dipshit.
@@delicious_crepes It's really just irony, don't be a fake ass tough guy in the comment section. Kind regards.
Patsy in the stairway waiting.. Trading his desert for some nookie from the local neighborhood girl who puts out, but he loses his patience and woofs down the desert. What a brilliant way to perfectly illustrate male adolescence in just one scene.
Whenever I hear the soundtrack, from the first seconds, I leave to a different world, totally away from where I happen to be. And the feeling is neither of happiness nor sadness but the full awareness of being alive.
No other piece of music does that to me. Not even "In The Air Tonight", "Imagine" or "Yesterday".
I love this film so much that I can only watch it every couple of years, if that makes sense. I’m 52 and it has been dear to my heart since seeing first at age 14. An extraordinary, elegiac film.
We’re roughly the same age and I saw it around the same time as you as well. I wasn’t really into movies but it was absolutely riveting. I remember HBO showed the 3-1/2 hour cut with an intermission.
53 same
Same here, 53
55 years old. I went to the cinems to watch another movie but fortunatly was sold out so we went to see Once Upon a time in America. Almost 4 hours of truly amazing story. Sérgio Leone capture your attention through out the all movie. We left the cinema spechless...
51, Same!!
It is truly an epic in every sense. The soundtrack is operatic.
Even now, it brings a surge of emotion watching this clip.
I totally agree. That score is something.
Anytime I hear some of these songs I just get emotional
Bad ninety minute films can seem too long; this masterpiece ends too soon after four hours. Truly one of the greatest films of all time. Leone was a brilliant director.
Yes I recall HBO back in the 80's had the balls to show the 4 and a half hour version, and yes they even a brief "intermission" at around the 2 hour mark or so we could all make a quick sandwich and/or go to the bathroom if needed haha.
Yes, and I was lucky to see that HBO filming in 1982 or so. I had no idea what the movie was about; but started watching at 11, and finished at 3:30 A.M. Lol, I remember the somewhat needed intermission!
the music sets such a tragic tone that it hurts
So this is why I didn’t really like the movie yet couldn’t take my eyes off it.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Have a thumbs up.
I would definitely watch the 6 hour cut over any movie that’s made today.
Where would you find that version please
@@mandaqu you can’t unfortunately, but the 4 hour version is a masterpiece as well.
@@Kaisaccountt where to stream it? i just have a blu ray dvd but this was like 3 hours maybe
What a lame thing to say
@@wilfordgrimley4339 because having a good taste in movies is “lame”. You probably think marvel movies are masterpieces.
One of my top five favorite movies of all time. Saw it in the theater and was so disappointed with how it was edited. I had read how it was shortened for theatres but when I saw it it really did not make sense. When I finally saw the extended version it was a million times better. Brilliant acting and incomparable music. Deborah's Theme still melts my heart today and I frequently find the score on TH-cam and listen!
To this day the film doesn’t have an ending. That’s why indie directors shouldn’t join hands with studio’s.
The budget to make films made it really hard back in the day. At least today we have very portable cameras that shoot high quality and can edit from our homes
Fuuuuuuck I want to watch the 6-hour original
Fuckkkkk, dude!!!!! Is it available anywhere in the universe???
@@JordanIndiePop right?? I read another comment (in another video) saying that there's an Italian Blu-Ray which contains some deleted scenes
@@noluntas I'm a realisitic person... I want 269 minutes Cannes cut... :'D
@@caturindrawananimation5288 bro download videobuddy app through chrome and you will get torrent link for full length version and I have watched it. At first I thought it would be boring but It wasso good.
There was never a 6 hour cut. It was 4 and a half hours
My absolutely all-time favorite movie. No other movie came and will be forever come close. A truly masterwork of cinema history.
The amount of times i've watched this movie since it's original video release totals about 2 days......it's never enough!
Man this video really made me mad, I can´t imagine how Leone must have felt.
This is how real gangsters are cruel, unlike other films
The gangsters that rob you through your letterbox are the most cruel.
I watched the 3h 45min version last night. Wasn’t long enough. I don’t know, I just found certain things here and there underdeveloped like Max’s relationship to Deborah or her ambitions as an actress. Just certain places here and there I sense a scene was cut. I feel that an even longer cut exists. I hope it comes to light because If not we may all lose something very special.
P.S; by far my favourite part was really the whole flashback sequence to his childhood. The child performances are excellent. It’s probably the most visual stunning and to me the most complete.
In 2012 Leone's son and daughter released a new restored version sponsored by Gucci, they added a few inedited scenes that their father cut out when the production company first told him the movie was too long. This new version is 4 hours and 11 minutes long. This version might be what you're looking for, highly recommended anyway
It makes absolutely no dramatic sense that Deborah would end up with Max, who was an even worse thug than Noodles It also makes no sense that Max could fake his death so easily and end up becoming a big time politician that not one person from his past is aware of. In order for Max to pull off a deception of this magnitude, he would have had to kill off a lot more characters than just his three friends. My Dad thought the most laughable aspect of the movie concerned where the gang was keeping their million dollars: in a train station locker! This is totally stupid. Those lockers are not very secure to begin with, and they are cleaned out several times a week by train station employees. The gang had the huge speakeasy/deli as their headquarters and it looked to be a perfectly safe place to store the million dollars, but what vitally 'important' item do they actually store at this impressive stronghold? The key to the train locker! If you want to accept the movie as an 'opium dream', then these weaknesses do not matter, but the movie needed a lot more work in order for it to be at the level of "The Godfather". It needed much better story editing for one thing, and Elizabeth McGovern was truly terrible as the adult Deborah. I did not believe her in this role for one minute. I admire this movie, and it has a lot of strong points, but it is far from being a great movie. It needed a much tighter script and better editing. This story could have easily been told in three hours or less. If Leone didn't want the running time touched, then he could have made it as part one and part two.
How can you not love great sergio Leone,the man changed all the cinema and Hollywood killed him.
I saw what was available as the 'so called' long version. I don't care how many times I have slept, I am still in love with this story. Thanks for all the brilliance!
Once upon a time ,in the west , and o u t i A R my 2 favorite movies of all time ...
The phone ringing that always gets me
Editing the film into chronological order was also done to the Godfather I & II into a special Complete Godfather. It did not make any sense either.
But at least that was Coppola doing it himself! (He regretted it later.) And it was never intended to supplant the free-standing movies; it was just "The Complete Novel for Television."
That was for TV.
@@johnkeeton8119 Exactly - my point is, the comparison isn't quite valid because the chronologically-edited Godfather was always intended as an alternative experiment, whereas the chronologically-edited OUATIA was supposed to replace and supplant Leone's version.
Very interesting video about an excellent movie. Thank you Siddharth Prasath for posting!
The story, the cinematography, the acting and the musical score is simply unbeatable unless by the great Sergio Leone himself.
I have the original full length version and yes I’d still be gripped to my seat if it would have gone on for another 3 hours, 45 minutes.
I remember seeing this for the first time in the UK on channel 4 in mid 1990s, it was so long they showed it over 2 nights, an amazing masterpiece that deserves to be seen by anyone who appreciates film.
Leone is right. I once was so engrossed in this film that I really didn't notice the time go by. My cat fell asleep on my legs, and when the movie ended I realised my legs were asleep too. An absolutely amazing film.
I know when I first watched it I started it late at night without knowing how long it was.. when it was over I was so emotional and also very shocked to see the sun had risen
Such an underrated masterpiece. It might would rank in the top 10 of IMDB and would have won a few oscars back in 1984 / 1985 if the real version (uncut) would have been released. But Hollywood just screwed it completely up. It's interesting that Louise Fletcher was also in the movie but her scene had been cut out as well which is a pity.
Wonderful, wonderful film. Needs to be seen at least twice to understand all the nuances and threads running through the film.
The music score always brings tears to my eyes.
It is an underrated masterpiece. So rarely on television.
Probably my favourite film! The ending is phenomanol with the betrayal!
Thank you for this! I love this movie. It barely gets the credit it deserves. My father was in this film, and I remember always cracking up as a kid when I saw him (he beats up and kills a woman very early on in the movie). He was good friends with Sergio. We used to go to his house on Sundays for lunch way back in the 80's.
The film and the score. Both have stayed with me forever.
The dollar movies? He topped them? Well we should not forget Once upon a time in the West! That is another true masterpiece in all aspects - script, acting, camera, score, costumes, sets, just everything.
yes once upon a time in the west is way better than this one, even the dollar movies are better than once upon a time in america.
I've seen the so-called "original release" and the extended director's cut. As pointed out by so many, the original release is a butchered product that makes almost no sense. The director's cut, which of course is indeed longer, contains much of the needed "glue" to piece the sequences together into a powerful and moving story. Truly one of the best movies of its type ever made and certainly one of the best musical scores ever written. Unforgettable.
Is the original the 3.5 hrs version? Because I was planning on watching it
@@gleam6370 original cut doesn't exist anymore , they tired their best to put together the complete movie after the director's death but could only get a runtime of 4 hours 11 minutes .
@@gleam6370 It's 6 hours apparently
My favourite movie of all time, the story is Excellent and the music score well what can I say only it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand, just beautiful !! 👍
Reminds me of the cuts made to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Though the film didn't suffer as bad as this one, it's heartbreaking the number of laughs and tears we could've had if the original 3 Hour and 40 Minute cut had been released alongside the Theatrical version. An injustice caused by big wigs in the film industry!!!
i love this movie. I got married and went to see this movie with my wife.
One of the last true classic movies
This beautiful film, marinated throughout with a beautiful musical score, the betrayal of loved ones always breaks my heart and brings tears to my eyes.
When I was a young aspiring DP in LA I would go to the Formosa Cafe and hang out hoping I could meet anyone that could help me out. I met Tom Rolf and sat many times with him at the bar chatting away. Tom who was a legendary Hollywood editor told me this story.
Tom was the editing consultant for the Ladd Company that had US rights to the film. Leone was behind on his delivery schedule and Alan Ladd Jr. sent Tom to Rome to see what the hold up was. Tom went and saw the cut of the film and called Ladd and told him it was perhaps one of the greatest films he had ever seen but the film ran 3:45. Ladd told him to cut it to 2:10 and Tom told Ladd that the only way that could work is if it was recut in sequential order, but it would destroy this piece of art. Ladd didn't give a shit, he wanted a film that ran no more than 2 hours and 10. Tom told me had never been more ashamed to work in the business than the day he turned in the Producers cut and destroyed a masterpiece.
One of my all time favorite, even though it was the shortened version, hope to watch the original one day.
Sergio Leone died of a broken heart from what they did to his art....
Wasn't Leone working on an epic WWII film at the time of his death ?.
@@albundy774 Aveva iniziato una pagina di quaderno. Il film doveva intitolarsi "Leningrado".
E' morto due giorni prima di partire per NewYork per firmare il contratto con il produttore.
Leone ha sofferto molto per i tagli che hanno fatto alla sua opera, proprio nel paese in cui era ambientato il film. L'America
@@eliopetriccioli2567 Was a terrible shame that Sergio Leone died before he could make "Leningrad". Luckily I'm from the UK and saw the full length theatrical cut of "Once Upon A Time In America" but it did suffer from some cuts at the time by the BBFC "British Board of Film Classification" for the rape scene.
Watched this classic for the 1st time in 1986 on video.A remarkable movie combining great direction,acting & score.One of my favorite movies.😉👍
3:18 yes I agree. This moving theme reaches deep into my body and just takes over my emotions and my eyes begin to flood.
I'm with James Woods, the movie was a masterpiece!! Saw it properly when the 2 disc DVD came out, loved it, made a hell of a lot more sense!! There's a comment below that says that the movie still doesn't have an ending. The ending is there, near the beginning, just after he goes to the opium den. Most of the movie thereon is either a flashback to Noodle's childhood or his imagining of what the future might be like after he has betrayed all of his friends (in reality). A work of brilliance.
Yes, that’s the significance of De Niro’s smile at the end.
Maybe you're right. But we simply don't know exactly how the understand the ending. Only Sergio Leone knew.
@@mariaprepara7340, Hi there!! You're absolutley right Maria. That's one of the reasons I love the movie. Leone was enough of a genius to leave it to speculation.. Have a great weekend.
It simply is a master piece. The greatest movie made in my opinion
One famous director said that when studio asked him to shorten movie for a 30 minutes he was taken out the best scene and some more. But after 40 years despite cult movie status no studio was interested to put some money for restoration and for directors cut with deleted scenes.
I tried for ages in the 90's to get a copy of this film with no luck , then a friend brought me a 2 Video box set back from America in 2000 , then on June 23 2003 , my Birthday the DVD extended edition was released in UK , so i got that , then when i lived in America i got the edition with the missing 20 minutes , It is one of the very few films that once you watch it , it stays with you forever . A true cinema Masterpiece
For me this is the greatest gangster movie ever everything about it is incredible
Who wouldn’t want to hear the phone ringing for ten minutes as the opening scene?
Great Review where do you find the
"20 min work prints"?
I used to watch the European cinematic release length version whenever Channel 4 showed it, as a KID. Loved every minute of it. Any film that can communicate its profundity to you as both a child and an adult is more than likely a poetic masterpiece.
I tried to watch this film when I was 16 and was pretty disappointed. I might give it another go.
Same. I've watched it a few times now, though. Let me tell you, it gets better with each viewing.
Now, I never made a masterpiece but his story sounds similar to mine.
So quite correct. The film that enthrals cannot be measured in time.
This film is a treasure
For everyone here: go see thus masterpiece in its 251 minutes cut on prime video.
251 minutes that feel like 1:30 hours!! Every damn Marvel film felt like 4.11 hours in its first 15 minutes!
Once upon a time in America is the definitive masterpiece... It's a part of cinema that set the bar so high!
6-hour cut? Let's do it
The worst part is that Leone’s preferred version was a six hour cut which has never been seen and is considered lost
A cinematic tour de force that will never ever be bettered.Makes me sad that a studio would touch and mess with a masterpiece, like re touching the mona Lisa.
If somebody ever figures out who “they” are, they’re in big trouble because “they” get blamed for everything!!
The movie that should have ended like 3 times before it actually ended.
Like your life
Stuart Kaminsky, the author of the English dialog in the film, is the commentator at 2:00.
One of my top three films of all time the music is beautiful 6 hours would just pass by because i would just get lost in a Great Movie, you did great.
I've only ever seen the near 4 hour version . This and fences with wolves for me have the two best scores.
All I want is the six hours version and four hours worth of deleted scenes
This movie treats the tragedy of (failed) friendship and treason like no other one. I was more than once "empty" and dumbfounded after watching it.
can we all agree that the shot of them walking across the street in front of the Manhattan bridge is one of the most iconic shots in cinema? Little Dominic dancing.
The movie was great, the music, unforgettable .
Music always moved me.
Remembering my youth similar life beginnings.
Italian immigrants, poverty stricken neighborhood.
All we had was each other we would gladly defend one another to the death.
I remember all my friends who died much to young.
All my family who died in their 40's.
I listen to that music sadly I'm reminded it's now all gone. It will never be again.
My heart actually aches when I hear the music.
My girl and I started to watch the original 4 and a half hour version of "Once Upon A Time In America" at about 11 P.M. on HBO in the 80's. It was mesmerizing. All the way to 3:30 AM, we didn't get up once. U mean there's an even longer version?
I don’t understand- was the complete 3.5 hour ever made available? Can I buy or download it somewhere?
The 3 hour 47 minute version is the only version that was ever put on VHS, DVD, and digital streaming. A Blu ray came out last year that’s right at 4 hours.
Look what they did to my boy .. 😢
The film is the equivalent of the Mona Lisa. It might be Sergio Leone's best work but he has so many including oh IDK the GTBATU...probably the best film ever made.
I thought I was one of the few people who love this movie I absolutely love this movie for so many years it’s a pleasure seeing that people thought the same way and no way was it too long just perfect movie The music absolutely perfect just a great movie
I thought again about this movie and rarely have I been moved like this but a movie or music and for people who love things like this check out Euge Groove ‘ Rain down on me’. A really beautiful piece of music must watch the video
God it’s so tragic that Leone never got to see how respected OUTA would become. Everyone I know who has seen it will confidently say it’s one of the best movies they’ve ever seen.