Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

Note Générale:

8,4/10   

Réalisateur:

Sergio Leone

Scénaristes:

Harry Grey (novel)
Leonardo Benvenuti (writer) ...
(suite)

Date de sortie:

1 juin 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drame

Accroche:

Crime, passion and lust for power - Sergio Leone's explosive saga of gangland America. [Australia Theatrical]

Intrigue:

A former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to Brooklyn over 30 years later, where he once again must confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.

Plot Keywords:

New York | Gangster | Jewish | Prohibition | 1960s

Récompenses:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 11 wins & 3 nominations

Avis des utilisateurs:

A sprawling, deliberately paced, and generally a superbly crafted piece of work

Ensemble

Robert De Niro	...	David 'Noodles' Aaronson
James Woods	...	Maximilian 'Max' Bercovicz
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Deborah Gelly
Joe Pesci	...	Frankie Manoldi
Burt Young	...	Joe
Tuesday Weld	...	Carol
Treat Williams	...	James Conway O'Donnell
Danny Aiello	...	Police Chief Vincent Aiello
Richard Bright	...	Chicken Joe
James Hayden	...	Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg
William Forsythe	...	Philip 'Cockeye' Stein
Darlanne Fluegel	...	Eve (as Darlanne Fleugel)
Larry Rapp	...	'Fat' Moe Gelly
Richard Foronjy	...	Officer 'Fartface' Whitey (as Richard Foronji)
Robert Harper	...	Sharkey
Dutch Miller	...	Van Linden
Gerard Murphy	...	Crowning
Amy Ryder	...	Peggy
Olga Karlatos	...	Woman in the Puppet Theatre
Mario Brega	...	Mandy
Ray Dittrich	...	Trigger
Frank Gio	...	Beefy
Karen Shallo	...	Lucy Aiello
Angelo Florio	...	Willie The Ape
Scott Schutzman Tiler	...	Young Noodles (as Scott Tiler)
Rusty Jacobs	...	Young Max / David Bailey
Brian Bloom	...	Young Patsy
Adrian Curran	...	Young Cockeye
Mike Monetti	...	Young Fat Moe
Noah Moazezi	...	Dominic
James Russo	...	Bugsy
Frankie Caserta	...	Bugsy's Gang
Joey Marzella	...	Bugsy's Gang
Clem Caserta	...	Al Capuano
Frank Sisto	...	Fred Capuano
Jerry Strivelli	...	Johnny Capuano
Julie Cohen	...	Young Peggy
Marvin Scott	...	Interviewer
Mike Gendel	...	Irving Gold
Paul Herman	...	Monkey
Ann Neville	...	Girl in Coffin
Joey Faye	...	Adorable Old Man
Linda Ipanema	...	Nurse Thompson
Tandy Cronyn	...	Reporter 1 (as Tandy Cronin)
Richard Zobel	...	Reporter 2
Baxter Harris	...	Reporter 3
Arnon Milchan	...	Chauffeur
Bruno Iannone	...	Thug
Marty Licata	...	Cemetery Caretaker
Marcia Jean Kurtz	...	Max's Mother
Estelle Harris	...	Peggy's Mother
Gerritt Debeer	...	Drunk
Jennifer Connelly	...	Young Deborah
Alexander Godfrey	...	Newstand Man
Cliff Cudney	...	Mounted Policeman
Paul Farentino	...	2nd Mounted Policeman
Bruce Bahrenburg	...	Sgt. P. Halloran
Mort Freeman	...	Street Singer
Sandra Solberg	...	Friend of Young Deborah
Jay Zeely	...	Foreman
Massimo Liti	...	Young Macrò
reste de la distribution par ordre alphabétique:
Salvatore Billa	...	One of Beefy's Thugs (uncredited)
Matteo Cafiso	...	Boy in Park (uncredited)
Nelson Camp	...	Newspaper Salesman (uncredited)
Scott Coffey	...	Teenager (uncredited)
Francesca Leone	...	David Bailey's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Chuck Low	...	Deborah Gelly's father (uncredited)
Ron Nummi	...	Waiter (uncredited)

Réalisé par
Sergio Leone

Scénaristes
Harry Grey		(novel "The Hoods")
Leonardo Benvenuti		(writer) &
Piero De Bernardi		(writer) &
Enrico Medioli		(writer) &
Franco Arcalli		(writer) &
Franco Ferrini		(writer) &
Sergio Leone		(writer)
Stuart Kaminsky		(additional dialogue)
Ernesto Gastaldi		uncredited

Produit par
Claudio Mancini	....	executive producer
Arnon Milchan	....	producer

Musique originale
Ennio Morricone

Image
Tonino Delli Colli

Montage
Nino Baragli
Zach Staenberg		(uncredited)

Distribution des rôles
Cis Corman
Joy Todd

Création des décors
Carlo Simi		(uncredited)

Direction artistique
Carlo Simi

Création des costumes
Gabriella Pescucci

Maquillage
Carboni	....	wigs
Vincenzo Cardella	....	hair stylist (as Enzo Cardella)
Randy Coronato	....	hair stylist: New York
Randy Coronato	....	makeup artist: New York
Maria Teresa Corridoni	....	hair stylist
Henry R. Dwork	....	dental makeup artist: New York
Nilo Jacoponi	....	makeup artist
Renata Magnanti	....	hair stylist
Rocchetti	....	wigs
Manlio Rocchetti	....	makeup artist
Gino Zamprioli	....	makeup artist
Giancarlo De Leonardis	....	hair stylist: James Wood and Tuesday Weld (uncredited)
Giancarlo De Leonardis	....	hairdresser: James Wood (uncredited)

Directeur de production
Fred C. Caruso	....	executive in charge of production (as Fred Caruso)
Mario Cotone	....	production supervisor
Ginette Hardy	....	production manager: Montreal
Walter Massi	....	unit manager

Assistant réalisateur
Dennis T. Benatar	....	assistant director: New York (as Dennis Benatar)
Fabrizio Sergenti Castellani	....	first assistant director
Luca Morsella	....	assistant director
Amy Wells	....	assistant director: New York

Département Art
Bruno Cesari	....	set dresser
Osvaldo Desideri	....	set dresser
Ronald Fauteux	....	prop man: Montreal
Gianni Fiumi	....	property master
Alain Giguère	....	scenic painter: Montreal
Nello Giorgetti	....	swing gang
Otto Jacoby	....	set builder: New York
Steven Kirshoff	....	prop man: New York
Walter Klymkiw	....	chief carpenter: Montreal
Joey Litto	....	construction coordinator: New York
Tullio Lullo	....	construction coordinator
Domenico Mancino	....	blacksmith
George Messaris	....	set builder: New York
Elouise Meyer	....	scenic chargeperson: New York
Giovanni Natalucci	....	set designer
Gretchen Rau	....	set decorator: New York
Claude Simard	....	chief carpenter: Montreal
James T. Singelis	....	art director: New York (as James Singelis)
Rejean Brochu	....	construction supervisor (uncredited)
Clément Hurel	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Dan Mahoney	....	construction grip (uncredited)

Technicien du son
Fausto Ancillai	....	sound recording mixer
Bruno Charier	....	boom operator
Robert Rietty	....	dubbing editor
Jean-Pierre Ruh	....	sound engineer (as Jean Pierre Ruhu)
Paul J. Zydel	....	adr sound: New York (as Paul Zydel)
Chris David	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (uncredited)

Effets spéciaux
Louis Craig	....	special effects assistant: Montreal
Gabe Videla	....	special effects: Montreal
Danilo Bollettini	....	special effects (uncredited)
Brian Campbell	....	special effects crew (uncredited)
Giovanni Corridori	....	special effects (uncredited)
Jacques Godbout	....	special effects (uncredited)

Cascadeur
Benito Stefanelli	....	stunt coordinator

Caméra et Département Electrique
Steve Baker	....	key grip: New York
Sandro Battaglia	....	assistant camera
Augusto Diamanti	....	key grip
Normand Guy	....	key grip: Montreal
Walter Klymkiw	....	gaffer: Montreal
Romano Mancini	....	gaffer
John Newby	....	gaffer: New York
Crescenzo Notarile	....	assistant camera: New York
Angelo Novi	....	still photographer
Antonio Scaramuzza	....	assistant camera
Carlo Tafani	....	camera operator
Carlo Vinciguerra	....	gaffer
Eraldo Barbona	....	grip (uncredited)
Edward Cohen	....	electrician (uncredited)
Jean Courteau	....	electrician (uncredited)

Département Casting
Sylvie Bourque	....	extras casting: Montreal
Flo Gallant	....	extras casting: Montreal

Département Costume et garde-Robe
Richard Bruno	....	associate costume designer: New York
Helen P. Butler	....	costumer: New York (as Helen Butler)
Marina Frassine	....	assistant costume designer
Raffaella Leone	....	assistant costume designer
Tirelli	....	wardrobe costumes (as Umberto Tirelli)

Dpartement Editorial
Gabrio Astori	....	postint editor
Alessandro Baragli	....	assistant editor
Patrizia Ceresani	....	assistant editor (as Patricia Cerasani)
Ornella Chistolini	....	assistant editor
Maurizio Mancini	....	editing coordinator
Nicholas Stevenson	....	postint editor
Elvira Tonini	....	first assistant editor (as Vivi Tonini)
Giorgio Venturoli	....	assistant editor
J. Kathleen Gibson	....	first assistant editor (uncredited)
Howard Heard	....	assistant film editor (uncredited)

Département Musique
Sergio Marcotulli	....	music recording mixer
Ennio Morricone	....	musical director
Gheorghe Zamfir	....	musician: pan flute

Département Transport
James Giblin	....	transportation captain: New York
Bobby Marsh	....	driver (uncredited)

Divers
Sonny Abagnale	....	antique car coordinator: New York
Francesca Alatri	....	production secretary: New York
Bruce Bahrenburg	....	unit publicist: New York
Robert Benmussa	....	consultant to producer
Dominique Bruballa	....	accountant: New York
Fausto Capozzi	....	accountant
Diana Di Michele	....	accountant
Gianna Di Michele	....	production auditor
Lucie Drolet	....	accountant: Montreal
Brian Freilino	....	dialogue director
Herb Hetzer	....	location controller: New York
Gail Kearns	....	production coordinator: New York
Ted Kurdyla	....	production liaison: New York
Pierre Laberge	....	location manager: Montreal
Margherita Pace	....	body double: Jennifer Connelly
Tonino Palombi	....	production assistant
Sergio Rosa	....	accountant
Robert Rothbard	....	location manager: New York
Pietro Sassaroli	....	production assistant (as Piero Sassaroli)
Jennifer W. Shore	....	production secretary: New York (as Jennifer Wyckoff)
Attilio Viti	....	location manager
Mark Del Costello	....	assistant: Mr. Leone (uncredited)
Simona Patitucci	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Alan Potashnick	....	personal assistant: Robert DeNiro (uncredited)
Eugene Rizzo	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Danièle Rohrbach	....	production coordinator (uncredited)

Merci
Borsalino	....	special thanks
Bulgari	....	special thanks
Italo Gasparucci	....	special thanks
Hedy Martinelli	....	special thanks

Companies de production

• Embassy International Pictures
• PSO International
• Rafran Cinematografica
• Regency Enterprises
• Warner Bros. Pictures
• Wishbone

Distributeurs

• Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie (SNC) (1984) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Ladd Company, The (1984) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1984) (USA) (theatrical) (through)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1987) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Adams Filmi (1985) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Jugendfilm-Verleih (1984) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• European Video Corporation (EVC) (1984) (Belgium) (video)
• Flashstar Home Vídeo (1998) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Flashstar Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• LW Editora (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (France)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Italy) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2003) (Brazil) (VHS)

Technicien des effets spéciaux

• Intrigue (special effects)
• Corridori G & A Cinematografica S.r.l.

Autres Companies

• Cine Audio Effects  sound effects
• Forum Studio  music recorded at
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  DVD publicity
• Studio 4  titles and opticals

Autre(s) titre(s):

C'era una volta in America (Italy)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, sexual content, language and some drug use. (edited version)

Durée:

229 min | USA:139 min (re-cut)

Pays:

Italy | USA

Langue:

Anglais | Italien | Français

Couleur:

Couleur (Technicolor)

Rapport de forme:

1,85 : 1

Son:

Mono

Classification:

Finland:K-16 (1990) | Finland:K-18 (1984) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Iceland:16 | UK:18 (cut) | Brazil:14 | Germany:16 (f) (re-rating) (2003) | West Germany:18 (f) (original rating) (1984-2003) | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:R | France:U (Original rating) | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:12 (original rating) | Netherlands:16 (re-rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Lieux de tournage:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Société:

Embassy International Pictures

Anecdotes:

The opera symphony "Amapola," can be heard on several occasions in the film: Deborah dances to a jazzy version on the gramophone, Fat Moe's band plays the tune (also jazzed-up) on the speakeasy, and a strings version is heard during Noodles' date with Deborah.

Goofs:

Anachronismes: Noodles watches a 1967 telecast concerning the investigation revolving around Chairman Bailey (on a decidedly European-looking television set). Twice during the telecast, we see a cameraman with a portable video camera and an assistant with a portable videotape recorder. The very first Electronic News Gathering (ENG) equipment wasn't available in the US until at least 1971.

Guillemet:

[first lines]
[In 1933, two goons rudely question a young woman]
Beefy: Where is he? Where's he hiding?
Eve: I don't know... I've been looking for him since yesterday.
[second goon slaps her harshly; she falls onto the bed]
Beefy: I'm gonna ask you for the last time: Where is he?
Eve: I don't know... What are you gonna do to him?
[Two shots are head]
Beefy: [to his partner] Stay here in case that rat shows up...

Connexions:

Référencé sur Miller's Crossing (1990)

Bande son:

LA GAZZA LADRA: Overture

A sprawling, deliberately paced, and generally a superbly crafted piece of work

It's been said that when one watches a "spaghetti" western (one of the "Man with no name" films with Clint Eastwood) filmmaker Sergio Leone's trademark cinema style and flair for clear storytelling is instantly recognizable. This is no truer than in his most ambitious effort, Once Upon a Time in America, in which his usage of close-ups, concise camera movement, sound transitions and syncs, and the sudden change in some scenes from tenderness to violence. And, he pulls it off without making the viewer feel dis-interested. Of course, it's hard to feel that way when watching the cast he has put together; even the child actors (one of which a young Jennifer Connelly as the young Deborah) are believable. Robert De Niro projects his subtitles like a pro, with his occasional outburst in the right place; James Woods gives one of his first great performances as Max; Elizabeth McGovern is the heart of the film; and Joe Pesci should've had more than just a one scene appearance, thought it's still good.

It's a story of life-long friends, in the tradition of the Godfather movies with obvious differences, and the story cuts back and forth to Noodles (De Niro) in his old age returning from exile, looking back on his childhood in Brooklyn, his rise to power with his partners, and the twists come quite unexpectedly. The pace is slow, but not detrimental, and it gives the viewer time to let the emotions sink in. The story is also non-linear, and yet doesn't give away facts to the viewer- this is something that more than likely influenced Tarantino (and many others) in style. By the end, every detail that has mounted up makes the whole experience rather fulfilling, if not perfect. Finally, I'd like to point out the exceptional musical score. Ennio Morricone, as it says on this site, has scored over four hundred films in forty years, including Leone's movies. This would have to be, arguably, one of his ten best works- his score is equally lively, saddened, intense, and perhaps majestic for a gangster epic. Overall, it's filled with the same spirit Leone had in directing the picture, and it corresponds beautifully- there are some scenes in this film that would simply not work without the strings. Grade: A