- Actors: Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Joe Pesci, Burt Young
- Directors: Sergio Leone
- Writers: Enrico Medioli, Ernesto Gastaldi, Franco Arcalli, Franco Ferrini, Harry Grey
- Language English, French, Italian
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- VHS Release Date: 4 Mar 1996
- Run Time: 229 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (92 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000057RMW
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 11,871 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
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
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
54 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
THE FILM
There's not much to say that hasn't been said already. 'Once Upon a Time in America' is without a doubt one of the best films of all time. A grand tale of nostalgia and regret directed by a legendary filmmaker. Robert De Niro, James Woods and the rest of the cast all give great performances. Ennio Morricone's score is simply beautiful.
No film buff should miss it.
THE DISC
The transfer looks quite good. There are no distracting compression artifacts or other anomalies. There is no excessive DNR and the image looks natural. It might not be a demo-worthy material but it is truthful to the original look of the film and a significant improvement over the DVD release.
The DTS-HD Master Audio track, while not spectacular, is very clear and precise. There's not much happening in the surround channels but it is an accurate representation of the original, almost 30-year-old soundtrack.
All in all, this Blu-ray release is the best the film has ever looked on home video and truthful to the original theatrical presentation.
Highly recommended.
Available audio tracks: English (DTS-MA), Spanish, Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish (all DD 5.1)
Available subtitles: English, Brazilian Portuguese, Bulgarian, Spanish, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Korean, Latin Spanish, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish
There's not much to say that hasn't been said already. 'Once Upon a Time in America' is without a doubt one of the best films of all time. A grand tale of nostalgia and regret directed by a legendary filmmaker. Robert De Niro, James Woods and the rest of the cast all give great performances. Ennio Morricone's score is simply beautiful.
No film buff should miss it.
THE DISC
The transfer looks quite good. There are no distracting compression artifacts or other anomalies. There is no excessive DNR and the image looks natural. It might not be a demo-worthy material but it is truthful to the original look of the film and a significant improvement over the DVD release.
The DTS-HD Master Audio track, while not spectacular, is very clear and precise. There's not much happening in the surround channels but it is an accurate representation of the original, almost 30-year-old soundtrack.
All in all, this Blu-ray release is the best the film has ever looked on home video and truthful to the original theatrical presentation.
Highly recommended.
Available audio tracks: English (DTS-MA), Spanish, Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish (all DD 5.1)
Available subtitles: English, Brazilian Portuguese, Bulgarian, Spanish, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Korean, Latin Spanish, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
I have just finished watching my American Blu Ray version, which should be identical to the forthcoming UK release, I am happy to say that Once upon a Time in America looks fabulous in HD, the picture is sharp, colour pallet is excellent, the flashbacks to their childhood still hold the sepia hue as intended, the extras are exactly the same as on the 2 disc SE which is a shame would have been nice to have a new documentary. The whole uncut film is on one disc, I love this film and have always held it in high regard since I first saw a copy on VHS in my teens.
Is the upgrade to HD worth it for those that have the 2 disc DVD, without a shadow of a doubt, this film has never looked so good, it may not knock your socks off like Avatar or LOTR but then it wasn't expected to.
I still think this is one of the best gangster movies out there and worth having in everyone's collection, yes it can be slow at times, yes it is quite violent and can have some unsettling scenes but Sergio is in a class of his own (even though i am not keen on Fistful of Dynamite).
Many have speculated over the film is it a drug induced dream etc, I have always had a couple of nagging doubts about a few things set in the 60's so it may have been, after all if Max was the senitor wouldn't his picture have been in the press or on TV and wouldn't noodles have spotted it at least once? I know fat moe states he hasn't seen his sister in a while but as she became a big stage star surley he would have know who she married and wouldn't there have been a few pictures of the happy couple doing the rounds.............but apart from these I have and will always champion this movie.
Do I think anyone interested in this film should upgrade, yes without hesitation.
Is the upgrade to HD worth it for those that have the 2 disc DVD, without a shadow of a doubt, this film has never looked so good, it may not knock your socks off like Avatar or LOTR but then it wasn't expected to.
I still think this is one of the best gangster movies out there and worth having in everyone's collection, yes it can be slow at times, yes it is quite violent and can have some unsettling scenes but Sergio is in a class of his own (even though i am not keen on Fistful of Dynamite).
Many have speculated over the film is it a drug induced dream etc, I have always had a couple of nagging doubts about a few things set in the 60's so it may have been, after all if Max was the senitor wouldn't his picture have been in the press or on TV and wouldn't noodles have spotted it at least once? I know fat moe states he hasn't seen his sister in a while but as she became a big stage star surley he would have know who she married and wouldn't there have been a few pictures of the happy couple doing the rounds.............but apart from these I have and will always champion this movie.
Do I think anyone interested in this film should upgrade, yes without hesitation.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Some might be interested in knowing that Sergio Leone's sons have recently reacquired - for the italian market - the rights for this masterpiece, and are proceding to a full restoration in order to produce (rumor has it, in 2012) the Director's Cut originally intended by Leone.
Meaning, more than FOURTY additional minutes of footage - originally cut due to the length of the movie - will be re-integrated. I don't know about you, but I've been hoping for years this would happen.
The restoration will probably be supervised by some big name, most likely Scorsese or Tarantino, but that's just rumors for the time being.
Guess I'll be waiting to purchase that blu-ray...
Meaning, more than FOURTY additional minutes of footage - originally cut due to the length of the movie - will be re-integrated. I don't know about you, but I've been hoping for years this would happen.
The restoration will probably be supervised by some big name, most likely Scorsese or Tarantino, but that's just rumors for the time being.
Guess I'll be waiting to purchase that blu-ray...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
great film, but....
This isn't a review, just some information. 40 minutes is lost from the version currently available on DVD, because of butchery by studio execs who (probably rightly) considered... Read more
Published 4 days ago by Tom Holt
Like The Godfather... just, well, better.
As much as i enjoy Italian stereotypes/cliches.. This film works on so many levels. You have the pizza base, then the tomato paste, then the mozzarella... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Rusty
One in a Million
This film is too good for words. De Niro lights up the screen once again and a soundtrack that will send shivers down your spine.
Published 3 months ago by Mel Santino
A Bit Dated And Gratuitous.
This film looks like it was made in the 80's (which it was) I found it quite dull a lot of the time, when it is faster paced it's either people being tortured and killed or woman... Read more
Published 4 months ago by micro man
once upon a time
This film takes you right back to the early part of last century and tells it how it was growing up in america. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ms. J. K. Edwards
Once Upon A Time In America
Aah - an all-time classic movie. One of my top 5. De Niro is king. The soundtrack is fabulous and creates an air for every scene. You must buy it
Published 7 months ago by Celtic Dragon
Beautiful film.
Absolutely fantastic film, v long but enjoyed it all the way through. Was recommend to me by a friend who said 'remember that the 60s stuff is a heroin induced vision' which made... Read more
Published 8 months ago by C. Grant
once upon a time in america diro best movie
great movie the blu ray is ok better than the dvd -bob best movie that and deer hunter go and buy
Published 8 months ago by kinkafro
For me the best film ever
There cannot be much left to say about this masterpiece.For years the best film I had seen was Paris Texas, but this one pipped it to the top. Read more
Published 9 months ago by K. Jamal
THE Great American Movie!
To keep things short, this is nothing short of a masterpiece. I believe it is the best movie ever made about America, indeed by an Italian citizen - it's simply that good. Read more
Published 10 months ago by James Caldwell
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