On this day June 1, 1984, Sergio Leone’s epic crime drama Once Upon a Time in America premiered in theaters. Starring Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Joe Pesci, Burt Young, Tuesday Weld, Treat Williams, Danny Aiello, and William Forsythe, the film followed a group of Jewish gangsters over several decades, exploring themes of friendship, betrayal, and the passage of time.
The film was Leone’s first project in over a decade and one of his most ambitious works. Produced on a budget of 30 million dollars, it suffered a poor box office performance in the United States, bringing in just 5.3 million dollars. This was due in large part to a heavily edited theatrical cut that removed over an hour of content and rearranged the story chronologically.
Fun fact: The original version of the film ran nearly four hours and was shown at the Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim, where its non-linear structure and depth were praised as a cinematic masterpiece.
The film was Leone’s first project in over a decade and one of his most ambitious works. Produced on a budget of 30 million dollars, it suffered a poor box office performance in the United States, bringing in just 5.3 million dollars. This was due in large part to a heavily edited theatrical cut that removed over an hour of content and rearranged the story chronologically.
Fun fact: The original version of the film ran nearly four hours and was shown at the Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim, where its non-linear structure and depth were praised as a cinematic masterpiece.
