Once Upon a Time in America: The Story of New York

The Story of Once Upon a Time in America

• Once Upon a Time in America premiered in 1984. This cinema classic was the final film by Italian director Sergio Leone, the master of spaghetti westerns—Italian-made westerns that ranged from epic to burlesque. If Sergio Leone’s name doesn’t ring a bell, you’ve almost certainly seen his films: A Fistful of Dollars and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, both starring Clint Eastwood, or Once Upon a Time in the West, with Charles Bronson. He also wrote the screenplay for My Name Is Nobody, starring Terence Hill and Henry Fonda.
• In Once Upon a Time in America, Sergio Leone traces three pivotal moments in New York’s history through the eyes of David Aaronson, a New York Jewish man played by Robert De Niro. The film, which runs 4 hours and 11 minutes, follows his childhood in the early 20th century, his criminal exploits during Prohibition, and then moves back to the 1960s.
• The film also tells the story of a childhood friendship between David, nicknamed Noodles, and his friend Maximilian Bercovicz, called Max and played by James Woods, who also becomes a gangster. David and Max lose touch and reunite as life unfolds.
• A final note on the soundtrack. It was composed by the legendary Ennio Morricone, who wrote the music for 8 of Sergio Leone’s films, including Once Upon a Time in the West. Here’s the soundtrack to Once Upon a Time in America:

New York in Once Upon a Time in America

• Even if you haven’t seen Once Upon a Time in America yet, you’ve likely seen its iconic poster featuring the Manhattan Bridge. The image perfectly captures New York’s atmosphere. To see the film’s poster in real life, head to DUMBO in Brooklyn, along the East River. I’ve included directions in my article about the Once Upon a Time in America poster.
• David’s childhood neighborhood is a bit further north, still in Brooklyn, at the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge. Walk along South 6th Street, which runs below the bridge, and you’ll be following in the footsteps of young David and Max. David’s apartment is at 105 South 8th Street, while Max lives at 126 on the same street.
• Another iconic location in the film is South Street in Manhattan. This is where adult David returns to walk along the East River. Brooklyn and his childhood are across the water.
• However, don’t look for the Long Island Restaurant, where David takes his girlfriend Deborah. Sergio Leone filmed that scene in Venice, at the Hotel Excelsior on the Lido. The newsstand fire scene was shot in Montreal, in front of 449 rue Saint-Pierre. Equally surprising: when Deborah leaves New York for Hollywood, she boards the train at Grand Central Terminal. That’s movie magic too—Leone actually filmed the scene at Gare de l’Est in Paris.

The Trailer for Once Upon a Time in America

The Film Poster