Editing Once Upon a Time in America (section)

== Production ==
=== Development ===
During the mid-1960s, Sergio Leone had read the novel ''The Hoods'' by [[Harry Grey]], a [[pseudonym]] for the former gangster-turned-informant whose real name was Harry Goldberg. In 1968, after shooting ''[[Once Upon a Time in the West]]'', Leone made many efforts to talk to Grey. Having enjoyed Leone's ''Dollars Trilogy'', Grey finally responded and agreed to meet with Leone at a Manhattan bar.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|pages=389–90}} Following that initial meeting, Leone met with Grey several times throughout the remainder of the 1960s and 1970s, having discussions with him to understand America through Grey's point of view.<ref name="Roger Fristoe">{{cite web |author=Roger Fristoe |title=Sergio Leone Profile |publisher=[[Turner Classic Movies]] |url=http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article=191909%7c191910/Sergio-Leone-Profile.html |access-date=March 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716203520/http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/191909%7c191910/Sergio-Leone-Profile.html |archive-date=July 16, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="SL-NYT"/>

Intent on making another trilogy about America consisting of ''Once Upon a Time in the West'', ''[[Duck, You Sucker!]]'' and ''Once Upon a Time in America'', Leone turned down an offer from [[Paramount Pictures]] to direct ''[[The Godfather]]'' to pursue his pet project.<ref name="Roger Fristoe"/><ref name="SL-NYT">{{cite news |author=Lucia Bozzola |title=Sergio Leone |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/99378/Sergio-Leone/biography |access-date=March 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716203731/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/99378/Sergio-Leone/biography |archive-date=July 16, 2014|department=Movies & TV Dept. |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

At some point, Leone considered other colleagues including [[Miloš Forman]] and [[John Milius]] for the role of director, with Leone serving merely as producer.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|pages=396–9}} For some time, the project was linked to French producers [[André Génovès]] and [[Gérard Lebovici]], and later to [[Gaumont Film Company|Gaumont]], with [[Gérard Depardieu]] and [[Jean Gabin]] slated to be the main actors.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|pages=394–5}}

Acquiring the rights to the novel proved to be complicated, as they had been bought by [[Dan Curtis]], who intended to shoot the film and refused various offers by Leone and his backers to sell the rights.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|pages=393–5}} Curtis eventually transferred the rights to [[Alberto Grimaldi]] in exchange for Grimaldi's production of his $2 million film ''[[Burnt Offerings (film)|Burnt Offerings]]''.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=395}}

Initially, only a draft for the film's opening scene was made, penned by [[Ernesto Gastaldi]] and developed by Robert Dillon, which Dillon eventually used in [[John Frankenheimer]]'s film ''[[99 and 44/100% Dead]]'', much to Leone's dismay.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|pages=395-6}}

After Grimaldi bought the rights, he felt that he needed an American scriptwriter to faithfully capture the spirit of the novel; he eventually made a deal with [[Norman Mailer]], whose draft greatly disappointed both Grimaldi and Leone, who described Mailer's draft as "a [[Mickey Mouse]] version [of the novel]" that lacked in structure and "made no sense at all".{{sfn|Frayling|2012|pages=399-400}}  A few elements of Norman Mailer's first two drafts would eventually appear in the film.<ref name="Sokol" />

After Mailer's fiasco, Leone opted for an all-Italian team of scriptwriters: [[Leonardo Benvenuti]] and [[Piero De Bernardi]] would focus on the 1920s section, [[Enrico Medioli]] on the 1930s section, and [[Franco Arcalli|Franco "Kim" Arcalli]] on the time shifts, with Leone supervising and [[Franco Ferrini]] polishing the script.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|pages=404-5}}

As of 1975–1976, Leone's casting ideas still included Depardieu and Gabin, as well as [[Richard Dreyfuss]] as Max, [[James Cagney]], [[Robert Charlebois]], and appearances by [[Henry Fonda]], [[James Stewart]], [[George Raft]] and [[Glenn Ford]].{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=406}}

In 1976, [[Ennio Morricone]] had already composed all the main themes for the film.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=406}} Meanwhile, relations between Grimaldi and Leone soured, with Grimaldi unconvinced of the film's commercial viability and eventually exiting the project, being replaced in 1980 by Arnon Milchan.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=432}}

At this stage, Leone's casting ideas included [[Tom Berenger]], [[Dustin Hoffman]], [[Paul Newman]] and [[Liza Minnelli]].{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=433}} A 317-page shooting script was completed in late 1981.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=407}} The final script, translated to English by [[Stuart M. Kaminsky]], was approved by Leone in May 1982.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|pages=434-6}}

=== Casting ===
In 1981, at Milchan's suggestion, Leone met [[Robert De Niro]] and eventually offered him the role of his choice between Noodles and Max.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|pages=437-9}} De Niro's commitment turned out to be crucial for Milchan's securing the financial backing for the film.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=437}}

For the role of Max, approximately 200 actors were auditioned.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=441}} [[Elizabeth McGovern]] was chosen for the role of Deborah despite De Niro's request for having a New York native with a [[Brooklyn]] accent, due to Leone's appreciation of her performance in ''[[Ragtime (film)|Ragtime]]''.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=441}}

[[Joe Pesci]] was chosen by Arnon Milchan because of his role in ''[[Raging Bull]]'', and was offered a supporting role of his choice.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=441}} At De Niro's recommendation, [[Tuesday Weld]] was cast as Carol, a role that Leone had previously envisioned for [[Claudia Cardinale]].{{sfn|Frayling|2012|pages=441-2}}

For the children's roles, Leone entrusted the task to [[Cis Corman]], asking him not to have child stars, but instead having actors who had lived in New York's Jewish neighborhood and had no previous acting experience. In the end, Corman provided mostly actors without film credits but with experiences on stage and television.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=445}}

=== Filming ===
The filming of ''Once Upon a Time in America'' started in June 1982 and ended in April the following year. The shooting locations took place in and around the US, Canada, Italy and France, with a focal point in New York City.<ref>{{cite web |first= Arka |last= Mukhopadhyay |date= September 3, 2021 |title= Where Was ''Once Upon a Time in America'' Filmed? |url= https://thecinemaholic.com/where-was-once-upon-a-time-in-america-filmed/ |work= The Cinemaholic |access-date= October 16, 2021 |archive-date= October 16, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211016175747/https://thecinemaholic.com/where-was-once-upon-a-time-in-america-filmed/ |url-status= live }}</ref> Interior scenes were filmed mostly at the [[Cinecittà Studios]] in [[Rome]].<ref>{{cite web |title=''Once Upon a Time in America'' Locations |url=https://www.latlong.net/location/once-upon-a-time-in-america-locations-355 |work=LatLong.net |access-date=October 26, 2021 |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025231719/https://www.latlong.net/location/once-upon-a-time-in-america-locations-355 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The beach scene in which Max unveils his plan to rob the [[Federal Reserve]], was shot at [[The Don CeSar]] in [[St. Pete Beach, Florida|St. Pete Beach]], Florida.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Loews Don CeSar Hotel |url=https://www.loewshotels.com/don-cesar/history |publisher=[[Loews Hotels]] |access-date=March 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121124508/https://www.loewshotels.com/don-cesar/history|archive-date=November 21, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The railway of New York's Grand Central Station in 1930s flashbacks was filmed in the [[Gare du Nord]] in [[Paris]].<ref name="movie-locations.com" /> The interiors of the lavish restaurant where Noodles takes Deborah on their date were shot in the {{ill|Hotel Excelsior (Venice)|it|Hotel Excelsior (Lido di Venezia)|lt=Hotel Excelsior}} in [[Venice]], Italy.<ref name="movie-locations.com">{{Cite web |url=http://movie-locations.com/movies/o/onceamerica.html |title=The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations |access-date=January 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211184629/http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/o/onceamerica.html |archive-date=December 11, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Filming in New York proved to be relatively difficult, as the [[International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees|IATSE]] labor union raised a strong objection to Leone's use of a foreign crew, and launched a public protest campaign big enough to persuade President [[Ronald Reagan]] to call for a Department of Labor investigation into the matter.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=455}}

De Niro shot his scenes in chronological continuity.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=440}} His makeup as an old man required four-to-six hours of preparation.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=440}} After a few weeks, Nilo Jacoponi, [[Manlio Rocchetti]] and Gino Zamprioli replaced [[Christopher Tucker]], whose makeup was considered excessive and unrealistic by Leone.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=440}}

=== Editing ===
By the end of filming, Leone had ten hours of footage. With his editor [[Nino Baragli]], Leone trimmed it to almost six hours, and he originally wanted to release the film in two parts.{{sfn|Hughes|2006|page=163}} The producers refused, partly because of the commercial and critical failure of [[Bernardo Bertolucci]]'s two-part ''[[1900 (film)|1900]]'', and Leone was forced to shorten it further.<ref>{{cite web |first=Kevin |last=Jagernauth |title=Sergio Leone's Extended Director's Cut of ''Once Upon a Time in America''|date=June 9, 2014 |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2014/06/sergio-leones-extended-directors-cut-of-once-upon-a-time-in-america-coming-to-blu-ray-85044/amp/ |website=[[IndieWire]] |access-date=September 8, 2021 |archive-date=September 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908133300/https://www.indiewire.com/2014/06/sergio-leones-extended-directors-cut-of-once-upon-a-time-in-america-coming-to-blu-ray-85044/amp/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The film was originally 269 minutes (4 hours and 29 minutes), but when it premiered out of competition at the [[1984 Cannes Film Festival]], Leone had cut it to 229 minutes (3 hours and 49 minutes) to appease the distributors. The latter is the version shown in European cinemas.<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |title=Festival de Cannes: ''Once Upon a Time in America''|url=https://m.festival-cannes.com/en/festival/films/once-upon-a-time-in-america |access-date=June 25, 2009 |work=Festival-cannes.com |archive-date=June 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605091310/https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/festival/films/once-upon-a-time-in-america |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Music ===
The [[film score|musical score]] was composed by Leone's longtime collaborator [[Ennio Morricone]]. "Deborah's Theme" was written for a [[Franco Zeffirelli]] film but was rejected.{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=427}} The score is also notable for Morricone's incorporation of the music of [[Gheorghe Zamfir]], who plays a [[pan flute]].{{sfn|Frayling|2012|page=427}} Zamfir's flute music was used to similar effect in [[Peter Weir]]'s ''[[Picnic at Hanging Rock (film)|Picnic at Hanging Rock]]'' (1975).{{sfn|Hughes|2006|page=163}}<ref>{{cite web |first=Messrob |last=Torikian |url=http://www.soundtrack.net/albums/database/?id=1894 |title=Once Upon a Time in America (1984) |publisher=Soundtrack |date=August 25, 2003 |access-date=May 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007004241/http://www.soundtrack.net/albums/database/?id=1894 |archive-date=October 7, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Morricone also collaborated with vocalist [[Edda Dell'Orso]] on the score.

{{Infobox album
| name       = Once Upon a Time in America
| type       = soundtrack
| artist     = [[Ennio Morricone]]
| cover      =
| alt        =
| released   = {{Plainlist|
*June 1, 1984
*October 17, 1995 <small>(Special edition)</small>
}}
| recorded   = December 1983
| venue      =
| studio     = [[Forum Music Village|Forum Studios]], Rome
| genre      = [[Contemporary classical music|Contemporary classical]]
| length     =
| label      = [[Mercury Records]]
| producer   = Ennio Morricone
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  =
| misc       = {{Extra album cover
 | header  = Special Edition cover
 | type    = soundtrack
 | cover   =
 | border  =
 | alt     =
 | caption = 1995 Special Edition
}}
}}

Besides the original music, the film used [[source music]], including:{{sfn|Hughes|2006|page=162}}
* "[[God Bless America]]" (written by [[Irving Berlin]], performed by [[Kate Smith]] – 1943) – Plays over the opening credits from a radio in Eve's bedroom and briefly at the film's ending.
* "[[Yesterday (Beatles song)|Yesterday]]" (written by [[Lennon–McCartney]] – 1965) – A [[Elevator music|Muzak]] version of this piece plays when Noodles first returns to New York in 1968, examining himself in a train-station mirror. An instrumental version of the song also plays briefly during the dialogue between Noodles and "Bailey" near the film's end.
* "[[Summertime (George Gershwin song)|Summertime]]" (written by [[George Gershwin]] – 1935) An instrumental version of the [[aria]] from the [[opera]] ''[[Porgy and Bess]]'' is playing softly in the background as Noodles, prior to leaving, explains to "Secretary Bailey" why he could never kill his friend.
* "[[Amapola (song)|Amapola]]" (written by [[Joseph Lacalle]], American lyrics by [[Albert Gamse]] – 1923) – Originally an opera piece, several instrumental versions of this song are played during the film; a jazzy version, which plays on the [[Phonograph|gramophone]] danced to by young Deborah in 1918; a similar version performed by Fat Moe's jazz band in the 1930s [[speakeasy]]; and a string version, during Noodles's date with Deborah. Both versions are available on the soundtrack.
* Part of the third theme from the overture to ''[[La gazza ladra]]'' ([[Gioachino Rossini]] – 1817) – Used during the baby-switching scene in the hospital.
* "[[Night and Day (song)|Night and Day]]" (written and sung by [[Cole Porter]] – 1932) – Played by a jazz band during the beach scene before the beachgoers receive word of Prohibition's repeal, and during the party at the house of "Secretary Bailey" in 1968.
* "[[St. James Infirmary Blues]]" is used during the Prohibition "funeral" at the gang's speakeasy.

A [[soundtrack album]] was released in 1984 by [[Mercury Records]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Once Upon a Time in America (1984) Soundtrack |url=http://www.soundtrack.net/album/once-upon-a-time-in-america-morricone/ |website=[[Soundtrack.Net]] |access-date=March 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402143747/http://www.soundtrack.net/album/once-upon-a-time-in-america-morricone/|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> It was followed by a special-edition release in 1995 featuring four additional tracks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Once Upon a Time in America [Special Edition] – Ennio Morricone |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/once-upon-a-time-in-america-special-edition-mw0000473231 |website=[[AllMusic]] |publisher=[[All Media Network]] |access-date=March 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122080626/http://www.allmusic.com/album/once-upon-a-time-in-america-special-edition-mw0000473231|archive-date=November 22, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline    = Side one
| title1      = Once Upon a Time in America
| length1     = 2:11
| title2      = Poverty
| length2     = 3:37
| title3      = Deborah's Theme
| length3     = 4:24
| title4      = Childhood Memories
| length4     = 3:22
| title5      = Amapola
| length5     = 5:21
| title6      = Friends
| length6     = 1:34
| title7      = Prohibition Dirge
| length7     = 4:20
}}
{{Track listing
| headline    = Side two
| title8      = Cockeye's Song
| length8     = 4:20
| title9      = Amapola, Part II
| length9     = 3:07
| title10     = Childhood Poverty
| length10    = 1:41
| title11     = Photographic Memories
| length11    = 1:00
| title12     = Friends – Reprise
| length12    = 1:23
| title13     = Friendship & Love
| length13    = 4:14
| title14     = Speakeasy
| length14    = 2:21
| title15     = Deborah's Theme – Amapola
| length15    = 6:13
}}

{{Track listing
| headline    = Bonus tracks (1995 Special Edition)
| title16     = Suite from Once Upon a Time in America (Includes Amapola)
| length16    = 13:32
| title17     = Poverty (Temp. Version)
| length17    = 3:26
| title18     = Unused Theme
| length18    = 4:46
| title19     = Unused Theme (Version 2)
| length19    = 3:38
}}