I've seen Once Upon a Time in America about a dozen times, but there are still questions I have about the flick.

1.) What happened to the money that they boys originally locked into the deposit box in the railroad terminal? I've assumed that Max took the money to start his new "life," after he was "killed."

2.) "Advance Payment For Your Next Job." So Max, or, Senator Bailey, replaces the money in one of the new deposit boxes in the railroad station, intended for Noodles after he kills him?

3.) If Deborah hated Noodles for what he did to her, or disliked that fact that he is a criminal, why would she become Max's lover, since she had known Max while he was a kid as well?

4.) Max seemed to "know" beforehand that Noodles was going to inform the police, especially since he somehow fakes his own death, or replaces himself with another person. But we are lead to believe that he figured out Noodles would betray him because he was acting strangely, and he knocked Noodles out. Why would Max detail his Federal Reserve job, but have this massive plan in place as well? Did (Tuesday Weld's character) tell Max that Noodles was going to betray him, after she told Noodles to do so?

5.) Why would Max put (Tuesday Weld's character) in his Bailey Foundation, if she knew who "he" really was? Is it like an old folks home? I can't figure that out. For that matter, why didn't she just tell Noodles who Bailey was?

6.) Why does Max want Noodles to kill him? Because of the investigation? We know how slippery politicians are, did he think he couldn't get out of it? Or was he really crazy, wanting Noodles to get revenge?

And lastly...

Was it all a dream? (Yes, I know this is open ended. )

I've only seen OUTA twice, but I think it was an opium dream.

I know, supposedly it all is an opium dream, but I can't believe it, since the story is too intricate. I dunno. Then again, we never really do know whether Maxie jumped into the garbage truck (what a way to go, you'd think the pistol to the head would suffice).

I think it is an opium dream. He's a man who betrayed his friends, and had nothing left, but to become a junkie. An interesting note is that opium supposedly makes you hallucinate of the future, which is why many of these characters could be just in a messy dream. Maybe Debbie didn't get together with Max, maybe it was an incoherent, guilty dream. Both were betrayed too, one by a tip, the other, rape.

It's whatever you want to think of it. I would've loved to hear a Leone commentary if he was alive.

You still didn't answer my questions, opium boy!

I need another view to look closely at those points, although I think you're right about the money, although it could've been moved from the locker Noodles knew about, and then the key to the real one turns up in the tomb.

I'd have to watch it again to answer most of your questions. But, the last one: Max was going to be knocked off and he wanted to choose the way he would go. So, that's why he asked Noodles to do it.

Without going into too much details IMO

1.) What happened to the money that they boys originally locked into the deposit box in the railroad terminal? I've assumed that Max took the money to start his new "life," after he was "killed."

Max took it


2.) "Advance Payment For Your Next Job." So Max, or, Senator Bailey, replaces the money in one of the new deposit boxes in the railroad station, intended for Noodles after he kills him?

Yes

3.) If Deborah hated Noodles for what he did to her, or disliked that fact that he is a criminal, why would she become Max's lover, since she had known Max while he was a kid as well?

Because Max could give her everything she wanted, and make her dreams come true

4.) Max seemed to "know" beforehand that Noodles was going to inform the police, especially since he somehow fakes his own death, or replaces himself with another person. But we are lead to believe that he figured out Noodles would betray him because he was acting strangely, and he knocked Noodles out. Why would Max detail his Federal Reserve job, but have this massive plan in place as well? Did (Tuesday Weld's character) tell Max that Noodles was going to betray him, after she told Noodles to do so?

I think it was coincedence and Max knew nothing about Noodles being a rat. Noodles would have been killed along w/ the others if he took part in the job. I think Max was going to betray the entire gang. Noodles felt the guilt but over time the guilt was turned over to Max. He intended on betraying his best friend and the guilt ate at him for years

5.) Why would Max put (Tuesday Weld's character) in his Bailey Foundation, if she knew who "he" really was? Is it like an old folks home? I can't figure that out. For that matter, why didn't she just tell Noodles who Bailey was?

SEE ANSWER # 3

6.) Why does Max want Noodles to kill him? Because of the investigation? We know how slippery politicians are, did he think he couldn't get out of it? Or was he really crazy, wanting Noodles to get revenge?

He knew that noodles tortured himself for 30 years with guilt, Max was screwed anyway so this would provide noodles with revenge and redemption

And lastly...

Was it all a dream? (Yes, I know this is open ended. ) [/QB][/QUOTE]

I never thought it was a dream, but the dream theory did absolve Noodles of his guilt over time.

I just finished the movie today and still one thing confuses me. Who were the guys who killed Eve and tortured "Fat" at the beginning of the movie? We don't see them again in the rest of the movie, so I don't know who they are!?

Nobody?

I think they worked for Max. First consider that Max was going to set up all his friends including noodles. Noodles did'nt take part in that last job and he was a threat to Max alive.

They needed to either get rid of Noodles or pin the death's on him to eliminate any suspision.... IMO

They were part of the mob Noodles and his friends were a part of. I don't think they necessarily worked for Max, but definitely for the same organization.