Originally posted by Fanucci:

Wiseguy, that's one of my favorites but I never knew it was based on a book.

I would say its basis on the book is pretty loose.
I don't know much about this, but I believe it's not a great read - from the comments I have come across.

Almammater makes the point that the book
and script went in opposite directions.
Bare in mind also that the book was written in 1952 and that although the film project was about 10 years in consideration - the film was not made until 1982.

I am trying to find out more about this and the
claim that the book was in some way small way autobiographical. This sounds weird given that much of the time setting is long after the book's
publication date. Of course there is the fantasy element and the notion that much of it is an
opium influenced dream.

The book seems to be described as a novel and as part autobiography by different sources.

Confusing! Also Almammater and I have come up with different names for the author.

As Almammatter has read Leone's biography he is obviously much more clued up than me.

Almammater could you clarify for us some of these
questions, please ?
I will keep looking for info. in the meantime.

Also, the original movie trailer for Once Upon A Time in America is so dazzling that it gives a
misleading stress on its truth - with talk of it being a story that haunted a "nation for four decades"

Will be good to have some more answers on this one!!!!!

Sorry to be so vague!