Hello all. I have heard a lot about the "full version" of Once Upon a Time in America, which I believe is 6 hours long. I love this movie, and I currently own the 2 disk special edition (about 4 hours long). I was wondering if anyone knew where/if I could find any longer version? Thanks.

Sergio Leone shot around 10 hours of footage. He edited it down to about six hours he liked, and thought of releasing it in two parts. He changed his mind and shortened it to four hours. The asshole producers made him cut it even more into a linear mess. The phone rang once, characters weren't introduced the right way. Critics hated it. However Leone's four hour version is loved by most, although the version we have today is still not fully what Leone wanted.

Even at four hours long, the full cut of this film leaves about 45 minutes that Leone considered "essential" on the cutting room floor, including further explanation of the mob/labor relationship, DeNiro meeting Tuesday Weld's character in the 1968 sequences, and a good deal of footage featuring Darlanne Fluegel, who played DeNiro's girlfriend, "Eve".

The DVD four hour version out now is IMO, one of the ten best films ever.

Indeed, it is one of my favorites and one of the best movies ever made.

But all of the remenents of OUTA other then that of the currently released version are gone forever?

After you finish watching OUATIA, you feel so full of emotion that you think you know those guys personally. What a movie. 10/10 for me. And I've only seen it once.

I've heard of Leone's intending six hour cut, and personally, I'd love for the studio to release it to the public one day, perhaps on one of the many anniversaries the film is sure to have.

In all honesty, I'd love to watch the entire 10 hours worth of footage, cut into the correct chronology that Sergio would have used if he decided to release a 10 hour version... Granted that 10 hours doesn't include several takes of the same scene. Some people complain of this film being too long... I'm the complete opposite. It's just one of those few films I can get lost in, and just wish it never ended -- a rare feeling, that I can't even say to be true about my absolute favorite films, like Fight Club or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

I didn't want the movie to end...I just wanted to see more!

I've seen Once Upon...America one time, and, in all honesty, it was the best four hours I ever spent watching a film. I can't fathom how someone could consider it too long, that it "drags" in certain parts. It was over too soon for me! I was transported into their world, and once the credits rolled, I was sad. I'm gonna have to sit down and watch it again, soon. The only problem I have with its length is I never have enough time to watch it. However, the length itself is no flaw.

It's an amazing film. The childhood actors were also well chosen. The final moments of the film from the flashback to the mack truck to the opium den is truly haunting.

Yes, its a wounderful movie. I hope they do put the hole thing out.

I'm pretty sure that what we have now is the largest version out there. Some deleted scenes weren't finished or whatever. I might be wrong though. Several scenes were filmed but have no sound, like one where the kids rob a black trumpet player.

Definately one of my favorite gangster movies! Funny thing though is that most of the time when gangster movies come up in conversation or on TV talk shows, for some strange reason OUTA does not get mentioned!


Don Cardi

It's just because of the over-all under-rating of the film. I suspect the theatrical, two hour cut has something to do with this.

Because Once... is more about the man, rather then the crime.

I don't think the intended six hours exists anymore, only a few fragments of video or stills without any audio.

That's what I've heard from several people. But hey, I'm content with the current four hour version. A six hour version sure would be nice, but it would also be a luxurious privilege. I can live without it, so long as I have the four hour version to remember the film by.

There's 40-45 more minutes of the film NOT in today's cut that Leone considered "essential."

I would've loved to see it. Like his past films, this was butchered in theaters. It was cut in chronological order and no one understood it. I suggest any of the fans of this movie read this review.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19840101/REVIEWS/401010365/1023