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Once Upon a Time in America (Limited Edition Steelbook--Exclusive to Amazon.co.uk) [Blu-ray] [1984] [Region Free]

Robert De Niro (Actor), James Woods (Actor), Sergio Leone (Director) Rated: Suitable for 18 years and over Format: Blu-ray
4.6 out of 5 stars 3,451 ratings
IMDb8.3/10.0
Additional Blu-ray options Edition Discs
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Blu-ray —
1
£56.93
£56.93 £53.72
Blu-ray
28 Jan. 2011 		— —
£23.33
— £23.33
Blu-ray
7 Feb. 2011
ONE-DISC.
1
£35.99
— £35.99
Blu-ray
27 Oct. 2014
Standard Edition
2
—
— —
Watch Instantly with Rent Buy
Once Upon a Time in America £3.49 £4.99
Format PAL
Contributor Robert De Niro, Sergio Leone, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Joe Pesci, Jennifer Connelly
Language English
Runtime 4 hours and 11 minutes
Colour Colour

Product description

Once Upon a Time in America: Extended Director's Cut - Steelbook (BD/S)

Product details

  • Is discontinued by manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Rated ‏ : ‎ Suitable for 18 years and over
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 21.2 x 21 x 2.6 cm; 279.99 g
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Sergio Leone
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ PAL
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 4 hours and 11 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ 27 Oct. 2014
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Joe Pesci, Jennifer Connelly
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Warner Home Video
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00NFJFGDE
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
  • Customer reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 3,451 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
3,451 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers consider this movie one of the greatest gangster films ever made, with great performances by a large cast and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. The story unfolds in a haunting manner, though opinions about the cinematography are mixed, with some finding it beautifully shot while others note poor visual quality. The pacing receives mixed reactions, with some finding it brilliant while others describe it as unbelievably slow. Customers find the movie well worth the money.

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QualityActing qualityStory lengthSound qualityValue for moneyCinematographyPacing
170 customers mention ‘Quality’164 positive6 negative

Customers praise the movie's quality, describing it as a classic and one of the greatest gangster films ever made.

"...viewing, and doesn't drive the plot or story, but still it is great film, and you can only judge it for the times it was set in...." Read more

"This epic film rightly belongs at the top of the Gangster genre as does 'Once Upon A Time In The West' in the Western genre...." Read more

"...Ignore the grumpys, this a terrific film and anyone who complains because the ending is ambiguous should really stick to Michael Bay movies...." Read more

"...This film is one of those that gets better every time you watch it, “if” one takes the time to sit down and really watch and absorb it...." Read more

45 customers mention ‘Acting quality’43 positive2 negative

Customers praise the performances in this movie, particularly Robert De Niro's portrayal of a gangster without glory.

"...actors would hear the music while on set, and I believed this helps the acting a lot, as acting is all about rhythm...." Read more

"...De Niro is excellent in his role as the gangster without glory. My favourite De Niro character is 'David "Noodles" Aaronson'...." Read more

"...of lingering on characters faces is used extensively but all the actors are superb and carry it off easily,particually De Niro playing the old..." Read more

"...But it still gets 5 stars in my book. It's such an amazing movie in terms of acting, scope, production values, music, cinematography, sets and set-..." Read more

45 customers mention ‘Story length’39 positive6 negative

Customers appreciate the movie's story length, describing it as an amazing period drama that unfolds in a haunting manner, with one customer noting how it balances little events with big moments.

"...Either love it or loathe it, this film is without a doubt an excellent finale for one of the greatest, much missed film directors of all time!..." Read more

"...scene, between Max and Treat William's union boss Jimmy; a brilliant scene which makes clear what was otherwise left ambiguous - ie that Jimmy is..." Read more

"...The story is epic, spanning many years in the life of Noodles and his friends, with the film jumping backwards and forwards to reveal events fully-..." Read more

"...There are some admirable narrative turns toward the end and the DVD release features the original cut of the film instead of the heavily-edited..." Read more

28 customers mention ‘Sound quality’25 positive3 negative

Customers praise the movie's sound quality, particularly its hauntingly beautiful soundtrack and good music.

"...This film doesn't also look beautiful, it sounds beautiful too...." Read more

"...'s such an amazing movie in terms of acting, scope, production values, music, cinematography, sets and set-pieces .. and of course the brilliant..." Read more

"...And the music is superlative- with Morricone creating a haunting, moving score that will stay with you long after you first viewing...." Read more

"...Not long after i watched, i bought the DVD. I like the beautiful music made by Ennio Morricone in this film...." Read more

23 customers mention ‘Value for money’23 positive0 negative

Customers find the movie well worth the money, with one mentioning it's a brilliant offering by De Niro.

"...It's such an amazing movie in terms of acting, scope, production values, music, cinematography, sets and set-pieces .. and of course the brilliant..." Read more

"...Got it for under £1.50 which is a fantastic price for such a long film. One of the best Mafia films I've ever seen...." Read more

"...meantime, the currently available DVD is a very fine movie and well worth getting, but not for the squeamish." Read more

"...Despite myreservations I enjoyed it and it is good value." Read more

36 customers mention ‘Cinematography’25 positive11 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the cinematography of the movie, with some finding it beautifully shot while others note poor visual quality.

"...This film doesn't also look beautiful, it sounds beautiful too...." Read more

"...I found this different from other gangster films. The authentic detail and photography gives you a feel of the period, especially in the 20's and 30..." Read more

"...This is a sumptuous film,beautifully shot which looks great on DVD compared to my old grainy video copy...." Read more

"...The newly found footage ranges from poor to OK. The worst scenes have very poor contrast and black levels and the other scenes looks closer to..." Read more

20 customers mention ‘Pacing’12 positive8 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the movie's pacing, with some finding it brilliant while others describe it as unbelievably slow.

"...And the music is superlative- with Morricone creating a haunting, moving score that will stay with you long after you first viewing...." Read more

"...Yes it,s long, yes it,s slow, yes the lead characters are amoral thugs but none of this matters...." Read more

"...Arguably the greatest part is Ennio Morricone's incredible score. Its so moving, one of the few scores that could bring a tear to my eye...." Read more

"...Fantastic and atmospheric music from the brilliant Ennio Morricone. De Niro and the rest of the cast, including the youngsters, are really great...." Read more

Bad condition.
1 out of 5 stars
Bad condition.
I bought this, which had the description of -used-like new, and I can tell you that's not what I got at all. Very bad condition, scratches and smudges all over the discs. I'll be surprised if it even works.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • LONDON NINJA.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece of cinema
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 April 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Ok, when reviewing an auteur like Sergio Leone, you can only compare his films with other movies he has made, and not with other films of the era. Sergio Leone has to be my favorite director, with Jean Pierre Melville second, and both men were Americaphiles, but Melville's films never left France while Leone rewrote the American Western.

    I first saw this movie in 1984 in New York, where I saw the American edit, which shows the story in chronological order, ie: the gang's childhood first, and then as adult criminals. I was also living in the Lower East Side, where a lot of the story is set. There was still enough of the old neighbour left at that time and a fading Jewish community to compare the movie with the real locations, and this film captures life in a Jewish Shtetl (ghetto), as if it were yesterday. The sets and locations are amazing, and most of this could not be filmed today, even with the best CGI. But is this a good film?

    Before this, Sergio Leone had made five westerns, all of which are masterpieces. This movie was the last of his Once upon a time trilogy, the first, Once Upon A time in the West, and then A Fist full of Dynomite, a rather bad title for a film that should have been called, Once Upon a Time in a Revolution. This Once Upon a Time, is based on a book called The Hoods by Harry Grey, a fictionalised version of real people and real events in the Prohibition era. It is more or less the story of Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel and other Jewish mobsters of the time. Leone spent years trying to develop this book into a film, and the screenplay has six writers! And this is of this film's problems, there is too much story here.

    Although we need to know the rise and fall of a criminal gang, there is way too much time spent on their childhood, however there isn't too many films that spends as much time as this on a childhood life in a ghetto, only City of God comes close, so just for that, it is a true original. This really is a film of two parts, childhood and adulthood.

    The adulthood part of this movie is pretty much a rise and fall story, with a "who done it?" plot, and that is how the movie starts, or at least, this edit starts. On first seeing, the first 30 mins is a mystery. The whys? and whats? of the plot very slowly unfold, until we are get to the childhood part, and only then does the story start. The story covers a lot real events in New York crime history, but with a lot of changes to names and times to protect the guilty, as the original book was published in 1952 when many of these people were still alive, and like the Godfather, the guilty know who they are, so I look at this movie as a piece of ficalinsed American criminal history.

    This film doesn't also look beautiful, it sounds beautiful too. I have seen Ennio Morricone in concert 3 times, and the music from this film has to be his most popular, and to hear it live is something I can't explain, but only to say, it is an amazing experience. The music was composed 8 years before production, and the actors would hear the music while on set, and I believed this helps the acting a lot, as acting is all about rhythm. Robert De Niro is at his method acting best here, as well as all the rest of the actors, many of whom turn up again in other gangster classics.

    Sadly, this movie was a financial flop. Although critics liked it, it didn't make any money and was Sergio Leone last film as he died 5 years later in 1989. He was planning on making a film about the siege of Leningrad that had a budget of 100 million dollars, but had no script! You can see how much he loved this movie, and it is a masterpiece, but it does have its flaws.

    Before directing this movie, Sergio Leone hadn't really directed a film since 1971. He did produce a few films in this time, but he had made so much money with his Dollars films, which in today's money made billions, he never had to make another film again in his life, and here is the problem. By the time of this release, cinema audiences had changed,
    and since Star Wars, demanded quicker stories and plots, also, there is a rape scene in it that doesn't need to be there. It is uncomfortable viewing, and doesn't drive the plot or story, but still it is great film, and you can only judge it for the times it was set in.

    I love all of Sergio Leone's films, and this movie is as good as his others, although my favorite is Once Upon a Time in the West, I can watch all again and again, and still find something new in them. This movie is a lesson in excellence, and should be viewed as such.
    65 people found this helpful
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  • J. C. Chorlton
    5.0 out of 5 stars SERGIO VS THE STUDIO
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 November 2008
    Verified Purchase
    This epic film rightly belongs at the top of the Gangster genre as does 'Once Upon A Time In The West' in the Western genre. Call Sergio Leone's final work boring, long, overrated, confusing, etc... then you've probably watched too many box office blockbusters; 'The Godfather' (the one with Brando) being one of them!

    Leone was offered the chance to direct 'The Godfather' and turned it down cos he didn't like the script and wanted to concentrate on this project.

    Upon release of OUATIA, Sergio went to war with the studio over his envisioned non-linear (229 minutes or more) version, and THEIR pointless, alternative 144 minute, short-linear-version (American audiences only). All this after many years in development. It was in Leone's mind before plans for 'Once Upon A Time In The West'(1969). Only after the release of the DVD in 2003, could american audiences see the full/better version. THEY also "forgot to enter Ennio Morricone's score" (for Academy Award); as producer Arnon Milchan says on the included DVD segment of 'Once Upon A Time: Sergio Leone'. What a crime!
    We Brits gave Ennio's score a BAFTA award in 1985 instead. TOO GOOD for an Oscar in my opinion!

    De Niro is excellent in his role as the gangster without glory. My favourite De Niro character is 'David "Noodles" Aaronson'. His definitive gangster role, along with young Vito Corleone in 'The Godfather Part 2'. Nevermind roles like Jimmy Conway in 'Goodfellas' or Johnny Boy in 'Mean Streets', this De Niro character is sly, thoughtful, and mysterious. Also some great career defining roles from James Woods, Tuesday Weld, Elizabeth McGovern (of Downton Abbey fame), Danny Aiello (excellent as police chief), and the younger actors playing the leads (great as little thugs). I thought a young Jennifer Connelly was excellent as the young Deborah (her first big screen role).

    I found this different from other gangster films. The authentic detail and photography gives you a feel of the period, especially in the 20's and 30's sections. You can almost smell the grime in various street locations, and admire the beauty in scenes like the restaurant where Noodles dines with Deborah and the breathtaking panoramic shot of the Williamsburg Bridge in Brooklyn with the young gang strolling in the foreground. The music also connects you to the period too. Another excellent, eclectic score from Mr Morricone.

    Violence is vulgar/obscene in this film and sometimes uncomfortable to watch, adding to the ugliness and meaning of the genre. The 'diamond robbery scene' and the 'raping of Deborah' an example. Not suitable for the squeamish types. Leone and De Niro were targeted by female members of the audience at the screening of the film at the 1984 'Cannes Film Festival' who said that the rape scenes were "blatant, gratuitous violence". Elizabeth McGovern's (Deborah) take on the situation was: "my scene didn't glamourise violent sex: it is extremely uncomfortable to watch and is meant to be.....he is making a GANGSTER FILM, and to a certain extent you can't make that kind of film unless you profile an extremely violent lifestyle".

    The DVD version has the inconvenient stop right after the wasting ("Kids Stuff"!) of Joe (Burt Young) and his gang, and not at the 'Intermission'. Did it spoil YOUR viewing?

    Either love it or loathe it, this film is without a doubt an excellent finale for one of the greatest, much missed film directors of all time!

    I was MOVED by this film and it is one of my all time faves!

    WELL DONE SERGIO!

    THIS FILM IS UGLY AND SMELLY AND THE CHARACTERS ARE NOT MEANT TO BE LIKEABLE! THE WAY A 'GANGSTER FILM' SHOULD BE!!

    "I didn't remake The Godfather. The stories and the anecdotes I tell aren't horses' heads bleeding on satin sheets! They are something much more complex and profound!!" Sergio Leone
    8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • DAVID LOPEZ GUTIERREZ
    5.0 out of 5 stars LA ENTREGA LLEGO EL DIA EXACTO Y EN PERFECTO ESTADO.
    Reviewed in Spain on 28 April 2024
    Verified Purchase
    BUENA EDICION EN DVD EDICION COLECCIONISTA CON 2 DISCOS A MUY BUEN PRECIO.
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  • Rafael González
    5.0 out of 5 stars "Érase una vez en América" edición importada, en DVD, versión extendida del director, en dos discos
    Reviewed in Mexico on 2 April 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Quedé realmente impresionado con esta historia. Hay partes donde se nota que agregaron las escenas, ya que NO fueron debidamente restauradas, y se nota la antigüedad de las mismas. Tiene una duración de 4 horas con 11 minutos, incluyendo el "Intermedio". Llegó el día programado, y en perfectas condiciones.

    A continuación, las características técnicas de audio, y subtítulos:
    - audio original en inglés 5.1 Dolby Digital;
    - subtítulos en inglés SDH, francés y español.

    Queridos compradores de películas físicas de Amazon, dejen de
    comentar que la película sería "perfecta" si estuviera "doblada al
    español". Eso es algo muy irrelevante, sin importancia. Cada vez que vea un comentario de ese tipo, lo voy a reportar, porque es demasiado desagradable esa clase de comentarios tan fuera de lugar. ¡Gracias, Amazon México!
    Customer image
    Rafael González
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "Érase una vez en América" edición importada, en DVD, versión extendida del director, en dos discos

    Reviewed in Mexico on 2 April 2024
    Quedé realmente impresionado con esta historia. Hay partes donde se nota que agregaron las escenas, ya que NO fueron debidamente restauradas, y se nota la antigüedad de las mismas. Tiene una duración de 4 horas con 11 minutos, incluyendo el "Intermedio". Llegó el día programado, y en perfectas condiciones.

    A continuación, las características técnicas de audio, y subtítulos:
    - audio original en inglés 5.1 Dolby Digital;
    - subtítulos en inglés SDH, francés y español.

    Queridos compradores de películas físicas de Amazon, dejen de
    comentar que la película sería "perfecta" si estuviera "doblada al
    español". Eso es algo muy irrelevante, sin importancia. Cada vez que vea un comentario de ese tipo, lo voy a reportar, porque es demasiado desagradable esa clase de comentarios tan fuera de lugar. ¡Gracias, Amazon México!
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  • TIAGO SIBINEL
    5.0 out of 5 stars Um clássico
    Reviewed in Brazil on 4 May 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Um clássico do cinema
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great!
    Reviewed in Canada on 2 January 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Exactly what I ordered. Thank you so much! :)
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  • John H. McCarthy
    5.0 out of 5 stars "So, What's The Difference? Read On, But There Are SPOILERS.....! (V. 2.0)"
    Reviewed in the United States on 4 November 2014
    Verified Purchase
    First up, let me say I'm a big fan of the film. There are many who don't care for it, complaining it's too slow, too long, etc., etc. To each their own, while I admit it's not perfect, it's close. It was probably the last big-budget epic film with real people and not computer trickery, on that point alone it's amazing. It's a shame that during Sergio Leone's lifetime he wasn't as revered as today, but to his eternal credit, he knew what he wanted and moved heaven and earth to realize his vision. Every film of his beginning with "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly" was butchered by studios, recut and remolded without his input, but time has been kind. With all these films, including "Once Upon a Time in the West" and "Duck You Sucker aka A Fistful of Dynamite," now available in versions that honor his vision, we and future generations can now enjoy the work of a master craftsman......

    When I first became aware that the 2014 Extended Director's Cut was on the pre-release timetable I sold my original 2011 Blu-ray. If you're thinking about buying this and doing the same, I advise you to search out the single-disc Extended Director's Cut, and keep your older Blu-ray. The new two-disc Collector's Edition has the same "Director's Cut" as re-released in 2011. Upon initial viewing I thought it had been re-remastered as well, but a more intense comparison proved me wrong. The new expanded edition looks fantastic, the detail and clarity is palpable and exhibits more depth and some nice grain. The biggest difference between the two is the color reproduction, the Extended Version's palate is totally different than the 2011's. It has a more brownish-almost-sepia "aged" look as opposed to the original Blu-ray release which had a more "standard" look, which some viewers might prefer. The film as a whole is darker as well, you only have to compare the very first scene, where Eve comes into Noodle's room, to notice the differences between the two. I might add that the effect is subtle, not overdone as in the original version of HEAVEN'S GATE. I also didn't realize that most of the added footage doesn't match the quality of the rest of the film and has a "washed out" appearance. Quite a few reviewers don't think the added footage adds much to the original release either. In some cases I agree, but some of it fills in some plot holes and better explains character motivations, it's a shame it's not in perfect shape. The two-disc set comes in a nice sturdy slipcase containing a small hardcover book and a standard two-disc blu-ray case......

    So, what is the extra footage you may ask? Here's a rundown of what's added with my opinion of it's value. Obviously there are going to be MAJOR SPOILERS (and dissenting readers), you've been warned! There are six additional scenes:

    1. After "Noodles" (Robert De Niro) goes to the mausoleum where he finds the bus station (Grand Central?) locker key, there is a scene with Louise Fletcher as the cemetery manager, while they talk, Noodles notices a black Cadillac that seems to be following him until he walks toward it, causing it to pull away. After my first viewing I felt it was the most superfluous of the six, maybe because it's also in the worst shape and jarring at first. After a second viewing I found that it, and the one that follows later on, helps explain Noodles initial paranoia (1:34:49-1:38:21)....

    2. Noodles is outside Secretary Bailey's (James Woods) gate and sees the now famous garbage truck ("35"). The black Caddy is shown leaving Bailey's compound, and as Noodles is watching it go down the street, it explodes. The scene helps support two later, when Noodles is watching a TV report of the incident at Fat Moe's (Larry Rapp) and of course, the finale (2:08:39-2:10:35)....

    3. Making small-talk with the chauffeur (producer Arnon Milchon!) while waiting for Deborah (Elizabeth McGovern) to go on their elaborate date, Noodles mentions the persecution of the Jews in Germany and that he's Jewish. The driver says he knows, and that he is Jewish as well, studying for a degree. He chides him for being a Jewish (and imitation Italian) gangster, making Noodles defensive, bragging about how much money he makes. Interesting, but it really doesn't add much except reinforcing why Noodles doesn't retaliate when the chauffeur shows his disgust and refuses Noodle's money after the rape (2:34:00-2:35:10)....

    4. After Deborah's rape there's a scene showing how he met his girlfriend Eve (the one who gets gunned down in the beginning). This scene later cuts to an extension of the scene showing Deborah preparing to take the train to California. The scene helps explain why he stays with her after their initial one-night stand (she's nice) (2:48:13-2:54:00)....

    5. Deborah is shown performing the lead in Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra" with Noodles in the audience. It's the final scene in the play where she commits suicide by asp. Her soliloquy about being the downfall of Caesar and Antony is obviously meant to be a comment on the Max/Noodles paradigm. The scene leads into where they talk in her dressing room (3:28:03-3:30:20)....

    6. This scene adds the most to the emotional balance of the film, and quite frankly I can't understand why it was cut. At Bailey/Max's party, after the shot where Max is looking out the window at his son, it cuts to a scene with Jimmy O'Donnell (Treat Williams) that explains more fully why Bailey/Max is in trouble. At one point Treat's character even recommends he commit suicide. After Treat leaves, Noodles comes in as in the previous versions. This scene is the lengthiest addition and sort of puts to rest the view that the whole movie is Noodle's "opium dream." Max's self-loathing and sense of defeat throughout both scenes lends credence to his choice of "death by garbage truck" (3:41:42-3:46:45)....

    All in all, if you're a fan of the film, this version's a must. At first I wasn't sure if I liked the color palate, but upon a second viewing I kind of prefer it, the brownish hues lends a more autumnal quality to the film as a whole. The older "Director's Cut wasn't too shabby either, and as I've noted I'm sure many other viewers will prefer it's brighter picture and more vibrant colors. Leone fans will want to have both. An essential purchase......
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