Once Upon a Time in America (1984) (Extended Director's Cut)

[SymbioticFunction]

The first bd of Once Upon A Time In America looks pretty bad (but obviously better than dvd). It would have been appreciated if that 229 min cut - with it's colour scheme, had received a new PQ upgrade.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

Possibly. Was hoping that the disc now being freely available in US territory (not available in UK till 20/10) might provide fresh insight from the other Leone fans that bought it or have seen it. Like you say, perhaps the issue has already been extensively covered.

Bruce Kimmel who posts over at Home Theater Forum and used to own a 35mm print of the film recently stated this about the color:

The new extended Blu is NOT the same as the horrid Eyetalian Blu-ray, thank the Lord. Gone is the milky contrast and almost completely drained color. So, that's the good news. The bad news is the color is still not what it should be - better, yes, and certainly nothing like the travesty of the Italian thing, but too brown with no real color definition. Yes, there are three distinct looks to this film, but they are not as distinct as they should be thanks to this not being correct. This is most evident (well, it's evident everywhere, really, including the Ladd Company logo) in the scene at the mausoleum - skies should be blue there ("modern" look) and they are anything BUT blue and the skin tones are just completely off. Ladd Company tree should be really green and it's paler than necessary. But the apple when De Niro comes back to NY IS redder in this extended cut and the color IS better than the Italian. I then skimmed through the older Blu.

The older Blu's color is perfect. Period. The three distinct looks to the film are distinct and as they should be. If you watch the scene with Noodles and Deborah with the apples it is most apparent. In the new extended transfer there is literally almost no color in the scene. In the older correct Blu, the apples are very distinct from each other, the green of the plants is GREEN not a pale shadow of green, and the lighting and distinct and varied colors are just what they should be and were.

[sandy_bridge]

Is it similar to the Italian Extended cut from a year ago?
That one was also 1xBD for the Extended DC but VC-1 not AVC, but otherwise anyone knows if there's a different in the encode/transfer used for the new release?

[The Great Owl]

I've read everything on this thread and the associated links about "director's intent."

However...

The first scene of this movie features Eve (Darlanne Fluegel), and it's a pretty jarring sequence, so one would imagine that she would have more of a prominent role in the film than she does in the 229-minute version.

When I watched the 229-minute version in the past, I grasped all of the concepts, but I was still somewhat bewildered at why Eve stars in the opening scene, but is only barely seem during the rest of the film. She's with Noodles and Max on the beach as Max lays out his grand plan, and then we later see Carol (Tuesday Weld) talking with Noodles about how Eve has influenced him too much. That's all.

It's not difficult to connect the dots in the 229-minute version, and one could always argue that the presence of Eve in the first scene is simply meant to convey the brutality of the men who are searching for Noodles.

Still...

I have trouble believing that Sergio Leone would not have wanted us to see a version that includes more of a backstory of the relationship between Eve and Noodles. In terms of sheer storytelling logic, the 251-minute version makes more sense, because it gives us more of an emotional anchor for the amazing first scene.



Along these lines...
If anyone wants to see another Darlanne Fluegel role, then check out William Friedkin's amazing 1985 neo-noir, To Live and Die in L.A.
Such a great film!

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I've read everything on this thread and the associated links about "director's intent."

However...

The first scene of this movie features Eve (Darlanne Fluegel), and it's a pretty jarring sequence, so one would imagine that she would have more of a prominent role in the film than she does in the 229-minute version.

When I watched the 229-minute version in the past, I grasped all of the concepts, but I was still somewhat bewildered at why Eve stars in the opening scene, but is only barely seem during the rest of the film. She's with Noodles and Max on the beach as Max lays out his grand plan, and then we later see Carol (Tuesday Weld) talking with Noodles about how Eve has influenced him too much. That's all.

It's not difficult to connect the dots in the 229-minute version, and one could always argue that the presence of Eve in the first scene is simply meant to convey the brutality of the men who are searching for Noodles.

Still...

I have trouble believing that Sergio Leone would not have wanted us to see a version that includes more of a backstory of the relationship between Eve and Noodles. In terms of sheer storytelling logic, the 251-minute version makes more sense, because it gives us more of an emotional anchor for the amazing first scene.



Along these lines...
If anyone wants to see another Darlanne Fluegel role, then check out William Friedkin's amazing 1985 neo-noir, To Live and Die in L.A.
Such a great film!

I always quite liked Darlanne Fluegel and felt her role in the film seemed underdeveloped. She was one of the biggest models of the 70s and made her transition into acting playing a model in Eyes of Laura Mars, a film I am rather fond of.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

I always quite liked Darlanne Fluegel and felt her role in the film seemed underdeveloped. She was one of the biggest models of the 70s and made her transition into acting playing a model in Eyes of Laura Mars, a film I am rather fond of.

I'm looking forward to the Kino Lorber release of Running Scared, in large part because she has a role in the film.

She's also quite good in Battle Beyond the Stars.

[HD Goofnut]

Found this at Wal-Mart yesterday for $12.96.

[thompsonjohn]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Found this at Wal-Mart yesterday for $12.96.

That's just the single disc though isn't it? I got the 2-disc today that comes with both cuts. There is an insert with the set that shows before and after restoration photos of the new footage and a note on the restoration.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm looking forward to the Kino Lorber release of Running Scared, in large part because she has a role in the film.

She's also quite good in Battle Beyond the Stars.

She now teaches acting at one of the colleges in California now I believe, to explain why she does not do much work anymore. She's great in a lot of 80's films, "To Live and Die in L.A." to name one.

[MikeZ.]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

I always quite liked Darlanne Fluegel and felt her role in the film seemed underdeveloped. She was one of the biggest models of the 70s and made her transition into acting playing a model in Eyes of Laura Mars, a film I am rather fond of.

She was great on Crime Story.

[Illy Scorsese]

Did the book come with a Letter from Scorsese like originally promoted?

[Eny-]

Originally Posted by Illy Scorsese

Did the book come with a Letter from Scorsese like originally promoted?

Yes, first page.

[lolwut]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

If anyone wants to see another Darlanne Fluegel role, then check out William Friedkin's amazing 1985 neo-noir, To Live and Die in L.A.
Such a great film!

I recommend renting that one first. I blind bought To Live and Die in L.A. based on my love of William Friedkin, Thief, The Driver, Drive, and other neo-noir films, but I really disliked it.

[Geoff D]

To Live and Die in LA is a cracking film. It's kinda bleak, but that's what gives it it's power.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by thompsonjohn

That's just the single disc though isn't it? I got the 2-disc today that comes with both cuts. There is an insert with the set that shows before and after restoration photos of the new footage and a note on the restoration.

Yes, but I had the theatrical cut disc from a couple years ago already so it made sense to buy the single disc.

[FilmFanSam]

any pictures of the actual set?

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by FilmFanSam

any pictures of the actual set?

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=497

[MikeZ.]

I was very happy with the extended cut, that is to say, every detail. The washing-out of the color, to sync up with the inserted scenes, and the inserted scenes as well.
I've loved this film, since it was a 2 VHS rental 20+ years ago.
Well worth the 3 year wait for this to finally occur.

[pred895]

confirmed Steelbook with 2discs >>

ES WAR EINMAL IN AMERIKA Steelbook Blu-Ray Amazon exklusiv Leone Once Upon a Time in America - YouTube

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by pred895

confirmed Steelbook with 2discs >>
ES WAR EINMAL IN AMERIKA Steelbook Blu-Ray Amazon exklusiv Leone Once Upon a Time in America - YouTube

Do you know if it has the same bitrates for video/audio as the US discs, or it's even less due tot he inclusion of more languages?

[Fitzcarraldo]

Originally Posted by tylergfoster

missing 40 minutes he felt was crucial

So crucial that he was happy to present the 229m cut at the Cannes Film Festival in 1984.

In any case, those 40 minutes are gone (if they ever really existed in fine cut form). It's pure delusion to think that the mastery of Leone and Baragli can be resurrected from some old rushes and a paper archive.

Re: Eve: Sure, a little more backstory would be nice in principle. But these scenes in the extended cut interrupt and ruin the largest dramatic and emotional peak of the film, right before the intermission. It's easy to see why Leone removed them, along with every other extended scene on show here.

These scenes should have been presented as an extra on the disc, with the 229m cut remastered and properly color timed. But there wouldn't have been as much money or hype in that, would there...