Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

Once Upon a Time in America (1984) is an epic crime film co-written and directed by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone. In 1933, three thugs scour the city for a man known as ‘Noodles’ to extract information from him through violent means. They eventually end up at a wayang theater, where the owners lead them to a secret opium den within the establishment and warn Noodles of their presence. However, Noodles is not bothered by their threats as he is under the influence of drugs and reading a newspaper detailing the deaths of bootleggers Patrick Goldberg, Philip Stein and Maximilian Bercovicz. He remembers witnessing their bodies being taken away by the police, with Max’s being unidentifiable due to severe burns. Managing to evade capture, Noodles leaves the city alone and penniless. Rewinding back to 1923, we see David ‘Noodles’ Aaronson and his group of friends – ‘Patsy’ Goldberg, ‘Cockeye’ Stein and Dominic – trying to survive in Manhattan’s Lower East Side by resorting to small-time criminal activities for their boss Bugsy.

After blackmailing the officer, the five youngsters form a gang with police protection like Bugsy’s. Max and Noodles quickly become inseparable. By 1924, they climb up the ranks with Noodles’ ingenious plan to conceal their bootlegging operations. The following year, they store half of their profits in a locker at the railway station, entrusting the key to their friend ‘Fat Moe’ who is not directly involved in their illegal activities. Despite his strong feelings for Deborah, Moe’s sister who aspires to be a dancer and actress, Noodles keeps her at arm’s length. However, when rival Bugsy stages an ambush and kills little Dominic while trying to take over their turf, everything changes for Noodles. In a fit of anger, he exacts revenge on Bugsy but also ends up injuring a police officer. As a result, he is sentenced to prison.