Once Upon a Time in America is a 1984 English-language Crime Drama movie written by Harry Grey, Leonardo Benvenuti, Piero De Bernardi, Enrico Medioli, Franco Arcalli, Franco Ferrini, Sergio Leone, Stuart Kaminsky and Ernesto Gastaldi. The movie is directed by Sergio Leone and produced by Arnon Milchan under the banner of The Ladd Company in collaboration with PSO International, Embassy International Pictures and Rafran Cinematografica. The film is an Italian?American venture produced by The Ladd Company, Embassy International Pictures, PSO Enterprises and Rafran Cinematografica, and distributed by Warner Bros. Based on Harry Grey's novel The Hoods, it chronicles the lives of best friends David Noodles Aaronson and Maximilian Max Bercovicz as they lead a group of Jewish ghetto youths who rise to prominence as Jewish gangsters in New York City's world of organized crime. Once upon a time in america stars Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth Mcgovern, Joe Pesci, Burt Young, Tuesday Weld and Maria Pia Monicelli. The screenplay is written by Leonardo Benvenuti, Piero De Bernardi, Enrico Medioli, Franco Arcalli, Franco Ferrini and Sergio Leone which is inspired from The Hoods by Harry Grey. The music was composed by Ennio Morricone. Cinematography was done by Tonino Delli Colli and editing by Nino Baragli. The movie has a running time of 229 minutes. It was released on 23rd May 1984. Once Upon a Time in America was made on a budget of $29 million and at the box office it grossed only $0 million. Distribution rights for the movie were acquired by Warner Bros. The film is an Italian?American venture produced by The Ladd Company, Embassy International Pictures, PSO Enterprises and Rafran Cinematografica, and distributed by Warner Bros. Based on Harry Grey's novel The Hoods, it chronicles the lives of best friends David Noodles Aaronson and Maximilian Max Bercovicz as they lead a group of Jewish ghetto youths who rise to prominence as Jewish gangsters in New York City's world of organized crime.