<P> Once Upon a Time in America is a 1984 epic crime drama film co-written and directed by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone and starring Robert De Niro and James Woods . 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 in New York City 's world of organized crime . The film explores themes of childhood friendships ; love , lust , greed , betrayal , loss , broken relationships , together with the rise of mobsters in American society . </P>
<P> Once Upon a Time in America is a 1984 epic crime drama film co-written and directed by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone and starring Robert De Niro and James Woods . 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 in New York City 's world of organized crime . The film explores themes of childhood friendships ; love , lust , greed , betrayal , loss , broken relationships , together with the rise of mobsters in American society . </P>
what is the movie once upon a time in america about
what is the movie once upon a time in america about
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 in New York City 's world of organized crime
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 in New York City 's world of organized crime