By Waleed Alsubaie
In the shadows of 1929 Rome, a boy was born who would go on to transform the world of film. His name was Sergio Leone. Growing up, he became a celebrated director, producer, and writer, renowned for his groundbreaking "Spaghetti Western” films. Popular in the 1960s, these films brought a distinct Italian flair and sometimes involved Spanish collaborations, giving a fresh twist to American cowboy stories.
Leone’s work left a lasting mark, especially his "Dollars Trilogy,” which includes ‘A Fistful of Dollars’, ‘For a Few Dollars More’, and the iconic ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’, featuring Clint Eastwood. This last film was more than a hit; it revolutionized Western cinema. Clint Eastwood once praised Leone, saying, "He made me a star and taught me everything,” highlighting Leone’s profound influence on his career.
Despite his successes, Leone declined an offer to direct The Godfather. Instead, he embarked on a new project based on the novel The Hoods, which would become Once Upon a Time in America. The film, which took him a decade to complete, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where critics hailed it as "the godfather of the 1980s and one of the best films ever.”
However, when the movie reached theaters, Warner Brothers cut all flashback scenes of Robert De Niro’s character without Leone’s consent. This alteration made the story disjointed for viewers, resulting in a box-office failure that deeply hurt Leone and led to severe depression. He passed away from a heart attack at the age of 60 in 1989. According to his wife, Leone often recited lines from the film until his death, reflecting his lingering disappointment.
After Leone’s death, Warner Brothers released a restored version of Once Upon a Time in America on DVD, including the previously deleted scenes. This version became highly successful, recouping the film’s production costs and generating substantial revenue for the company.
Sergio Leone’s distinctive style and unforgettable films have left an indelible mark on cinema history, securing his legacy as a symbol of creativity and artistic courage.