| NEW YORK TRIP (Williamsburg) |
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I visited New York at the end of August 2008 and full details are at the end of this section (full details).
Williamsburg
Once Upon A Time In America is based on the book "The Hoods" by Harry Grey. Grey, real name Goldberg, was a Jewish gangster living on Delancey Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side from the late 1890's to the early 1930's and "The Hoods" is a partial autobiography. Delancey Street is in Manhattan to the west of Williamsburg bridge but at the time of filming in the early 1980's, it was not a suitable location. Leone opted for the area at the other end of the bridge over the East river. Some of the houses in the area were owned by the city or boarded up or abandoned and Gabila's Knish Factory took up a substantial part of South 8th Street.
It was an important location for many of
the scenes, including Noodles' journey in a rental car for his reunion with Fat
Moe, the gang's attempt at rolling a drunk, Max & Noodles first meet,
exterior of Gelly's Bar/Fat Moe's, synagogue & cemetery, Noodles', Peggy's
& Patsy's home, Max's home, Deborah walking home. Parts of South 8th Street
- Fat Moe's and the alley - were duplicated at a set near Prietralata, Rome and
many of the interior scenes were filmed there and at Cinecitta Studio, Rome.
Noodles' journey in a rental car from station to Fat Moe's
photo (2008)
Noodles' journey cont.
photo (2008)
Noodles' journey continues
photo (2008)
Noodles' journey cont.
photo (2008)
Bird's eye view
Regrettably the view over the East river to Manhattan has been partially
obscured by buildings such as Giando ristorante
According to about.com "Williamsburg, with its mix of immigrant families and young hipster artists and musicians, is a neighborhood with two very different sides."
http://brooklyn.about.com/Brooklyn-Neighborhoods/Williamsburg.htm
The side I saw mostly was poverty and
dilapidated buildings. My female companion felt a bit intimidated in some
of the areas and would certainly have not gone there on her own. During
the last 25 years, new buildings have been erected, there are some expensive
apartments and trees have been planted. Traditionally dressed Jews can
still be seen.
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