Once Upon a Time in America [Film and TV Commentary]

In 1933, New York gangster Noodles (played by Robert De Niro) was hunted down for tipping off Superintendent Halloran (played by Bruce Barenberg) to kill three of his accomplices. Before fleeing, he opened the suitcase where the gang's funds were stored, but there were only newspapers inside. In 1968, Noodles, who had changed his name, received a letter from the synagogue informing him that his relatives and friends had to be relocated. Noodles contacted the rabbi and learned that the letter was sent eight months ago and that his three accomplices had been moved to a luxurious cemetery. Noodles returned to New York and asked his old friend Mo (Larry Rapp) to find out about the situation, but found nothing. During the chat, Noodles asked about Mo's sister Deborah (played by Elizabeth McGovern) and learned that she has become a famous actress. It turns out that the two had a crush on each other when they were young, but Deborah (Jennifer Connelly) has high aspirations and is down-to-earth, and rationally shuts out the street gangster Noodles (Scott Tiller). Noodles found a key in the cemetery and used it to open the locker where the suitcase had been stored. This time, the box was full of hundred-dollar bills and a note that said "advance payment for next job."