Description
This song started out as a simple minor chord progression on acoustic guitar. The song only really came to life with the piano refrain at the end of each verse, which for whatever reason reminded us of Sergio Leone's masterpiece Once Upon A Time In America. So the finished tune came out as a kind of love letter to a favourite movie. Originally it had three verses but when recording it was decided the third verse would become the piano solo/outro played by the outrageously talented Mike Pensini.
For those unfamiliar with the film, the first half of the movie is a coming of age tug of war between Deborah, (Jennifer Connelly), Noodles (Scott Schutzman Tiler) and Max (Rusty Jacobs) where the safe but hard working option is represented by Deborah, “the pride of the neighbourhood” as Steely Dan would put it, determined to make it out of the 1920’s Williamsburg, NY Jewish ghetto through her talent and hard work and Max, who is the dangerous shortcut to riches option, destined to be the smartest young punk in in the underworld. Noodles is torn between these two equally attractive outcomes.
Once Upon A Time in America is based on the novel The Hoods by Harry Grey but I believe that the heart of the film is this romance between Deborah and Noodles and that it was very personal to Mr Leone.
Jennifer Connelly was, I believe 12 years old, when she made the film and the caring, feisty toughness, she brought to this role is a revelation and will stick in your mind for a very long time afterwards. It’s very amusing to watch the gulp she takes just before she must kiss Scott Tiler in the Pear scene. It’s also very very touching because it feels like the very natural trepidation and awkwardness of a first kiss. Scott Tiler is equally awkward and remarkable.
Robert De Niro is, as everyone knows, a consummate actor but when he plays Noodles here, as an old man, he was still in his early thirties. The physical acting in the performance is incredible. Watch as he walks through the bar, all the weight of his body is on his heels, as older men lose their balance over time and the spring of a youthful step is replaced by this weight shift. Also, in the classic Leone ultra-close up, we see DeNiro/Noodles reflecting back on his whole life. The emotion in this one shot, from an actor who was still a young man, is astonishing.
The original film score music was written by the Sergio Leone’s long-time musical collaborator Enrico Morricone. Deborah’s Theme is a heartrendingly haunting piece of music that effectively encapsulates the themes of the whole movie. So watch the film and listen to the soundtrack. You won’t be disappointed. Hope you enjoy the song.
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