David Aaronson The main character of the film Once Upon a Time in America Country: USA

Biography of David Aaronson

David Aaronson, also known as Noodles, was born in the early 1900s in a poor Jewish quarter in Manhattan's Lower East Side. At the age of 14 or 15, David formed a gang with his friends, engaging in activities such as robbing drunkards in bars, attacking wealthy individuals, and attempting extortion. One day, David met Max Bercovitch, his future friend and later sworn enemy, and together they became unofficial leaders, each with their own influence.

After a clash with rival gangsters in the neighborhood, resulting in the death of one of David's gang members, he retaliated by stabbing a gangster named Bugsy and, subsequently, a police officer. As a result, David ended up in prison, where he spent his formative years. Upon his release, David, now a grown man, reunited with his friends Max, Patsy, and Cockeye, who were engaged in more significant criminal activities, including bootlegging, robberies, and even murders. Without hesitation, David joined the gang.

It is worth noting that in the original film, David's nickname is Noodles, which refers to someone who is clever. However, in the Russian translation, he is often referred to as "Lapsha," which has a different meaning. The gang's golden dream was to pull off a major heist, an opportunity that comes only once in a lifetime. Max shared his plan, and soon the gang started preparing to rob the Federal Reserve Bank.

By that time, David, who was still a reasonable young man, realized that the plan would not succeed. However, Max remained confident in their success. Constant conflicts wore David down, making him feel powerless and angry. Meanwhile, his friends were preparing for the Heist of the Century. Ultimately, David decided to betray his friends in order to save their lives, anonymously tipping off the police about an alleged illegal alcohol transportation. The next day, it was revealed that his three best friends - Max, Patsy, and Cockeye - were killed in a shootout with the police, with Max's body burned beyond recognition.

David believed that his "betrayal" caused his friends' deaths and became plagued with guilt and remorse. At the same time, he was targeted by members of a mafia syndicate who wanted to eliminate him. David hit rock bottom and disappeared from New York for a long 35 years, carrying the burden of guilt for the deaths of his friends.

David returned to New York in the 1960s only to discover that Max had not died in the shootout. Instead, Max thrived and entered politics, eventually becoming a senator under the name Secretary Bailey. However, Max's life was far from successful, as he was engulfed in corruption and decided to take his own life. He ordered David to kill him, believing that David would seek revenge. Nonetheless, David chose a different path - he pretended not to know Max at all, addressing him only as Secretary Bailey. He also claimed that his former good friend had died many years ago.

This film tells a story of friendship, betrayal, love, and integrity. It portrays the life of a Jewish boy who grew up on the streets. David was neither a criminal nor a hero; he simply lived the way he knew how. The film's ending is ambiguous - it is possible that there was no homecoming in the 1960s, and David may have drowned himself in opium-induced fog in the 1930s. It is said that Robert De Niro, while preparing for the role, even attempted to arrange a meeting with the real-life gangster Meyer Lansky, but unfortunately, Lansky declined the invitation.