Once Upon a Time in America ending explained: The actual identity of Bailey, uncovered

The 1984 classic crime film Once Upon a Time in America, a.k.a. C'era una volta in America, has a twisted ending. After all, who is this Bailey guy? We shall uncover details about this enigmatic character in this article.

Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for Once Upon a Time in America. Reader discretion is advised.

Helmed by Italian director Sergio Leone, who is distinguished for his work in films including A Fistful of Dollars (1964), The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (1966), Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), etc., this film is the last venture of the filmmaker. He is also known for evolving the Spaghetti Western cinema style in Hollywood.

The film has a star cast of actors, including Robert De Niro, James Woods, William Forsythe, Elizabeth McGovern, Joe Pesci, and many others. It follows the plot of a gangster named David "Noodles" Aaronson, who experiences both rise and fall in his career, whilst experiencing friendship and betrayal.

So, coming back to the question, who is Bailey revealed to be in the ending of the film? Well, Bailey is actually Max, Noodles's close friend, whom he thought had died in a police firefight. In the end, it is found that Max has snatched everything from Noodles.

Let us find out more about Bailey in Once Upon a Time in America.

Once Upon a Time in America ending explained: Who is actually Bailey?

A still from 'Once Upon a Time in America' | Image via @Youtube/RottenTomatoesClassicTrailers

Towards the end of Once Upon a Time in America, it is revealed that Christopher Bailey is none other than Noodles' very own friend, Maximilian "Max" Bercovicz. In the course of the story, Noodles was told that Max and all his other friends had met their deaths during a police firefight.

However, cut to the 1960s, where Noodles finds out about a nefarious politician named Christopher Bailey. He also draws a link between Deborah, a Hollywood star, and Noodles' ex-partner, Bailey. His suspicion turns out to be true upon meeting with Deborah, when Noodles finds out that she is, in fact, Bailey's partner now.

Noodles then proceeds to meet Bailey in person, and then it is revealed that Bailey is none other than Max. After Noodles was unconscious back during his fight with Max, it is uncovered that Max had staged his death, and all of this was a lie. Max had robbed off all the cash that the gang had kept in the locker. He also took in Deborah as his mistress. The cops had enabled him to achieve this success, and he joined the Teamsters Union as Bailey.

But since Max, as Bailey, has been involved in many corrupt schemes, he is now at risk of losing his life in the hands of his enemies. So, he urges Noodles to put an end to his life, which Noodles does not abide by, and leaves the place.

However, a person, who could be Max, comes after Noodles. But then, a garbage truck moves in the middle of the two individuals. Now, we witness the truck's screw conveyer, but the person, whom we assume as Max, disappears. We don't witness him anymore. Whether or not he dies or escapes in the film is something left for the viewer's interpretation.

In the last scene of Once Upon a Time in America, it takes us back to the 1930s scene, where Noodles is tripping on opium, with a grin on his face. The film ends in the scene where it begins.

Once Upon a Time in America: How does it lead to this ending?

It all begins when Noodles, Max, and some men come together and build a group of gangsters. However, Noodles murders Bugsy, a local thug whom they worked for. So as a result, he is convicted. After a time of 10 years, in the 1930s, when Noodles comes out of jail, he realizes that the mob has become prosperous and he joins forces with them.

But, due to the revocation of prohibition, the gang finds its position to be shaky. Upon the words of Max's partner Carol, who advises Noodles to turn himself in to the cops for a small infraction, in order to prevent them from getting trapped in a bigger crime, the plan ends up working differently. Max and Noodles get into a physical altercation where Max hits Noodles, making him unconscious.

Upon Noodles waking up, he comes to know that Max and the rest of the gang members have been killed by the police. Noodles, filled with remorse, goes on a trip of opium inside an opium den. That is actually the earliest scene of Once Upon a Time in America.