Gucci helps in film restoration

  GUCCI HAS extended its commitment to preserving the artistic and cultural heritage of landmark cinema through a 2012 contribution to Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation for the restoration of Sergio Leone’s Once Upon A Time in America (1984). To date, Gucci has donated over $2 million to The Film Foundation in its restoration of seven historic films.

Members of the Cast of the newly restored film Once Upon a Time in America -- (L-R) Jennifer Connelly, James Woods and Robert De Niro -- at the recent Cannes screening

The new 4K digital restoration -- by Cineteca di Bologna at L’Immagine Ritrovata Laboratory in association with Andrea Leone Films, The Film Foundation and Regency Enterprises, and funded by Gucci and The Film Foundation -- had its world premiere at the recently concluded 65th Cannes Film Festival.

Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini was joined on the red carpet by the film’s original cast members Robert De Niro, Jennifer Connelly, James Woods, and Elizabeth McGovern, as well as original composer Ennio Morricone. The Leone family joined them in honor of their father’s masterpiece.

“Gucci’s own 90-year history has consistently been influenced by film, and I continue to be personally inspired by cinema,” said Ms. Giannini. “I am so proud of the restoration work we are doing with The Film Foundation to keep the vision of legendary filmmakers such as Sergio Leone alive for current and future generations to experience. We are pleased to be able to bring this particular film back to Cannes almost 30 years after its premiere there -- only now, at long last and for the first time, restored to its complete length and glory as Leone originally intended.”

The film, Leone’s last, originally premiered out of competition at Cannes in 1984, at 229 minutes, the same version of which was released in European theaters that spring. The newly restored version features roughly 20 minutes of additional scenes that have never before been seen by audiences. Cineteca di Bologna and L’Immagine Ritrovata restored the 229-minute version utilizing the original camera negative held by the US rightsholder, Regency Enterprises, along with the over 20 minutes of additional footage found and preserved by the Leone family.

“Our invaluable partnership with Gucci over the years has resulted in the restoration of films that have greatly impacted our history and culture, including Il Gattopardo, La Dolce Vita, Senso, and A Woman Under The Influence. Gucci’s continued generosity is now making it possible to fully reconstitute the great Sergio Leone’s epic cinematic canvas of the 20th century, Once Upon A Time in America, a fitting addition to Gucci’s legacy of support for film preservation,” said Mr. Scorsese, who is the chairman of The Film Foundation.

Commenting on the occasion, Raffaella Leone said, “I feel very nostalgic and deeply moved that Once Upon a Time in America will be presented again in Cannes where it was originally shown for the first time... Gucci, The Film Foundation, Cineteca di Bologna and L’Immagine Ritrovata, not to mention Regency Enterprises, made a dream come true by creating the greatest possible tribute to my father and his work. Working with them on this project has been a great privilege and I can’t thank them enough.”

Through its multi-year partnership with The Film Foundation, Gucci has helped restore a collection of iconic films, under the banner “Cinema Visionaries,” which includes A Woman Under The Influence (1974, directed by John Cassavetes), Le Amiche (1955, Michelangelo Antonioni), Wanda (1970, Barbara Loden), Senso (1954, Luchino Visconti), Il Gattopardo (1963, Luchino Visconti), La Dolce Vita (1960, Federico Fellini), and We Can’t Go Home Again (1976, d. Nicholas Ray).

These restored titles have been screened at select international film festivals and museums around the world.

Gucci has also extended its support to local film festivals and film societies, and supports The Film Foundation’s Conservation Collection.