 After completing the Dollars trilogy  (_Per un pugno di dollari (1964)_ (qv),  _Per qualche dollaro in più (1965)_ (qv), and  _Buono, il brutto, il cattivo, Il (1966)_ (qv)),  Sergio Leone (I) (qv) didnt want to do another western and began  working on _Once Upon a Time in America (1984)_ (qv). However, after  the huge success of the Dollars Trilogy in the States in 1967 Leone  wanted to produce films in the United States and he began selling  the idea for Once Upon a Time in America, but studios wouldnt let  him do it until he made another Western for them. After thinking  about it, Leone concluded that he should do another trilogy which  begins with _Cera una volta il West (1968)_ (qv), develops into  _Giù la testa (1971)_ (qv), and ends with Once Upon a Time in  America (1984). "Three historical periods which toughened America."