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How Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood rewrote history

Once Upon a Time In Hollywood poster

Quentin Tarantino’s most recent film, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, rewrote history and reimagined the events that reportedly marked the end of The Swinging ‘60s.

Overview

Quentin Tarantino last directed a film in 2019, with the fact- meets-fiction critically acclaimed film, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood. The star-studded film that featured Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie in the lead roles, takes place between February and August 1969 in Hollywood.

The film’s set up leads viewers to believe that it will follow the actual events cited as the beginning of the end of The Swinging ‘60s, following the gruesome murder of Sharon Tate at the hands of the Manson family. However, the film took a more artistic approach.

What is the premise of Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood?

Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood is regarded as the auteur’s ninth film. Set in Hollywood, Los Angeles in 1969, the film takes place between February and 8 August 1969.

Overall, it focusses on the Manson family murder of Sharon Tate. However, it is premised on, “A faded television actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles.”

Leonardo DiCaprio plays the lead, Rick Dalton, Brad Pitt plays his stunt-double and best friend, Cliff Booth and Margot Robbie plays Sharon Tate.

How did the Once Upon a Time… ending rewrite history?

While Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood heavily focussed on the events that took place between February and August 1969, for those well-versed in Hollywood history, the ending of the film is the point of interest.

When it first plays out, the ending seems as if it will recount the actual events that took place on 8 August 1969, when members of the Manson family murdered an eight-month pregnant Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, and their two friends and houseguests, Wojciech Frykowski and Abigail Folger.

However, the film chose to rewrite history. Instead of killing Tate and her friends, the Mason family, which consisted of Tex, Susan, Linda and Patricia, decided to subvert their intentions to Rick Dalton when they realised who he was.

Just as the family had decided to kill him, as he represented everything they hated, they are savagely killed by Rick, Cliff and Rick’s dog Mandy upon entering his house in signature Tarantino style- graphically, but laced with humour.

Themes explored in Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood

Unlike the trajectory Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood takes, the theme of the film is more straightforward and arguably romantic.

This could arguably be because Tarantino set out to change the sequence of events that led to the end of The Swinging ‘60s era, which birthed the psychedelics and hippie era.

Amongst the various themes, Rick Dalton and how he was portrayed is seen as a representation of Old Hollywood, which is believed to have died with Sharon Tate.

So, Tarantino choosing to spare Sharon, is seen as a representation of what would have been the “New Hollywood.”

Implications of Tarantino subverting history

The ending of Once a Upon Time… In Hollywood sees Rick Dalton invited to Sharon Tate’s home after he tells her what happened. This allows for Rick to get a chance to revive his career and get to work with Roman Polanski.

This scene suggests an alternative ending to the death of Old Hollywood, and the beginning of the “New Hollywood.” Therefore, if Sharon had not died, who knows what Hollywood today would have looked like.

Who inspired the characters on Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood?

As we know, Sharon Tate and the Manson family were inspired by real-life characters, however, there were more cameo appearances based on real-life characters that were in Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood.

Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth might have been fictional characters, but they are believed to have been inspired by Burt Reynolds and his stunt double Hal Needham.

Additional real-life character cameo appearances include Steve McQueen, Bruce Lee, and Roman Polanski.

Conclusion

Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood is a film by Quentin Tarantino and is regarded as his ninth film. Like many film auteurs, with the critically acclaimed film, Tarantino finally paid homage to his hometown, by attempting to highlight a poignant time in Hollywood.

The gruesome murder of Sharon Tate and company by the Mason family on 8 August 1969 is regarded as one of the defining moments of the end of an era in Hollywood, and the beginning of a new one. Tarantino subverts history with Once Upon a Time…, leaving fans to imagine an alternative if The Swinging ‘60s did not end.