An uncharacteristic film for Howard Hawks because its one of the few films by him to have no heroic characters at all. Does not have the same kind of male bonding that is part of the director's resume. Scarface(1932) is the film that put Howard Hawks name on the film map. Its Hawks excellent take on the gangster genre made popular in the 1930s.
Scarface(1932) was made during the pre code era before the Hays Office began a tough censorship campaign that lasted three decades. Scarface(1932) was very violent in its time and was one of the movies that was targeted by the Hays Code. For thirty plus years films and movie makers were squeezed out of any artistic freedom due to the tyrant rule of the Hays Office. Many of the pre code films took chances with subject ideas that were considered very taboo in the early 1930s.
Scarface(1932) was scandalous because of the incestuous obsession of Tony Camonte for his little sister, Cesca. For this reason and many others the film was way ahead of its time. The incest angle is the most daring and gutsiest aspect of Howard Hawks Scarface(1932). Foreshadows a similar relationship seventeen years later in White Heat(1949).
The letter X is a dominating motif of Scarface that appears thougout the motion picture. X in this case does not mark the spot but does mark death. X appears whenever someone is about to be killed. X seems to have another meaning that meant something to the director.
Tony Camonte is loosely based on the famous Prohibition mob boss, Al Capone. In fact, Scarface(1932) was inspired by the career and life of the notorious Al Capone. The film takes its title from the nickname Al Capone received as a young man after receiving a scar around his face. On a humorous note Al Capone was such a big of a movie with a character that was loosely patterened after him.
My favorite part of the movie are the coin flipping antic of George Raft. No other film has made flipping a coin look so cool. Its the trademark of Tony Camonte's best friend and right hand man, Guino Rinaldo. This type of stylization made a star out of supporting actor, George Raft.
One difference between the Howard Hawks and Brian De Palma versions are the big illegal activity of thier time period. Also, Tony Montana is Cuban while Tony Camonte is Italian. Another difference between the 32 and 83 version is that Violence in the former is implicit for the most part while mostly explicit in the latter. Last but not least, the 83 remake shows a little more sympathy towards its main character than the 32 version.
There are three reasons why the Howard Hawks original is better than the Brian De Palma remake. First, the acting, direction, and writing are top rate. Second, the incest sub plot is not played with an over the top relish like in the remake. Third, Paul Muni makes a more convining Italian than Al Pacino does as a Cuban.
Ben Hecht did an excellent job in writing the screenplay for the motion picture. The characters are developed in a realistic manner and the violent scenes are brutally descriptive. Scarface(1932) would be the beginning of a long fruitful director-writer relationship between Ben Hecht and Howard Hawks. Ben Hecht fills the story with interesting sub plots and memorable moments.
Scarface(1932) is a motion picture in need of an appearence on DVD. Scarface(1932) was Howard Hawks second foray into the gangster genre a year after the release of his first, The Criminal Code(1931). Boris Karloff gives a terrific performance in a rare non horror picture appearence. Scarface(1932) is still as powerful and tough in 2001 as it was in 1932.
Scarface(1932) was made during the pre code era before the Hays Office began a tough censorship campaign that lasted three decades. Scarface(1932) was very violent in its time and was one of the movies that was targeted by the Hays Code. For thirty plus years films and movie makers were squeezed out of any artistic freedom due to the tyrant rule of the Hays Office. Many of the pre code films took chances with subject ideas that were considered very taboo in the early 1930s.
Scarface(1932) was scandalous because of the incestuous obsession of Tony Camonte for his little sister, Cesca. For this reason and many others the film was way ahead of its time. The incest angle is the most daring and gutsiest aspect of Howard Hawks Scarface(1932). Foreshadows a similar relationship seventeen years later in White Heat(1949).
The letter X is a dominating motif of Scarface that appears thougout the motion picture. X in this case does not mark the spot but does mark death. X appears whenever someone is about to be killed. X seems to have another meaning that meant something to the director.
Tony Camonte is loosely based on the famous Prohibition mob boss, Al Capone. In fact, Scarface(1932) was inspired by the career and life of the notorious Al Capone. The film takes its title from the nickname Al Capone received as a young man after receiving a scar around his face. On a humorous note Al Capone was such a big of a movie with a character that was loosely patterened after him.
My favorite part of the movie are the coin flipping antic of George Raft. No other film has made flipping a coin look so cool. Its the trademark of Tony Camonte's best friend and right hand man, Guino Rinaldo. This type of stylization made a star out of supporting actor, George Raft.
One difference between the Howard Hawks and Brian De Palma versions are the big illegal activity of thier time period. Also, Tony Montana is Cuban while Tony Camonte is Italian. Another difference between the 32 and 83 version is that Violence in the former is implicit for the most part while mostly explicit in the latter. Last but not least, the 83 remake shows a little more sympathy towards its main character than the 32 version.
There are three reasons why the Howard Hawks original is better than the Brian De Palma remake. First, the acting, direction, and writing are top rate. Second, the incest sub plot is not played with an over the top relish like in the remake. Third, Paul Muni makes a more convining Italian than Al Pacino does as a Cuban.
Ben Hecht did an excellent job in writing the screenplay for the motion picture. The characters are developed in a realistic manner and the violent scenes are brutally descriptive. Scarface(1932) would be the beginning of a long fruitful director-writer relationship between Ben Hecht and Howard Hawks. Ben Hecht fills the story with interesting sub plots and memorable moments.
Scarface(1932) is a motion picture in need of an appearence on DVD. Scarface(1932) was Howard Hawks second foray into the gangster genre a year after the release of his first, The Criminal Code(1931). Boris Karloff gives a terrific performance in a rare non horror picture appearence. Scarface(1932) is still as powerful and tough in 2001 as it was in 1932.