SCARFACE (1932 FILM)

'''Scarface''' (also known as '''Scarface: the Shame of the Nation''' and '''The Shame of a Nation''') is a 1932 film noir of the Pre-Code era which tells the story of gang warfare and police intervention when rival gangs fight over control of a city. It stars Paul Muni, Ann Dvorak, Karen Morley, Osgood Perkins, C. Henry Gordon, George Raft, Vince Barnett, Edwin Maxwell, and Boris Karloff. It was directed by Howard Hawks and produced by Howard Hughes.

Contents

Plot

Production

Significance

Trivia

External links

Plot

Big Louis Costillo, last of the old-style gang leaders is slain, and his former bodyguard Tony Camonte is taken into custody. Since Costillo's body has never been found, the police have to release him, though they strongly suspect Johnny Lovo paid Tony to remove Big Louis. Tony begins taking over the rackets in town with violent enforcement, and he becomes a threat to Johnny and the other bosses unless they work for Tony. Meanwhile, Tony's sister wants to be more independent, but finds it difficult to escape from her brother's overprotective grasp. The dissatisfaction of the other bosses and the relentless pursuit of the police push Tony towards a major confrontation.
Towards the end of the movie, Tony realizes his love for his sister, and ends up dying for her in a horrific scene of police shooting.
In the alternative ending, Tony is taken to court and executed legally.
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Production

The movie was adapted by Ben Hecht, Fred Pasley, (uncredited), Seton I. Miller, John Lee Mahin, W.R. Burnett and Howard Hawks (uncredited) from the novel "Scarface" by Armitage Trail.
The film is loosely based upon the life of Al Capone (whose nickname was "Scarface"). Capone was rumored to have liked the film so much that he had his own copy of it.
The film was completed in 1930 but censors would not allow its release until 1932, because of concerns that it glorified the gangster lifestyle and showed too much violence. Several scenes had to be edited, the subtitle "The Shame of the Nation" as well as a text introduction and epilogue had to be added, and the ending had to be modified. Howard Hawks disowned this version and it was created without his input.
Two other gangster movies produced at about the same time were ''Little Caesar'' (1931) and ''The Public Enemy'' (1931).

Significance

The film ''Scarface'' has been deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. It was named the best American sound film by critic/director Jean-Luc Godard in ''Cahiers du Cinéma''. The character of Tony Camonte ranked at number 47 on "AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains" list.
''Scarface'' was remade in 1983 by Brian De Palma in a modern day setting.

Trivia

★ In the 2004 biopic ''The Aviator,'' starring Leonardo DiCaprio, ''Scarface'' is briefly mentioned, and its poster is seen in Howard Hughes's office building.

★ The visual motif of showing an X before or during a major character's death, is used in Martin Scorsese's ''The Departed''.

External links

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★ ''Scarface'' at Rotten Tomatoes