Scarface (1932)

An ambitious and near insanely violent gangster climbs the ladder of success in the mob, but his weaknesses prove to be his downfall.

Directors:

Howard Hawks, Richard Rosson

Writers:

Armitage Trail (novel), Ben Hecht (screen story),

Stars:

Paul Muni, Ann Dvorak, Karen Morley

2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Paul Muni	...	Tony
Ann Dvorak	...	Cesca
Karen Morley	...	Poppy
Osgood Perkins	...	Johnny Lovo
C. Henry Gordon	...	Inspector Guarino
George Raft	...	Rinaldo
Vince Barnett	...	Angelo
Boris Karloff	...	Tom Gaffney
Purnell Pratt	...	Publisher
Tully Marshall	...	Managing Editor
Inez Palange	...	Tony's Mother
Edwin Maxwell	...	Detective Chief

Storyline

Johnny Lovo rises to the head of the bootlegging crime syndicate on the south side of Chicago following the murder of former head, Big Louis Costillo. Johnny contracted Big Louis' bodyguard, Tony Camonte, to make the hit on his boss. Tony becomes Johnny's second in command. Johnny is not averse to killing anyone who gets in his and Johnny's way. As Tony is thinking bigger than Johnny and is not afraid of anyone or anything, Tony increasingly makes decisions on his own instead of following Johnny's orders, especially in not treading on the north side run by an Irish gang led by a man named O'Hara, of who Johnny is afraid. Tony's murder spree increases, he taking out anyone who stands in his and Johnny's way of absolute control on the south side, and in Tony's view absolute control of the entire city. Tony's actions place an unspoken strain between Tony and Johnny to the point of the two knowing that they can't exist in their idealized world with the other. Tony's ultimate downfall may ...

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Plot Keywords:

murder | police | bootlegging | gangster | mob | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 April 1932 (USA)

Also Known As:

Scarface, the Shame of the Nation

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Caddo Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

About one hour into the film, upon entering the Paradise Club, Tony, i.e. Paul Muni is greeted by a blonde who looks suspiciously like Jean Harlow. Harlow biographer David Stenn claims that this is indeed Jean Harlow herself, in an uncredited cameo appearance, but Harlow biographer Mark Vieira authoritatively states that it cannot be Harlow, because she was away from Hollywood at the time the scene was filmed, and so the actress in question must be a Harlow lookalike, deliberately positioned to look like her.

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Goofs

When Tony throws a spittoon through the glass door of the First Ward Social Club, pattern of shattered glass before he enters club is far different from that as he goes into room.

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Quotes

Tony Camonte: I get you a hunk of soap, you take a bath in it.

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Crazy Credits

"This picture is an indictment of gang rule in America and of the callous indifference of the government to this constantly increasing menace to our safety and our liberty. Every incident in this picture is the reproduction of an actual occurence, and the purpose of this picture is to demand of the government: "What are you going to do about it?". The government is your government. What are YOU going to do about it?

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Connections

Referenced in Psychedelic Cinema (2002)

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Soundtracks

"Some of These Days"
(1910)
Written by Shelton Brooks
Played by Gus Arnheim and His Orchestra
Danced to by Ann Dvorak and Warner Richmond, Karen Morley and Paul Muni and other couples

User Reviews

Ahead Of Its Time, Action-Wise

Action-wise, this movie was 60 years ahead of its time, at least in terms of the amount of action in it. I think it's safe to say most classic films, including the crime movies, are much slower in pace than today's fare. Not this one.

Since they didn't show much blood in these old films, it isn't gory but it is action- packed with few lulls. Paul Muni, as "Tony Camonte," the head gangster, is compelling and fun to watch. He's tough-as-nails until the end. The women n here - Ann Dvoark and Karen Morely - are interesting, too, as is one of Muni's sidekicks, a big dumb guy who was funny. Don't be fooled by the billing of George Raft and Boris Karloff. They got it because they turned out to be big names later. In this film, they have very small roles.

This is Muni's show, though, all the way and few actors could ham it up in his day like him. It's a wild ride for the full 93 minutes.

p.s. To anyone misreading my opening remarks: more action doesn't always mean more interesting. Some times it does; some times it doesn't.