Scarface (1983)

In Miami in 1980, a determined Cuban immigrant takes over a drug cartel and succumbs to greed.

Director:

Brian De Palma

Writer:

Oliver Stone (screenplay)

Stars:

Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer

Top Rated Movies #101 | Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Al Pacino	...	Tony Montana
Steven Bauer	...	Manny Ribera
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Elvira Hancock
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	...	Gina Montana
Robert Loggia	...	Frank Lopez
Miriam Colon	...	Mama Montana
F. Murray Abraham	...	Omar Suarez
Paul Shenar	...	Alejandro Sosa
Harris Yulin	...	Mel Bernstein
Ángel Salazar	...	Chi Chi
Arnaldo Santana	...	Ernie
Pepe Serna	...	Angel
Michael P. Moran	...	Nick The Pig
Al Israel	...	Hector The Toad
Dennis Holahan	...	Jerry The Banker

Storyline

Tony Montana manages to leave Cuba during the Mariel exodus of 1980. He finds himself in a Florida refugee camp but his friend Manny has a way out for them: undertake a contract killing and arrangements will be made to get a green card. He's soon working for drug dealer Frank Lopez and shows his mettle when a deal with Colombian drug dealers goes bad. He also brings a new level of violence to Miami. Tony is protective of his younger sister but his mother knows what he does for a living and disowns him. Tony is impatient and wants it all however, including Frank's empire and his mistress Elvira Hancock. Once at the top however, Tony's outrageous actions make him a target and everything comes crumbling down.

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Plot Keywords:

cuban american | cocaine | cuban refugee | capitalism | assassination attempt | 

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Taglines:

He loved the American Dream. With a Vengeance.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

9 December 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Scarface

Filming Locations:

485 West Matheson Drive, Key Biscayne, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$242,821 (USA) (19 September 2003)

Gross:

$44,700,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

170 min 142 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Travolta was considered for the role of Manny Ribera.

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Goofs

When Tony, Manny and Elvira are in the restaurant, Elvira changes position between shots. In one shot she's holding a cigarette in her left hand with her arm above the table. In the next shot her left arm is down and her right is above the table, holding her glass.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Fidel Castro: ...los que no se adapten... al esfuerzo y al heroísmo de una revolución... ¡No los queremos! ¡No los necesitamos!
[in subtitles: They are unwilling to adapt to the spirit of our revolution. We don't want them! We don't need them!]
Fidel Castro: [Translation word-for-word:... the ones that won't adapt... to the effort and heroism of a revolution... We don't want them! We don't need them!]

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Crazy Credits

We see a proverb at the beginning of the movie that says: "Enjoy yourself, every day above ground is a good day." ANONYMOUS, MIAMI 1981

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.137 (2012)

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Soundtracks

Gina's and Elvira's Theme
Performed by Helen St. John
Music by Giorgio Moroder

User Reviews

Grandiose, bloodyminded and implacable

This is one of my all time favorites.

If the movie has a flaw, it's that it comes at you like a raging bull. It doesn't so much engage the viewer as assault him. ''Scarface'' is as voracious and unyielding a production as Tony Montana himself. Nothing is left to the viewer's imagination.

Moroder's languorous synthpop fits the action to a tee. Like the chorus in a Greek tragedy, it wails and gnashes, broods and tugs, a constant reminder of Tony's inexorable fate.

Not so much a tale of caution as a disaster in progress, ''Scarface'' rips across the screen with the unstoppable force of a runaway train.