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IMDbPro

Scarface

  • 19321932
  • PGPG
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
28K
YOUR RATING
Ann Dvorak, Paul Muni, and Osgood Perkins in Scarface (1932)
Watch ’Official Trailer’
Play trailer2:39
1 Video
81 Photos
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Drama
An ambitious and nearly insane violent gangster climbs the ladder of success in the mob, but his weaknesses prove to be his downfall.An ambitious and nearly insane violent gangster climbs the ladder of success in the mob, but his weaknesses prove to be his downfall.An ambitious and nearly insane violent gangster climbs the ladder of success in the mob, but his weaknesses prove to be his downfall.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
28K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Howard Hawks
    • Richard Rosson
  • Writers
    • Armitage Trail(from the book by)
    • Ben Hecht(screen story by)
    • Seton I. Miller(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Paul Muni
    • Ann Dvorak
    • Karen Morley
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Howard Hawks
    • Richard Rosson
  • Writers
    • Armitage Trail(from the book by)
    • Ben Hecht(screen story by)
    • Seton I. Miller(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Paul Muni
    • Ann Dvorak
    • Karen Morley
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 415User reviews
    • 75Critic reviews
    • 87Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:39
    Official Trailer

    Photos81

    Vince Barnett, Paul Muni, and Tony Camonte in Scarface (1932)
    Ann Dvorak and Paul Muni in Scarface (1932)
    Ann Dvorak in Scarface (1932)
    Paul Muni in Scarface (1932)
    Title Card #1 of a set of 8, Lobby card, 11 x 14
    Ann Dvorak and Paul Muni in Scarface (1932)
    Scarface (1932)
    Scarface (1932)
    Paul Muni in Scarface (1932)
    Scarface (1932)
    Scarface (1932)
    George Raft in Scarface (1932)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paul Muni
    Paul Muni
    • Tony
    Ann Dvorak
    Ann Dvorak
    • Cesca
    Karen Morley
    Karen Morley
    • Poppy
    Osgood Perkins
    Osgood Perkins
    • Lovo
    C. Henry Gordon
    C. Henry Gordon
    • Guarino
    George Raft
    George Raft
    • Rinaldo
    Vince Barnett
    Vince Barnett
    • Angelo
    Boris Karloff
    Boris Karloff
    • Gaffney
    Purnell Pratt
    Purnell Pratt
    • Publisher
    Tully Marshall
    Tully Marshall
    • Managing Editor
    Inez Palange
    Inez Palange
    • Tony's Mother
    Edwin Maxwell
    Edwin Maxwell
    • Detective Chief
    Henry Armetta
    Henry Armetta
    • Pietro - Barber
    • (uncredited)
    Gus Arnheim
    • Orchestra Leader
    • (uncredited)
    Eugenie Besserer
    Eugenie Besserer
    • Citizens Committee Member
    • (uncredited)
    Maurice Black
    Maurice Black
    • Jim - Headwaiter
    • (uncredited)
    William A. Boardway
    William A. Boardway
    • Nightclub Patron
    • (uncredited)
    William Burgess
    William Burgess
    • Judge (alternate ending)
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Howard Hawks
      • Richard Rosson
    • Writers
      • Armitage Trail(from the book by)
      • Ben Hecht(screen story by)
      • Seton I. Miller(dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Screenwriter Ben Hecht was a former Chicago journalist familiar with the city's Prohibition-era gangsters, including Al Capone. During the filming, Hecht returned to his Los Angeles hotel room one night to find two Capone torpedoes waiting for him. The gangsters demanded to know if the movie was about Capone. Hecht assured them it wasn't, saying that the character Tony Camonte was based on gangsters like "Big" Jim Colosimo and Charles Dion O'Bannion. "Then why is the movie called Scarface?" one of the hoods demanded. "Everyone will think it's about Capone!" "That's the reason," said Hecht. "If you call the movie Scarface (1932), people will think it's about Capone and come to see it. It's part of the racket we call show business." The Capone hoods, who appreciated the value of a scam, left the hotel placated.
    • Goofs
      When the Northside guys throw a body out of the car, it lands face down, but when Tony and the others look at the body, it is face up.
    • Quotes

      Tony Camonte: Listen, Little Boy, in this business there's only one law you gotta follow to keep out of trouble: Do it first, do it yourself, and keep on doing it.

    • 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?
    • Alternate versions
      Due to censorship requirements in several states, a second ending was shot after the film was finished, in which Camonte doesn't try an escape, but is sentenced to death and finally executed on the gallows. This alternate ending was shown only during the original 1932 theatrical run in certain states. All prints, home video, and television versions in current circulation use director Howard Hawks' ending, in which Camonte tries to escape and is shot down. The DVD includes the alternate ending as a bonus feature.
    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Fatale beauté (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      St. Louis Blues
      (1914)

      Written by W.C. Handy

      Played by Gus Arnheim and His Orchestra for dancing

    User reviews415

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    One of the first talking gangster films and a cinematic landmark
    This film is based on real events that happened in the criminal career of Al Capone, although Capone's criminal career had already ended with his conviction on charges of tax evasion six months before this film was released in April 1932. You know you're watching a Howard Hughes production when, during the first scene, a bar employee is sweeping up after a party held by one of Chicago's big gangsters and finds a bra among the confetti. The film shares some aspects with its gangster film predecessors - Tony Camonte is motivated by a desire for power just as Edward G. Robinson's Rico was in "Little Caesar", and also like Rico takes over the gang from a boss he perceives as weak. However, Camonte doesn't seem to have the pent-up rage of Public Enemy's Tom Powers. When Tony performs acts of violence it is usually related to gangland business. The actual deaths are strictly business, but the execution of the killings themselves are something Tony takes pride in - a sort of work of art on his part.

    Like Tom Powers, Tony Camonte is given a family background, but unlike Tom Powers, Camonte's family is a completely dysfunctional one. What is unique in this gangster picture is Tony's trio of love interests. He wants his boss' girl, Poppy, as a status symbol. He also seems to have a love affair going with the machine gun, acting like he has discovered America the first time he shoots one. Finally, Tony is in love with his own sister Cesca. Tony's only true fits of rage occur when he sees her with another man, and it is this loss of emotional control over this one issue that is ultimately his downfall. George Raft, an ex-gangster of sorts himself, is terrific as the smart and level-headed Guino Rinaldo, Tony's right-hand man. Finally there is Vince Barnett as Tony's extremely inadequate secretary in a bit of comic relief turned tragic at the end of the film.
    helpful•14
    2
    • AlsExGal
    • Nov 27, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 9, 1932 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Scarface: The Shame of the Nation
    • Filming locations
      • Metropolitan Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • The Caddo Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,308,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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