Scarface (1932) ****
With its brisk pace, biting humor, and plenty of bullets spat, Scarface (1932) remains a landmark gangster flick. Despite an amusing studio mandated prologue denouncing its protagonist (played with force by Paul Muni and loosely based on Al Capone), Howard Hawks' classic features a taut script by legend Ben Hecht and is filled with iconic imagery.
I rewatched Brian De Palma's 1983 remake (review) about two months ago when it was released on UHD and I always seem to forget just how much from the original 1932 film was retained in that version—lots of major plot points and some key dialogue. Yet the two films are so different, but equally excellent.
While the lack of a score can be a bit jarring, the underutilization of George Raft (who makes the perfect mainly-mute coin-tossing sidekick) is a shame, and Michelle Pfeiffer made a much more memorable impression as the main character's love interest in the 1983 version than Karen Morley does in the 1932 one, there is still much to appreciate. There's Muni's ruthless rampage, Ann Dvorak's electric performance—simmering with sexuality—and the film's undeniable influence on the gangster genre.
You can find my Howard Hawks Films Ranked list here.
I rewatched Brian De Palma's 1983 remake (review) about two months ago when it was released on UHD and I always seem to forget just how much from the original 1932 film was retained in that version—lots of major plot points and some key dialogue. Yet the two films are so different, but equally excellent.
While the lack of a score can be a bit jarring, the underutilization of George Raft (who makes the perfect mainly-mute coin-tossing sidekick) is a shame, and Michelle Pfeiffer made a much more memorable impression as the main character's love interest in the 1983 version than Karen Morley does in the 1932 one, there is still much to appreciate. There's Muni's ruthless rampage, Ann Dvorak's electric performance—simmering with sexuality—and the film's undeniable influence on the gangster genre.
You can find my Howard Hawks Films Ranked list here.
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