Scarface

PG

Released Mar 31, 1932

1h 33m

Crime

Drama

List

98%

Tomatometer

47 Reviews

86%

Audience Score

25,000+ Ratings

Key lieutenant of South Side Chicago crime boss Johnny Lovo (Osgood Perkins), Tony Camonte (Paul Muni) is an ambitious and reckless gangster who ignores warnings not to mess with Irish gangs on the North Side. When the North Side retaliates, Tony essentially massacres them, leaving him on top of the world. Worried about Tony's overconfidence, however, Johnny orders him killed, but this also backfires, and Tony finds himself even closer to becoming king of the city.

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Critics Consensus

This Scarface foregoes his "little friend" and packs a different kind of heat, blending stylish visuals, thrilling violence, and an incredible cast.

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Times (UK) Staff

Times (UK)

What it has, and what the many other gangster films that have followed it have not, is an ice-cold anger of purpose.

Jul 8, 2020

Full Review

Alan Page

Sight & Sound

[Scarface is] a brilliant film thanks mainly to the acting of Paul Muni and Ben Hecht's script.

Apr 9, 2020

Full Review

Mark Chalon Smith

Los Angeles Times

Scarface is one of best of the early gangster movies; its wit and building velocity speeds it past Little Caesar and keeps pace with Public Enemy.

Jul 30, 2014

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Hawks builds it with a consistent tone that rarely loses its brutal effect to capture the rise and fall of a violent gangster. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Jul 21, 2022

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

A preeminent, seminal gangster flick.

Rated: 10/10

Jan 2, 2022

Full Review

A.S. Hamrah

n+1

Among other things, Ben Hecht was a Chicago newspaperman, a playwright, author of maybe the funniest American novel...Hecht defines the writer-producer relationship...

Jan 26, 2021

Full Review

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Brian F

is a so good movie but I think is overrated and I prefer the 1983 version

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/04/24

Full Review

Steve D

I didn't get the remake. I get this one less.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/25/24

Full Review

Blu B

A Classic Crime Drama that's really well done overall. The main differences with this one is it feels at times more of a criticism against gangster life (the opening PSA really makes it clear right off the bat too) rather than a celebration of it. At only half the runtime of the 83' one it moves much quicker as well and feels much less bloated and too the point. However, the lack of a soundtrack in this gives it a dry feeling throughout and the 83' one defintely has a leg up on it in that regard. Paul Muni is a bit more likeable in this but not by much. He comes off more sophisticated at times and less crude than Pacino does. The cinematography is very moody and the opening is excellent and arguably the best part. Anyone who is a fan of gangster flicks, Hawks, or any actors in this will like this a lot. Despite the 83' ones flaws I would say it barely squeaks by this one as my favorite of the two even with the dislike of Tony more in that one just on the soundtrack.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

acsdoug D

I would probably give the edge to the DePalma/Pacino remake. It's longer and has a more complex story. This one is more of a straight up gangster flick, but what a very good straight up gangster flick it is. Paul Muni is terrific.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/08/23

Full Review

Leaburn O

Can see so much influence on the later incarnation of this classic gangster film. It was decent in places but nowhere near as good as the remake. In my eyes the best of the early 30s gangster genre was Little Caesar but most people rank this is the stand out.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A pretty good gangster movie but far from a masterpiece. It's quite engaging for the most part, Paul Muni gives a fine performance and the climax is well done. On the other hand, Angelo is a really bad comic relief, there's a random scene that tries to make some unsubtle political comments on the gang wars of its time, the structure is fairly predictable and, crucially, Tony's ascent seems extremely easy, as if determination is the only trait necessary, regardless of skills, brains or planning.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

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Howard Hawks

Director

Paul Muni

Antonio "Tony" Camonte

Ann Dvorak

Francesca "Cesca" Camonte

George Raft

Rinaldo

Osgood Perkins

John "Johnny" Lovo

Karen Morley

Poppy

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Synopsis

Key lieutenant of South Side Chicago crime boss Johnny Lovo (Osgood Perkins), Tony Camonte (Paul Muni) is an ambitious and reckless gangster who ignores warnings not to mess with Irish gangs on the North Side. When the North Side retaliates, Tony essentially massacres them, leaving him on top of the world. Worried about Tony's overconfidence, however, Johnny orders him killed, but this also backfires, and Tony finds himself even closer to becoming king of the city.

Director: Howard Hawks
Screenwriter: Fred Pasley
Production Co: The Caddo Company, Polyphony Digital
Rating: PG
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 31, 1932, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 3, 2012
Runtime: 1h 33m

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