Scarface Movie Review 1931

The violent rise and fall of 1930s Chicago crime boss Tony Camonte--magnetically played by Muni--and based on the life of notorious gangster Al Capone. Release was held back by censors due to the amount of violence and its suggestion of incest between the title character and his sister (Dvorak). Morley is ice-cold ad Tony's moll Poppy. Producer Howard Hughes recut and filmed an alternate ending, without director Hawks' approval, to pacify the censors, and both versions of the film were released at the same time. Almost too violent and intense at the time. Remains brilliant and impressive. Remade in 1983.

Distribution

Universal Studios Home Video, 100 Universal City Plz., Universal City, CA 91608-9955, Phone: (818)777-1000, Fax: (818)866-1483, URL: http://www.universalstudios.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS
Running time 93 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Crime Drama, Organized Crime

Screenplay

Fred Pasley

Cast

Paul Muni, Ann Dvorak, Karen Morley, Osgood Perkins, George Raft, Boris Karloff, W.R. Burnett, Ben Hecht, John Lee Mahin, Seton I. Miller

Cinematography

Lee Garmes

Director

Howard Hawks

Music

Gus Arnheim, Adolph Tandler

Producer

Howard Hughes, Mark Huffam

Awards

Natl. Film Reg. 1994.