Scarface (1983 film)

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Scarface
Original theatrical release poster
Directed by	Brian De Palma
Produced by	Martin Bregman
Written by	Oliver Stone Ben Hecht Howard Hawks
Starring	Al Pacino Steven Bauer Michelle Pfeiffer Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio Robert Loggia
Music by	Giorgio Moroder
Cinematography	John A. Alonzo
Editing by	Jerry Greenberg David Ray
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date(s)	December 9, 1983 September 9, 2003 (re-release)
Running time	170 min.
Country	United States
Language	English Spanish
Budget	$25 million
Gross revenue	Domestic $45,598,982 Worldwide $65,884,703
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Scarface is a 1983 film directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone and starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana. A loose remake of the 1932 Howard Hawks gangster film of the same title, it tells the story of a fictional Cuban refugee, who comes to Florida in 1980 as a result of the Mariel Boatlift.

Montana becomes a gangster against the backdrop of the 1980s cocaine boom. The film chronicles his rise to the top of Miami's criminal underworld and subsequent downfall in Greek tragedy fashion. The film is dedicated to Howard Hawks and Ben Hecht, who were the writers of the original Scarface.

The critical response to the film was mixed and received criticism for the violence and graphic language. Despite this, the film did well at the box office and has since gathered a cult following. Scarface has become an important cultural icon for many rap artists and fans, inspiring posters, clothing, and many other references. The film's grainy black and white poster is a very popular decoration and is still in production.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Reception 5 Criticism 6 Alternate versions 7 Releases 7.1 VHS 7.2 DVD 8 Inspired by the film 8.1 Music 8.2 Video games 8.3 Books and comics 8.4 Television and film 9 Influence on popular culture 10 References 11 External links

[edit] Plot

The film begins with a description of how, in 1980, Cuban president Fidel Castro let the gates open on Mariel Harbor in Cuba allowing thousands of Cubans to immigrate to Florida on boatlifts. However, some of these immigrants were criminals or ex-convicts.

Enter Tony Montana (Al Pacino), one of the thousands of Cubans that immigrated to Miami, Florida. He and his best friend Manny Ribera (Steven Bauer) are met with resistance, particularly because of their criminal records, and are placed in limbo (so to speak) in Freedomtown, a place where Cuban refugees without Green Cards are kept. Manny makes Tony aware of a deal where they can leave Freedomtown and receive their Green Cards. But, they have to kill Cuban Communist Emilio Rebenga in order to obtain it. Tony does this without much thought, and they receive their residency. Tony and Manny begin working in a small Cuban food stand to make money, but Tony soon grows restless. They both make a deal with drug dealer Omar Suarez (F. Murray Abraham) (the same man who made the "Rebenga deal") to get paid for getting narcotics from Colombian dealer "Hector the Toad". Tony dislikes Omar's attitude, but obliges.

Although the deal with Hector soon turns bad, Tony and Manny both escape alive and with the cocaine. Instead of allowing Omar to take the cocaine to his boss Frank Lopez (Robert Loggia), Tony takes it to Frank personally, already untrusting of Omar. Tony manages to win Frank over with his sense of humor and bold attitude, and he ends up getting a job under Frank in his drug dealing business (along with Manny). Meanwhile, Tony takes an interest in Frank's girlfriend, Elvira Hancock (Michelle Pfeiffer). While Tony flirts with Elvira, she doesn't show any interest in Frank (or anyone else for that matter).

Tony pays a visit to his estranged family's home. It is implied that Tony's father walked out on the family years ago, but his mother (Miriam Colon) and his younger sister Gina (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) are home. Gina is excited to see Tony (who hasn't seen the family in 5 years), while his mother isn't too thrilled. When he offers his mother $1,000 (claiming he's "made it"), his mother declines the offer. She believes he's still up to no good, and wants him to leave because she doesn't want him rubbing off on Gina. Tony leaves, but Gina runs after him. He slips her the $1,000 secretly, and tells her to spend it on whatever she wants and to give his mother a little from time to time. It is clear he cares for his sister greatly, but later on in the film gives proof that he is very overprotective of her.

While in Bolivia, Tony and Omar begin discussing business plans with Alejandro Sosa (Paul Shenar) on the behalf of Frank who couldn't make it down. Tony begins making major decisions about distribution of the drugs (decisions that Omar believes Frank should be approving). Omar and Tony begin arguing over the matter, while Alejandro offers Omar a quick helicopter ride back home. However, Alejandro makes one of his henchmen hang and kill Omar, who was allegedly an informant for the police. Alejandro believes Tony, however, is trustworthy and makes him one of his business partners. When returning to Florida, Tony comes under heat by Frank, who is angry at what had occurred in South America. Tony and Frank end their business relationship, while Tony begins making bolder passes at Elvira, one of them right in front of Frank. At a nightclub, Tony is nearly shot and killed by two henchmen. Tony is convinced Frank is responsible for the hit, and he and Manny hunt Frank down and kill him once he admits to it.

Afterwards, all seems to be going well for Tony. He marries Elvira, takes over Frank's empire and becomes very wealthy. However, cracks in Tony's "perfect life" begin to form. Both he and Elvira become addicted to cocaine. He becomes more paranoid and untrusting of those around him, and she becomes more bored and distant. Manny and Gina begin dating behind Tony's back, afraid of what his reaction would be if he found out. Tony is arrested for tax evasion, and faces up to three years in prison. Soon, Elvira becomes tired of the lifestyle, and leaves Tony after a fight at a restaurant.

During a trip to New York, Alejandro hires Tony to help put a hit out on a Congressman (who went on a television talk show and mentioned Alejandro, his henchmen, and their drug dealing). Tony orders one of the henchmen not to set off the bomb underneath the Congressman's car once he finds out his wife and children are in the car as well. When the henchmen doesn't listen, Tony grows angry and shoots him dead. He returns to Florida to find his mother upset over Gina's new attitude (whom she believes Tony corrupted) and Alejandro threatening to kill Tony for not going through with the plan. Tony goes to find Gina at an unknown mansion, and sees her and Manny together in nightrobes. Realizing Manny has slept with his sister, he shoots Manny dead in a cocaine-fueled rage (which he later regrets), and highly upsets Gina (who reveals they eloped and were going to surprise Tony). Tony and his underlings take Gina back to his mansion. Meanwhile, Alejandro Sosa's numerous henchmen are surrounding his mansion, with plans to kill him, when he is arguing with his sister, who is shooting at him with a pistol. They take out everyone else in the mansion one by one, until Tony is left to fight them off. He emerges from his room with an M-16 rifle, and begins shooting wildly at the men, and manages to kill some and stay alive. He believes he is victorious, until an assassin known as the Skull slowly walks up behind Tony and shoots him in the back with a shotgun. Tony plunges off the second floor, over the balcony, and into the small pool in his living room. He lies dead as a statue ironically stands above him reading "The World Is Yours".

[edit] Cast

• Al Pacino as Antonio "Tony/Scarface" Montana
• Steven Bauer as Manny Ribera
• Michelle Pfeiffer as Elvira Hancock
• Robert Loggia as Frank Lopez
• Paul Shenar as Alex Sosa
• Ángel Salazar as Chi Chi
• Pepe Serna as Angel Fernandez
• F. Murray Abraham as Omar Suárez
• Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Gina Montana
• Miriam Colon as Georgina "Mama" Montana
• Harris Yulin as Mel Bernstein
• Dennis Franz (uncredited) as Voice of Immigration Officer
• Charles Durning (uncredited) as Voice of Immigration Officer
• Brett Ratner (uncredited) as Boy lying on raft in pool

[edit] Production

Scarface was directed by Brian De Palma, produced by Martin Bregman, and written by now famed director Oliver Stone. Stone consulted the Miami police and the Drug Enforcement Agency while writing the film, incorporating many true crimes into the film, including using crime scene photos to inspire the infamous chainsaw scene.

Scarface with Al Pacino was originally to be filmed in Florida but received criticism from the Cuban community who objected to various aspects of the film. Community representatives were opposed to the depiction of Cubans as drug dealers and demanded that the script be changed to incorporate anti-Fidel Castro rhetoric (most notably, changing Tony Montana into a spy working for Fidel Castro and the introduction of anti-Castro political organizations into the plot as foils for Montana) into the film. After protracted negotiations the producers ultimately refused to give in, saying the film was about cocaine and not the politics of Castro's Cuba. In order to ensure the safety of the crew and to avoid confrontations - with the exception being obvious exterior shots - the movie was filmed in and around Los Angeles.

When the film was submitted to the MPAA it was rated X for violent scenes and graphic language, with the shooting of the clown performer and the chainsaw torture sequence the primary objects of concern. De Palma cut the film twice but it still received an X rating. After the film was rejected for the third time DePalma with the help from a panel of experts including real narcotics officers told the MPAA the violence was an accurate portrayal of real life drug dealers and the film should be released with the violence intact to show viewers how violent the drug business was. With a third vote of 18 to 2 in favor of an 'R', the MPAA agreed. But De Palma, who felt the differences between the two 'clean' cuts he put together were insignificant, arranged to have the uncut version released to theaters with an R rating instead.

[edit] Reception

Scarface held its premiere on December 1st, 1983 in New York City where it was initially greeted with mixed reaction. Among those in attendance were the film's two stars, Al Pacino and Steven Bauer, as well as Burt and Diane Lane, Melanie Griffith, Raquel Welch, Joan Collins; her then-boyfriend Peter Holm and Eddie Murphy among others ^[1]. According to AMC's "DVD TV: Much More Movie" airing: Cher loved it, Lucille Ball, who came with her family, hated it because of the graphic violence and language, and Dustin Hoffman was said to have fallen asleep. Writers Kurt Vonnegut and John Irving were among those who allegedly walked out in disgust after the notorious "chainsaw" scene. At the middle of the film, Martin Scorsese turned behind to Steven Bauer and told him "You guys are great - but be prepared, because they're going to hate it in Hollywood. . . because it's about them" ^[2]. Scarface, upon its first release, drew controversy regarding the violence and graphic language in the film, and received many negative reviews from movie critics. Despite this, the film grossed $65 million worldwide. Today, if that gross were adjusted for inflation, it would probably be around $180 million.^[3] and has since gathered a large following. On the 2-Disc Special Edition, the film's producer, Martin Bregman said that the film was well received by only one notable critic, Vincent Canby of The New York Times. However, Roger Ebert rated it four stars out of four in his 1983 review and he later added it to his "great movies" list.^[4] IMDb cites that the word "fuck" is used 226 times in the film.

[edit] Criticism

The film received criticism from the Cuban community who objected to various aspects of the film. In order to avoid confrontations most of the film was shot in and around Los Angeles. When director Brian De Palma submitted the film to the MPAA they gave it an "X rating". He then made some cuts and resubmitted it a second time; again the film was given an "X rating" (one of the reasons apparently being that Octavio the clown was shot too many times). He yet again made some further cuts and submitted it a third time; yet again it was given an "X". De Palma refused to cut the film any further to qualify it for an R. He and producer Martin Bregman arranged a hearing with the MPAA. They brought in a panel of experts, including real narcotics officers, who stated that the film was an accurate portrayal of real life in the drug underworld and should be widely seen. This convinced the 20 members of the ratings board to give the third submitted cut of the film an "R rating" by a vote of 18-2. However De Palma surmised that if the third cut of the film was judged an "R" than the very first cut should have been an "R" as well. He asked the studio if he could release the first cut but was told that he couldn't. However since the Studio execs really didn't know the differences between the different cuts that had been submitted, De Palma released the first cut of the film to theaters anyway. It wasn't until the film had been released on videocassette months later that he confessed that he had released his first unedited and intended version of the film.

[edit] Alternate versions

• A short version of the film was uploaded onto the internet in 2006. It lasts for a minute and a half and is composed entirely of all 218 uses of the word "fuck" (and its variations).
• ABC edited 32 minutes from this film for its 1987 network television premiere.
• Network TV version deletes or edits all violent scenes for censorship reasons and adds some extra footage:
  • The introduction text about Cubans fleeing from Mariel is slightly different from the text shown in the theatrical version (a disclaimer stating that the events are fictious has been added).
  • Extended Freedom Town section: Tony in a phone booth trying to call his sister Gina; Angel looking in a phone book for his brother Pablo; extended conversation between Tony and Manny about getting out of Freedom Town; Tony and Manny watching television.
  • Tony's first visit to his mother's house is longer. Tony opens a bottle of champagne and makes a toast to America.
  • Before Tony's first visit to Sosa, the onscreen text has been changed from "Cochabamba, Bolivia" to "South America".
  • During that visit Tony is introduced to Sosa's girlfriend Gabriela.
  • Tony's first meeting with his lawyer George.
  • When Alberto is planting the bomb under the car in N.Y., Tony sees cops nearby and distracts them by pretending to be looking for his missing dog.
• The BBFC requested cuts of 25 sec. to give the film a 18 certification. These cuts were waived in 2000.
• The overseas DVD special edition contained the following deleted scenes:
  • Extended Freedom Town section: Tony in a phone booth trying to call his sister Gina; Angel looking in a phone book for his brother Pablo; extended conversation between Tony and Manny about getting out of Freedom Town; Tony and Manny watching television.
  • Tony, Manny, and two others driving, checking out the girls in Miami.
  • During the visit to South America, Tony discusses a drug deal with some people. Also, Tony is introduced to Sosa's girlfriend Gabriela.
  • Tony discusses a drug deal with some people in a restaurant.
  • Tony's first meeting with his lawyer George.
  • When Alberto is planting the bomb under the car in N.Y., Tony sees cops nearby and distracts them by pretending to be looking for his missing dog.
• The Platinum Edition released in 2006 has the DD 5.1 and DTS 5.1 with the new sound effects that were previously available only on the 2003 theatrical re-release of the movie.
• Curiously, only the widescreen video and DVD releases are uncut in the UK. This contains the previously deleted portion of the chainsaw murder, with the line: "And now the leg...!"
• Much of the chainsaw murder and the shootout at the end of the movie was cut in Norway before it's cinema release, later videoversions for sale are uncut.

[edit] Releases

[edit] VHS

Scarface was initially released by MCA Home Video on VHS and Beta in the summer of 1984; a two-tape set in 1.33:1 Pan and scan ratio and quickly became a bestseller, preluding its cult status ^[5]. A 2.35:1 Widescreen VHS would follow years later in 1998 to coincide with the special edition DVD release. The last and most recent VHS release was in 2003 to counterpart the 20th anniversary edition DVD.

[edit] DVD

Scarface has been released on DVD four times in the United States as of 2007.

The first was released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment on the film's 15th anniversary in 1998 under the studio's "Collector's Edition" line. The DVD featured a non-anamorphic widescreen transfer, Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, a "Making of" documentary, outtakes, production notes and cast & crew bios. This release was not successful, and many fans and reviewers complained about its unwatchable video transfer and muddled sound, describing it as "one of the worst big studio releases out there" ^[6].

This DVD quietly went out of print and, in 2003, Universal released a remastered two disc "Anniversary Edition" to coincide with the film's 20th anniversary re-release, featuring two documentaries; one re-edited from the last release to include new interviews with Steven Bauer (Manny Ray) and another produced by Def Jam Recordings featuring interviews with various rappers on the film's cult success in the hip-hop world and other extras ported over from the previous DVD. New to this edition was a 2.35:1 Anamorphic widescreen transfer and 5.1 surround sound in both Dolby Digital and DTS.

Curiously, the limited theatrical re-release also boasted a remastered soundtrack with enhanced sound effects and music, but the DVD's 5.1 tracks were mixed from the film's original audio, resulting in noticeably limited frequency and surround effects. A limited-edition box set was also produced featuring a gold money clip, production stills, lobby cards and a DVD of the original Scarface. In 2005, Universal released single disc movie-only version of the Anniversary Edition, with deleted scenes as the sole bonus feature.

In the fall of 2006, Universal released Scarface in a two disc "Platinum Edition", featuring the remastered audio from the theatrical re-release in Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround. Most of the extras (with the exception of the Def Jam documentary, production notes and cast & crew bios) from the Anniversary Edition were also included along with two new featurettes regarding the new video game and the criminal and cultural world of Miami in the 1980s. Also new to this edition was a "scoreboard", which counted number of bullets fired and uses of the word "fuck" throughout the film.

[edit] Inspired by the film

[edit] Music

Main article: Scarface (soundtrack)

The music in Scarface was produced by Academy Award winning Italian record producer Giorgio Moroder. Like Moroder's style, the soundtrack consists mostly of synthesized new wave, electronic music. The official song of the video game is B-Real feat. Mellow Man Ace, both Cypress Hill - The world is yours.

[edit] Video games

Main article: Scarface: The World Is Yours

A licensed video game, Scarface: The World Is Yours, was released in September and October 2006 as well as an update in June 2007, developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal Games. The game is a pseudo-sequel, and goes on the premise that Tony actually survived the raid on his mansion at the end of the film. Wii, PS2, Xbox, and PC versions have been released.

Main article: Scarface: Money. Power. Respect.

Radical and Vivendi also released a second licensed video game, Scarface: Money, Power, Respect, in October 2006. The game is much like Scarface: The World is Yours, but one main difference is that the second game deals more with the controlling of drugs and managing of the Montana cocaine empire and turf, whereas The World is Yours is mostly focused on getting rid of gangs, gaining respect and overall reconstruction of the empire. To date, only a PSP version of this game has been released.

The hit game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City also has some homages Scarface, like an area with the famous bloody bathroom in an empty apartment, along with a chainsaw that can be used as a weapon. Also the Malibu Club is very similar to the Babylon Club. In the beginning of the game, Tommy Vercetti's drug deal gets busted, much like the coke deal that Tony gets double crossed in. There is also a mission in the game where Tommy and his partner Lance Vance kill Tommy's cocaine-dealing boss Ricardo Diaz, much like when Tony and Manny kill Frank. Finally, the last mission of the game ("Keep Your Friends Close...") is a slight spin-off of the final scene in Scarface. In this mission Tommy has to fend off a whole rival gang in his mansion with only a few weapons. The only difference, however, is that Tommy lives through the fight with Ken Rosenberg to start "a new business relationship".

[edit] Books and comics

Dark Horse Comics' imprint, DH Press, released a novel called Scarface: The Beginning by L. A. Banks. ^{[7] [8]}

In 2007, IDW Publishing released a new series called Scarface: Scarred for Life, which picks up where the film ends; as in the video game, it depicts Tony Montana barely surviving the film's climactic shotgun blast and, with the aid of two corrupt DEA agents, recovering to rebuild his empire and seek revenge on Sosa. This series was written by John Layman, with art by Dave Crosland. ^[9] IDW followed it in July 2007 with a prequel comic mini-series called Devil in Disguise, by Joshua Jabcuga and Alberto Dose, which shows Antonio's pre-boatlift days as a boy learning his way around the Cuban criminal underworld. ^[10]

[edit] Television and film

In 2001, plans were set into motion for hip hop artist Cuban Link to write and star in a sequel to Scarface entitled Son of Tony.^[11] The plans for a prospective sequel drew both praise as well as criticism, and after several years Cuban Link had expressed that he may no longer be involved with the project as the result of movie rights issues and creative control.^[12]

USA Network announced in 2003 they would be producing a mini-series based on the movie; however, the series' current status is unknown.

[edit] Influence on popular culture

• The Specials' music single "Gangster's" released in 2000, contains the line "Don't call me Scarface"
• The album Music Inspired by Scarface was released by Def Jam Recordings in 2003, This compilation album features songs by various hip-hop artists which either draw direct inspiration from the 1983 film Scarface or contain subject matter that can relate to the film.
• Scarface has been frequently referenced to in other popular works. In particular, the "Say hello to my little friend" line is repeated in various movies, television shows and video games. The line took 61st place as the most famous quote on the list AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes.
• In the 2007 video game The Simpsons Game on DS, in the level Five Characters in Search of An Authour, Bart Simpson will confront Matt Groening in Scarface's mansion, the globe will be saying The World, Dude.
• The opening sequence of Scarface was duplicated for the opening of the Beastie Boys concert movie, Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!.
• Tony's M16 rifle, which he dubbed his "little friend", ranked eighth in a 20th Century Fox film poll regarding the most popular film weapons. The 2008 poll surveyed approximately two thousand film lovers.^[13]
• In the Code Monkeys episode StonerVision, the drug lord Dave & Jerry borrow money from is named Tony Dakota.
• In the game Predator: Concrete Jungle, The protagonist-like Predator is named Scarface, and near the end of the game a character says "say hello to my little friends" before setting xenomorphs on Scarface.
• A large part of the popular video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is based around the movie, including the possibility to own a mansion very similar to Tony's in the movie. The final battle scene also resembles the one in Scarface.
• A Colombian drug lord in the video game Hitman: Codename 47 has striking similarities to Tony Montana. Most particularly the battle scene where the player might confront him from the upper mansion study room - similar to the final scene in the film.
• In the film Reno 911: Miami, the character Ethan is parody of Tony Montana. He is a Cuban drug lord with a thick accent and in one scene is seen torturing a man with a string trimmer (a parody of the chainsaw scene in Scarface).
• In Company, the Hindi film based on Indian Underworld, Chandarkant Nagre,(Vivek Oberoi), refuses to kill a politician his boss, Malik (Ajay Devgan) has ordered him to kill because he is not alone as expected but has kids along with him. This disobedience becomes the reason of gang war between the two. The scene is clearly influenced by Scarface.
• The posters for the successful 2007 film American Gangster borrowed the aesthetic scheme of the famous Scarface movie poster featuring a grainy high-contrast black-and-white image of a man in a white suit.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Scarface at the Internet Movie Database
• Scarface at Allmovie
• Scarface at Box Office Mojo

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