Scarface (1932)

My Review

Paul Muni delivers a stunning performance as mob boss Tony Camonte, loosely based on the life of Al Capone, in “Scarface.” Director Howard Hawks pulled out all the stops to make this pre-Code gangster action film quite a roller coaster ride for the 95 minute running time. The screenplay by Ben Hecht was adapted from the 1930 novel “Scarface” by Armitage Trail.

The cast include Paul Muni, And Dvorak, George Raft, Boris Karloff, Osgood Perkins, Vince Barnett, Purnell Pratt, Tully Marshall, Inez Palange, Edwin Maxwell, and Karen Morley as Poppy. “Scarface” was only a modest success at the box office for producer Howard Hughes, The Caddo Company, and United Artists. An alternate ending was filmed showing Scarface surrendering to authorities. It was filmed in Los Angeles, California. A new version of “Scarface” was released in 1983 starring Al Pacino.