Scarface (1932)

 

                                        Since Al Pacino's Scarface is forty years old, surprisingly. I figured I would take a step back in time and watch one of the original Scarface, the very one that has inspired Al Pacino's Scarface. And strangely enough this was my first time ever witnessing the 1932 version and I had no idea how connected both films are to each other in terms of scenes, dialogue mostly some iconic scenes that helped launch the 1983 version of Scarface.

                                         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.

                                          In no surprise in terms of trying not to spoil the movie alone or wanting to tell you what happens at the end of the film, but both films combined have the same story premise as well as dialogue. For which really is no surprise though it was a little of a surprise for me because I didn't really expect Brian De Palma and Oliver Stone would do and having watched the original movie I really though in my mind was a little disappointing moreover feeling that's laziness on Stone's part, many reasons it's like you just copied the script and pasted all the lines from the original script and planted them to your script and granted yes I doubt anyone watched the 1932 version now though there some of them film critics or film buffs that are going to look at that and see that you just copied and pasted for the 83 version. For the film alone it's a great and outstanding movie in terms of action sequences especially when the film was made in the early thirties just like the Errol Flynn's Robin Hood where you're curious as to how they we're able to film all the action and stunts when bringing the film to life. The film alone was also involved with a lot of censorship because of its violence for which yeah, the movie isn't that violent but you have to understand that the thirties is a different time especially when your making movies and really Scarface was pushing the boundary when it comes to its violence along with Little Caesar and The Public Enemy especially when they filmed a scene that duplicates the Saint Valentines Day Massacre. And yet the funny thing is the Massacre happened in 1929 and Scarface was filmed in 32 so, three-year gap between the film and event that happened is extremely crazy to think about especially when a film like this was using the event to film a gangster movie like Scarface. As a Standalone movie, I would highly recommend watching it from start to finish if you’re big into old time classic movies or a huge fan of the Turner Classic Movie channel. To say which is better between the two films I really can't say because both of them have their unique qualities in terms of the settings and times each of these movies took place but I really can't say even though each of them I would separate from length wise but if I had to pick a good aspect on each of the films it would be the 32 version, is it's quality and the balls to be able to film a scene three years after the events of the Valentines Day Massacre and when it comes to the 83 version well obviously it's Pacino chewing the scenery which is funny to watch. So, if you're a fan of classic films I would highly recommend watching the 32 version of Scarface, or you cherish Al Pacino's Scarface than I would take the time of December to sit down and watch the full two and a half hours of Pacino chewing the scenery.