Scarface

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Scarface

PG

1932

1h 33m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Key lieutenant of South Side Chicago crime boss Johnny Lovo, Tony Camonte 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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Chuck Bowen

Slant Magazine

Ninety-plus years have done little to dilute the swaggering power of Howard Hawks’s Pre-code American gangster masterpiece.

Nov 17, 2024

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Kristin M. Jones

Wall Street Journal

Hawks’s Scarface still has the power to exhilarate and shock. It is a plunge into a bitter realm with its own rules and rhythms, where bullets fall like hard rain and leave holes like countless jagged stars.

Nov 14, 2024

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Times (UK) Staff

The 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

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a decent-enough piece of work that’s rarely, if ever, as compelling as its intense lead performance.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 8, 2025

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Scott Nye

Battleship Pretension

In an era of pure id, Howard Hawks’s Scarface still manages to feel especially elemental.

Dec 26, 2024

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Ed Travis

Cinapse

A wild and thrilling gangster epic that plays like a proto action film.

Nov 23, 2024

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 33 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/23/25

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ChrisCSH H

Scarface 1932 is absolutely brutal and deliciously violent. It pushes the boundaries for the time Period and pulls no punches whatsoever. the action and fantastic direction makes each scene more tense and overall just an enjoyment to watch.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/25

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Haunted by H

The original SCARFACE is still one of the best gangster films ever made! Although Muni (playing a thinly disguised Al Capone) is fun to watch, the supporting cast under Howard Hawks' direction makes this film a bonafide classic. Vince Barnett's role as Muni's secretary is hilarious! Karen Morley and Ann Dvorak still exude sex appeal. Osgood Perkins plays a character type so well that his version of a "crime boss" is later copied in other classic gangster films. And what's not to love about George Raft, whose quiet, coin-flipping screen presence catapulted him to the Hollywood A list. Besides SCARFACE having a terrific, hard-boiled script and an urgent "ripped from the headlines" message, there are other elements to watch for: Look for Howard Hawks' use of "X" throughout the film, especially during the mob killing scenes (which are many). Also, pay careful attention to the mob meeting scenes. Many of the extras were actual Capone gang members sent to Hollywood to keep an eye (and report) back to their boss about how Hawks (and Muni) depicted him. And finally...watch how Hawks filmed the machine-gun fire scenes, especially in the cafes. The machine gun fire was real, making it exciting and dangerous for the cast.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/23/24

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David F

The gangsters, the Tommy Guns, the nihilistic love for crime, this is a classic that sets the standard for so many crime thrillers to come. All the Capone references add to the verisimilitude of 1920s Chicago and help to make this an unforgettable classic film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/04/24

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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

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Steve D

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

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/25/24

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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, Tony Camonte 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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