Scarface

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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 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/23/24 Full Review 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 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/04/24 Full Review Brian F is a so good movie but I think is overrated and I prefer the 1983 version Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/04/24 Full Review Steve D I didn't get the remake. I get this one less. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/25/24 Full Review Blu B A Classic Crime Drama that's really well done overall. The main differences with this one is it feels at times more of a criticism against gangster life (the opening PSA really makes it clear right off the bat too) rather than a celebration of it. At only half the runtime of the 83' one it moves much quicker as well and feels much less bloated and too the point. However, the lack of a soundtrack in this gives it a dry feeling throughout and the 83' one defintely has a leg up on it in that regard. Paul Muni is a bit more likeable in this but not by much. He comes off more sophisticated at times and less crude than Pacino does. The cinematography is very moody and the opening is excellent and arguably the best part. Anyone who is a fan of gangster flicks, Hawks, or any actors in this will like this a lot. Despite the 83' ones flaws I would say it barely squeaks by this one as my favorite of the two even with the dislike of Tony more in that one just on the soundtrack. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/24 Full Review acsdoug D I would probably give the edge to the DePalma/Pacino remake. It's longer and has a more complex story. This one is more of a straight up gangster flick, but what a very good straight up gangster flick it is. Paul Muni is terrific. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Scarface

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