Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Howard Hawk’s Scarface: The Shame of the Nation (1932) is still regarded as one of the 1930s most raw and violent gangster crime films. 

It was in the planning stages in 1930 but squabbles between Howard Hughes (producer) and Howard Hawks (director) delayed a final working script until 1931.  It was filmed in 1931 but arguments between Hughes and Hawks and regional censorship boards (concerned it glorified and sensationalized gangsters) delayed its release unit April of 1932. Hawks even financed and filmed an alternate ending that had Paul Muni’s gangster surrendering to police, tried in court and taken to the gallows.  It wasn’t ever used (despite what some sources claim). 

Scarface could have been released at the same time as William Wellman’s 1931 Public Enemy with James Cagney, less than a year after Mervyn LeRoy’s 1930 classic Little Caesar with Edward G. Robinson.

Like Al Pacino in the controversial 1983 Brian DePalma (Oliver Stone scripted) re-make, Paul Muni’s performance was over-the-top, and the film’s violence was brutal and shocking (but more stylized).  The violence was reportedly toned down a bit and incest references were mostly removed by Hawks.  A title card was added, a few others re-written so that law enforcement officials were made blameless for gangster activities.

Acting styles, early sound recording and other technical issues certainly date this 80 year-old film but it remains a powerful visceral entertaining classic with one of the most passionate go-for-broke performances by Muni you’ll ever see.

The script was mostly the work of Ben Hecht adapting the novel Scarface by Armitage Trail (aka Maurice Coons) though the film is very different from the book.  Both were loosely based on Al Capone’s rise to power.  The real Capone was arrested and jailed for tax evasion.  He reportedly enjoyed the film so much he owned a copy of it and screened it for friends.  Capone died non-violently from congestive heart-failure in 1947.

Tony Camonte (Paul Muni) takes control of Chicago’s South side with Johnny Lovo (Osgood Perkins) and its lucrative illegal alcohol rackets. Tony decides to ignore warnings not to mess with the Irish on the North Side and eventually creates a gang-war that brings police and media attention.  Tony also goes after Lovo’s girlfriend Poppy (Karen Morley) and he remains overly protective of his sister Cesca (Ann Dvorak).  His most trusted associated is Guino Rinaldo (George Raft) but he crosses the line by being interested in Cesca.

Hawks uses an X motif preceding murders and the X comes in the form of shadows, dress straps, posters and Bowling Alley Strikes.  Angelo’s dumb thuggish loyalty to Tony is used as comic relief.

Memorable scenes include: Boris Karloff’s murder in a bowling alley, recreation of the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, George Raft's coin-flipping, Muni’s ape-like acting, the hospital and flower-shop murders and the famous shoot-out ending.

It was re-released in various truncated (censored forms) throughout the 30s and 40s, officially preserve in its complete form in 1994

©2012, Christopher J. Jarmick

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day