Scarface

Name: Scarface
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime, Film-Noir
Released: April 9, 1932
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 90
Cast: Ann Dvorak, Boris Karloff, C. Henry Gordon, George Raft, Karen Morley

1932

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 12 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

United Artists | Release Date: April 9, 1932 | Passed

Starring: Ann Dvorak, Boris Karloff, C. Henry Gordon, George Raft, Karen Morley, Osgood Perkins, Paul Muni, Purnell Pratt, Tully Marshall, Vince Barnett

Summary: An ambitious and nearly insane violent gangster climbs the ladder of success in the mob, but his weaknesses prove to be his downfall.

Director: Howard Hawks and Richard Rosson

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime, Film-Noir

Rating: Passed

Runtime: 93 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Mark Chalon Smith

Scarface is one of best of the early gangster movies; its wit and building velocity speeds it past Little Caesar and keeps pace with Public Enemy. Read full review

100

Staff (Not Credited)

Its seminal importance in the early gangster movie cycle outweighed only by its still exhilarating brilliance, this Howard Hughes production was the one unflawed classic the tycoon was involved with. Read full review

100

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

One of Hawks's undisputed masterpieces, and a landmark in the screen depiction of gangsters. Read full review

Jay Carr

Here's the third classic you'd better know if you're going to know anything about American gangster movies. This one is powered by Paul Muni's thinly disguised and daringly simian take on Al Capone. [01 Nov 1991, p.35]

Dave Kehr

A dark, brutal, exhilaratingly violent film, blending comedy and horror in a manner that suggests Chico Marx let loose with a live machine gun. Read full review

The Observer (UK) Philip French

Some of the humour is dated, but mostly it's astonishingly modern, full of unforgettable images. Muni is stunning and George Raft, who, like Sinatra, enjoyed the company of mobsters, gives an iconic performance: his cool, coin-tossing habit is referred to both in Singin' in the Rain and Some Like it Hot. [09 Apr 2006, p.18]

Staff (Not Credited)

Scarface contains more cruelty than any of its gangster picture predecessors, but there's a squarer for every killing. The blows are always softened by judicial preachments and sad endings for the sinners. Read full review

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User Reviews

KenR

Oct 6, 2021

After waiting till this year to see this highly regarded vintage gangster flick, have to admit coming away somewhat disappointed. The whole thing looks good thanks to top cinematography by veteran Lee Garmes (Detective Story 51) and some nice touches from director Hawks, it also featuresAfter waiting till this year to see this highly regarded vintage gangster flick, have to admit coming away somewhat disappointed. The whole thing looks good thanks to top cinematography by veteran Lee Garmes (Detective Story 51) and some nice touches from director Hawks, it also features some superbly staged crashes and gun battles but these seem to become overdone, and more in line with exploitation. These films were the action fare of their day but with so many being churned out, the line became blurred between glorifying these moronic henchmen and showing them up for their immorality. Another cliché of the era, assisting to bring it undone, was the inclusion of a comic relief sidekick to the main villain. These characters were stereotypes of unbelievable Simple-Simon stupidity but deemed necessary by Hollywood (and it seems Hughes & Hawks) as ‘humorous’ relief. Technically, good to look at as cinema history but showing the constraints of early sound performances and their various limitations. This is certainly a different Paul Muni to most I have seen but for professionalism, would prefer to take another look at ‘I’m A Fugitive from a Chain Gang’, than this effort.… Expand

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