Scarface 1931

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Scarface ★★★ Scarface: The Shame of a Nation 1931

The violent rise and fall of 1930s Chicago crime boss Tony Camonte—magnetically played by Muni—and based on the life of notorious gangster Al Capone. Release was held back by censors due to the amount of violence and its suggestion of incest between the title character and his sister (Dvorak). Morley is icecold ad Tony's moll Poppy. Producer Howard Hughes recut and filmed an alternate ending, without director Hawks' approval, to pacify the censors, and both versions of the film were released at the same time. Almost too violent and intense at the time. Remains brilliant and impressive. Remade in 1983. 93m/B VHS, DVD . Paul Muni, Ann Dvorak, Karen Morley, Osgood Perkins, George Raft, Boris Karloff, W.R. Burnett, Ben Hecht, John Lee Mahin, Seton I. Miller; D: Howard Hawks; W: Fred Pasley; C: Lee Garmes; M: Gus Arnheim, Adolph Tandler. Natl. Film Reg. '94.

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