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Scarface- Al Pacino's gangster classic revisited
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Scarface promotional poster-Universal Pictures
Eleven years after Al Pacino wowed audiences with his portrayal of Michael Corleone in the Godfather, Pacino acted in another classic role as Tony Montana in Brian DePalma's legendary gangster movie, Scarface. The year was 1983 and writer Oliver Stone along with director Brian DePalma and producer Martin Bregman debuted their remake of the 1932 Howard Hawk film, Scarface. The film was screened in New York City with several well known celebrities in attendence such as Burt and Diane Lane, Raquel Welch, Melanie Griffith, Joan Collins, Eddie Murphy, Lucille Ball and Martin Scorsese. The film opened in approximately 1000 theaters and grossed $4.6 million in it's opening weekend. Many film critics did not give the film a favorable review. The negative reviews were mostly likely due to the movie's graphic language and over the top violence. However, film critic Roger Ebert enjoyed the film and gave it a four star rating.
Al Pacino- Scarface, Universal Pictures
The film's plot follows fictional Cuban refugee Tony Montana as he enters Florida in 1980 via the Mariel Boatlift. After working regular jobs for small pay, Montana and his friend Manny Ribera (Steven Bauer) follow their interpretation of the American Dream and start a successful drug empire. Life was good for Montana and Manny as they rapidly acquired immense wealth, material possessions, power and the respect they so desperately wanted. As the movie's plot progreses, Montana soon learns that his world would eventually come crashing down in a very tragic violent way.
The movie received three Golden Globe nominations including Best Original Score-Motion Picture-Giorgio Moroder, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture- Drama-Al Pacino, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture-Steven Bauer.
The film has become a cult classic and is immensely popular to this day. Merchandise is sold everywhere with Pacino's likeness and catch phrases from the film. There are Scarface t-shirts, posters, video games, clothing, talking action figures and much more memorabilia available. The film has also been well embraced by the hip-hop community. The American Film Institute ranks Scarface as the tenth best film in the gangster film genre. The film features many memorable quotes but, "Say hello to my little friend," ranks as the 61st most famous quote in the American Film Institute's 100 years...100 movie quotes.
Some interesting facts and trivia about Scarface:
Al Pacino suffered some injurues during the filming of Scarface. He was cut with a piece of glass thrown by co star Michelle Pfeiffer and burned his hand during the filming of the final scene as he grabbed the gun by the barrel.
Sidney Lumet was originally wanted as the director but he turned it down. It was his idea to make the characters Cuban and use the boat lift story in the film.
Oliver Stone named Al Pacino's character Tony Montana after football player Joe Montana.
Director Brian DePalma dropped out of the movie Flashdance to direct Scarface.
Brian DePalma had trouble getting an R rating for the film. The MPAA gave the film an X rating at first. The third cut of the film finally received an R rating but DePalma decided to release his intended first cut anyway.
Steven Spielberg allegedly helped direct one shot of the film during the final shootout at the Montana mansion.
Most of the film was shot in Los Angeles, California and not Florida.
Surprisingly, Al Pacino has stated in interviews that the character Tony Montana is one of his favorite characters he has portrayed.
John Travolta was considered for the role of Manny Ribera. Robert DeNiro was offered the lead role but he turned it down. Many well known actresses turned down the role of Elvira Hancock including; Kim Basinger, Kathleen Turner, Melanie Griffith, Brooke Shields, Jodie Foster, Rosanna Arquette and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
There were several mistakes made in the film. Some of the main ones deal with continuity such as:
While Tony is watching the Goodyear blimp, the reflection on the window reveals he has a cigarette in his mouth but then the next shot shows him putting a cigarette in his mouth.
In the Babylon club scene, Tony puts a cigar in his mouth when the champagne is poured and raises the glass and then the cigar disappears in the next shot.
In the chain saw scene, Manny shoots down a glass door, but in close-ups shots show there isn't any glass on the floor.
The scene where Tony shoots Manny, there is a blood stain on the right side of Gina's robe but when they get out of the car at Tony's place, the blood stain is not there.
During the final shoot out scene, when Tony is shown falling into the water, the red carpet is already soaked from earlier takes.
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