Scarface (1983)

In 1980 Miami, a determined Cuban immigrant takes over a drug cartel while succumbing to greed.

Director:

Brian De Palma

Writer:

Oliver Stone (screenplay)

Stars:

Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer

Top 250 #128 | Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Al Pacino	...	Tony Montana
Steven Bauer	...	Manny Ribera
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Elvira Hancock
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	...	Gina Montana
Robert Loggia	...	Frank Lopez
Miriam Colon	...	Mama Montana
F. Murray Abraham	...	Omar Suarez
Paul Shenar	...	Alejandro Sosa
Harris Yulin	...	Mel Bernstein
Ángel Salazar	...	Chi Chi
Arnaldo Santana	...	Ernie
Pepe Serna	...	Angel
Michael P. Moran	...	Nick The Pig
Al Israel	...	Hector The Toad
Dennis Holahan	...	Jerry The Banker

Storyline

When Fidel Castro opens the harbor at Mariel, Cuba, he sends 125,000 Cuban refugees to reunite with their relatives in the United States. Among all the refugees, there is one who wants it all, his name is Tony Montana. Tony and his friend Manny arrive in the United States and start in small time jobs. Soon, they are hired by Omar Suarez to pay money to a group of Colombians. When the deal goes wrong, Tony and Manny leave with the money and succeed in their job. Soon Tony meets with drug kingpin Frank Lopez and falls for his boss's girl, Elvira. Pretty soon Tony will know that those who want it all, do not last forever; that is the price of power. The world will know Montana by one name....SCARFACE.

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Plot Keywords:

Cuban | Refugee | Friend | Cocaine | Drugs | 

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Taglines:

He was Tony Montana. The world will remember him by another name...SCARFACE.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

9 December 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Caracortada

Filming Locations:

485 West Matheson Drive, Key Biscayne, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$242,821 (USA) (19 September 2003)

Gross:

$656,161 (USA) (26 September 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

170 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The signed picture of former U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew in Lopez's office is one that was commonly sent to the general public that requested one during his tenure. Very common in the collector's world, they usually sell for $20.00 or less.

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Goofs

When Manny gets Tony, after basketball, both walk towards the gate, meanwhile a bearded character with a spotted brown shirt is walking behind them in and out of the camera for no apparent reason, when Manny and Tony reach the gate to check the incoming Rebenga, that same bearded brown-shirted man enters through the gate from outside, this time wearing a hat and with a limp leg.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Fidel Castro: ...al esfuerzo y al heroísmo de una revolución... ¡No los queremos! ¡No los necesitamos!
[translated... to the effort and heroism of a revolution... We don't want them! We don't need them!]

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Crazy Credits

Scarface is a fiction account of the activities of a small group of ruthless criminals. The characters do not represent the Cuban/ American Community and it would be erroneous and unfair to suggest that they do. The vast majority of Cuban/Americans have demonstrated a dedication, vitality, and enterprise that has enriched the American scene.

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Connections

Referenced in 1 Night in Paris (2004)
Rick quotes "say hello to my little friends!" to Paris

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Soundtracks

"Turn Out the Night"
Performed by Amy Holland
Music by Giorgio Moroder
Lyrics by Pete Bellotte

User Reviews

Pure Pacino

Pacino gives an amazing performance that is both comic and tragic in this remake of the 1932 classic about corruption in America.

Brian De Palma updated the original Prohibition story to the era of the Mariel boat-lift and the heavy traffic in drugs that still infest the United States. The film is an uncompromising revelation of humanity's dark side as Pacino's character learns never to underestimate the other guy's greed. He neglects to learn the other important lesson -- never get caught in the vice you are pushing on others.

Pacino's character wants the world and everything in it. That's what he gets. We are reminded to beware of what we wish for.

The film is violent but never makes drug dealing seem glamorous.