Scarface (1983)
Directed By: Brian DePalma
Starring - Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer
The 1983 version of Scarface is based off of a 1932 version with the same title. Originally I had no idea that there was ever an original version as I had just seen the 1983 version many times, but after finding out there was a version before this, I had to check it out.
The 1932 version is a gangster film that is directed by one of the most influential directors of the time, Howard Hawks. It is a clever film that not only depicts the gangster scene of the time, but it focuses on them on a more personal level. The audience gets to see the personal life of Tony Camonte, an angle which isn't usually available to an everyday person. Gangsters are seen as bad people, and even though Tony does do bad things, the audience likes him, which in my opinion is a hard thing to accomplish. This film helped define not only the gangster genre of film but it also gave way to a totally new genre - film noir.
The 1983 version on the other hand, follows the same themes as the 1932 version. It follows a Cuban immigrant who takes the drug scene by storm when he becomes one of the drug lords. This version has several of the same aspects as the 1932 version but had a much updated, "hollywood" feel to it. There are still the same themes with Tony's sister and "The world is yours" but overall you can tell it was based off of another film. Also the final scene of each of the films are very similar. It shows both of the main characters at their weakest, and basically getting what they had coming with "The World is Yours" looming over them as they die. Another similarity is the fact that it had a powerhouse director directing it. Brian DePalma is a very influential current director who did such films as The Untouchables and Mission: Impossible. Oliver Stone was also the writer of the 1983 Scarface.
The 1983 version of the movie, however, seems to have lost its innocence. Now I am not saying it's a bad film at all, matter of fact its one of my favorites just because of it's power, but the movie is a total Hollywoodized version of the original. The violence is extremely prevalent and the use of obscene language is overwhelming (I read somewhere that this version had the word "fuck" in it more than any other film when it came out). The film capitolized on the drug business that was booming during that period of time. It also quotes on the impact of immigration and following the American dream, which is common ground with many Americans. Even though it is a bit over the top, it is most likely why it is as powerful as it is and why it stands the test of time. Both of the films are timeless, and can be seen during any period of time and still have the same impact.
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1 comment:
"There are still the same themes with Tony's sister and "The world is yours" but overall you can tell it was based off of another film."
How can you tell this?
I like where you're going with this comparison, but you could stand for a bit more specificity in the writing. It might also be useful to consider an ideological reading of this film. How do the films reflect the values of the periods in which they were written? How do those values impact our understanding of the characters?
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