Scarface Blog

Film Blog 3- Scarface

            The 1932 film “Scarface,” directed by Howard Hawks and Richard Rosson was the earliest feature-length “gangster” film produced in the United States and is considered a classic for its graphic depictions of the gangster world, police intervention, and crime glorification. “Scarface” was also the first film in a series of similar films that followed suit in making notable the same sort of seedy gang underworld, including the Brian De Palma 1983 film of the same name starring Al Pacino.

            The film, adapted primarily by Ben Hecht is loosely based on the 1929 novel, “Scarface.” In addition to being loosely based on the 1929 novel “Scarface,” the film is based on the life of notorious gangster, Al Capone. Two of Capone’s men actually paid a visit to Hecht to be sure the film was not about his life. Hecht reassured the men that the film was fictitious.

            More than its production values or technological advances, this film is a classic because of its notoriety and controversy. “Scarface” is undoubtedly the first film to show the criminal world in this context, and the film was finished in 1931, but could not be released until 1932 due to the various attempts at censorship. There were concerns that the film was too violent and that it promoted crime and glorified the gangster lifestyle. One of the methods of censorship may have stemmed directly from D.W. Griffiths film “Birth of a Nation,” because censors completely juxtaposed that title in regard to “Scarface” by including “Shame of a Nation” in the subtitles of the film before its 1932 release.

            During the same time period, two other gangster films were released, “Little Caesar” and “The Public Enemy,” yet neither gained the type of notoriety held by “Scarface. The way that “Birth of a Nation” paved the way for a different level of freedom of expression the film industry, Howard Hawks took that to a different level with the release of “Scarface.”

            Howard Hawks had to release a separate version of the film, had to change the name from “Scarface” to “The Scar,” had to add a beginning text regarding the content, and modify the ending before even being able to release his film, and still faced difficulties in doing so with the New York Censors. Hawks’ level of determination in creating a classic like “Scarface” changed the overall understanding of appropriateness and censorship, and allowed for later directors to develop their films without fear of controversy repercussions.

            “Scarface” arguably was the first film of a new genre involving the glorification of crime. Since its release, there have been countless films that feature the criminals as the heroes and protagonists and police intervention as the villain. “Scarface” pushed the earliest established limits of censorship in order to make itself a renowned classic that would be appreciated for years and spark the creation of a number of similar films and reproductions.

            This film was not without technological developments in its production, but the true reason it is considered a classic lies in its style and controversy and ability to change our understanding of the film industry. “Scarface” left a legacy in the United States National Film Registry by being considered “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and considered the sixth best gangster film by the American Film Institute. “Scarface” is a classic for not being afraid to offend and to push the limits of censorship. It is renowned in its storyline for being the first film to send the message that it sent and created a new genre of film, never before considered.