'' (also known as '''''Scarface, the Shame of the Nation''''' and '''''The Shame of a Nation''''') is a
1932 Gangster Film of the
Pre-Code era which tells the story of gang warfare and police intervention when rival gangs fight over control of a city. It stars
Paul Muni ,
Ann Dvorak ,
Karen Morley ,
Osgood Perkins ,
C. Henry Gordon ,
George Raft ,
Vince Barnett and
Boris Karloff . It was directed by
Howard Hawks and produced by
Howard Hughes .
The movie was adapted by
Ben Hecht ,
Fred Pasley , (uncredited),
Seton I. Miller ,
John Lee Mahin ,
W.R. Burnett and
Howard Hawks (uncredited) from the novel by
Armitage Trail .
The film is loosely based upon the life of
Al Capone (whose nickname was "Scarface"). Capone was rumored to have liked the film so much that he had his own copy of it.
The film was completed in 1930 but censors would not allow its release until 1932, because of concerns that it glorified the gangster lifestyle and showed too much violence. Several scenes had to be edited, the subtitle "The Shame of the Nation" as well as a text introduction and epilogue had to be added, and the ending had to be modified. In the modified ending, the main gangster goes to trial and is hanged; in the original ending, which is also the one usually shown today, the gangster is shot dead by police.
There are two other important '' (
1931 ) and ''
The Public Enemy '' (
1931 ).
The film ''Scarface'' has been deemed "culturally significant" by the United States
Library Of Congress and selected for preservation in the
National Film Registry . It was named the best American sound film by critic/director
Jean-Luc Godard in ''
Cahiers Du Cinéma ''.
''Scarface'' was remade in
1983 by
Brian De Palma in all-modern day setting; see
Scarface (1983 Film) .
In the 2004 biopic ''
The Aviator ,'' starring
Leonardo DiCaprio , ''Scarface'' is briefly mentioned, and its posters is seen in
Howard Hughes 's office building.
