
SummaryAn ambitious and nearly insane violent gangster climbs the ladder of success in the mob, but his weaknesses prove to be his downfall.
Directed By:Howard Hawks, Richard Rosson
Written By:Armitage Trail, Ben Hecht, Seton I. Miller, John Lee Mahin, W.R. Burnett, Howard Hawks, Fred Pasley
Scarface
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
90
User score
Generally Favorable
7.5
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Metascore
Universal Acclaim
100% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
100
Perhaps the best (and certainly the most realistic and violent) of the great 1930s gangster films, with Paul Muni as an Al Capone surrogate. Directed by Howard Hawks at a flat-out pace, with thrilling shoot-outs and intriguing if depraved characters. [18 Jun 2013]
100
Its seminal importance in the early gangster movie cycle outweighed only by its still exhilarating brilliance, this Howard Hughes production was the one unflawed classic the tycoon was involved with.
User score
Generally Favorable
79% Positive
33 Ratings
33 Ratings
7% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
14% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
Jan 27, 2025
8
Es una película con un ritmo que, tras una magnífica media hora, la siguiente se siente un poco sosa, sin ritmo. Y al final, tiene buenos momentos pero otros que se sienten forzados. Hay vínculos que finalmente son importantes pero no se les da el mimo necesario como a otras relaciones que, aunque igual de importantes, hacen que en general sea un producto que pudo llegar a mucho más, ya que su punto más fuerte daba para eso. El tema principal, por supuesto, es la crítica al mundo criminal y cómo este puede permear en la sociedad y en el gobierno de turno, creando un círculo vicioso. En esos tiempos era la mafia, pero se puede extrapolar a cualquier país o ciudad: los carteles a día de hoy o la guerrilla, por poner un ejemplo. Como la cultura, y también el nulo pensamiento crítico, pintan el crimen como algo deseable, lo romantizan, lo blanquean. Y con respecto al gobierno, cómo este mediante la corrupción no hace nada para cambiar esto. Al final, solo nos queda a cada uno de nosotros, sin importar ideología política, credo religioso o etnia a la que pertenezcamos, ser contracultura. Primero, sin lugar a dudas, reconociendo nuestras virtudes y defectos, y luego uniéndonos para combatir el mayor mal de la historia de la humanidad, el cual es la corrupción. Ojalá algún día esto sea una realidad. Gran película, gran mensaje.
Jul 31, 2025
3
Продолжение эволюции гангстерских боевиков. Повествование, как и у «Враг общества» хаотичное и обрывистое, но теперь завезли больше экшена. Тони Камонте конечно крут, но сливают его, благодаря плохому сценарию, совсем бездарно. Ещё позабавил туповатый секретарь =)
100
Scarface is one of best of the early gangster movies; its wit and building velocity speeds it past Little Caesar and keeps pace with Public Enemy.
88
Here's the third classic you'd better know if you're going to know anything about American gangster movies. This one is powered by Paul Muni's thinly disguised and daringly simian take on Al Capone. [01 Nov 1991, p.35]
88
A dark, brutal, exhilaratingly violent film, blending comedy and horror in a manner that suggests Chico Marx let loose with a live machine gun.
80
Some of the humour is dated, but mostly it's astonishingly modern, full of unforgettable images. Muni is stunning and George Raft, who, like Sinatra, enjoyed the company of mobsters, gives an iconic performance: his cool, coin-tossing habit is referred to both in Singin' in the Rain and Some Like it Hot. [09 Apr 2006, p.18]
70
It is a stirring picture, efficiently directed and capably acted, but as was once said of The Covered Wagon, that it was all very well if you liked wagons, so this is an excellent diversion for those who like to take an afternoon or an evening off to study the activities of cowardly thugs.
Oct 6, 2021
3
After waiting till this year to see this highly regarded vintage gangster flick, have to admit coming away somewhat disappointed. The whole thing looks good thanks to top cinematography by veteran Lee Garmes (Detective Story 51) and some nice touches from director Hawks, it also features some superbly staged crashes and gun battles but these seem to become overdone, and more in line with exploitation. These films were the action fare of their day but with so many being churned out, the line became blurred between glorifying these moronic henchmen and showing them up for their immorality. Another cliché of the era, assisting to bring it undone, was the inclusion of a comic relief sidekick to the main villain. These characters were stereotypes of unbelievable Simple-Simon stupidity but deemed necessary by Hollywood (and it seems Hughes & Hawks) as ‘humorous’ relief. Technically, good to look at as cinema history but showing the constraints of early sound performances and their various limitations. This is certainly a different Paul Muni to most I have seen but for professionalism, would prefer to take another look at ‘I’m A Fugitive from a Chain Gang’, than this effort.
Production Company:
- The Caddo Company
Release Date:Apr 9, 1932
Duration:1 h 33 m
Rating:PG
Tagline:THE LOVE LIFE...THE BLOOD SECRETS...OF A SWAGGERING BUTCHER OF MEN! (Print ad- Herald Statesman, ((Yonkers, NY)) 26 July 1932)
Awards
Photoplay Awards
• 3 Wins & 3 Nominations
National Film Preservation Board, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
National Board of Review, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination



























