You Decide

If you like gangster movies, this is the place for you. And if you haven't seen either Scarface, this will hopefully inspire you to get on your couch and watch these classics.

Most of the people I talk to don't even know there was an original Scarface before the 1983 hit with Al Pacino. Paul Muni starred as the first "Tony" in the original Scarface in 1932. It was produced by Howard Hughes. It is one of the best gangster movies ever.

What is amazing about both movies is the way they make us root for Tony despite his very violent and immoral behavior. They are tragic heroes. Paul Muni plays "Tony Camonte" from Italy and Al Pacino plays "Tony Montana" from Cuba. Both are likable, wild, and selfish individuals who come to the United States in search of the "American Dream." To them, the dream is to be very rich and very powerful. They kill without mercy.

The amount of violence is what makes both movies so legendary to fans of gangster films. Some argue that the original was more violent despite the fact that blood was not allowed on screen. The 1932 version was very controversial because it was one of the first big hits in the gangster genre. It was the most violent movie of its time. The 1983 version is also a bloodbath, with blood on screen this time. It was quite controversial too. But people didn’t care as much in 1983 as they did in 1932.

Muni and Pacino also give incredible performances in the films. They enchant and horrify the audience at the same time. It really is amazing. They're also funny and charming. The supporting cast is terrific, especially Ann Dvorak and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Another great thing about both movies is the way the directors put the viewer in the era of the movie. Howard Hawk does a wonderful job of enacting the Prohibition Era of the 1930s. The dialogue is spot on. The moral teaching is cultural. The classic suits and cars are great examples of the 1930s lifestyle. Brian de Palma also does a excellent job of illustrating the materialistic and colorful 1980s. Al Pacino’s flashy outfits, golden mansion, and pet tiger will always be remembered.

So if I had to chose? It's extremely close, but I'm going with Scarface (1932) because I love Paul Muni's performance. The classic suits, the classic cars, and the "old-school" production in black and white are just too good to beat! Al Pacino is awesome in the 1983 version, but the movie is too long, just under 3 hours. The original is only 80 minutes!

I hope I encouraged some discussion on these two classic films. They deserve it! What do you think? Which version is better? Leave a comment below.

pictures:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Paul_Muni-scarface_1932.jpg

http://images.pictureshunt.com/pics/s/scarface-10733.jpg

http://news.softpedia.com/images/news2/Scarface-The-World-is-Yours-Cheats-and-Fixes-2.jpg