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Scarface

Scarface

Crime · Action · Drama · 1932

In 1920s Chicago, Italian immigrant and notorious thug, Antonio 'Tony' Camonte, aka Scarface, shoots his way to the top of the mobs while trying to protect his sister from the criminal life.

Movie details

Scarface

“The rise and fall of a power hungry mobster.”

1932 Crime · Action · Drama 1h 33m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.4 / 10

Community rating

In 1920s Chicago, Italian immigrant and notorious thug, Antonio 'Tony' Camonte, aka Scarface, shoots his way to the top of the mobs while trying to protect his sister from the criminal life.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Scarface?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Howard Hawks

Written by

Ben Hecht

Paul Muni

Paul Muni

Antonio 'Tony' Camonte

Ann Dvorak

Ann Dvorak

Francesca 'Cesca' Camonte

Karen Morley

Karen Morley

Poppy

Osgood Perkins

Osgood Perkins

John 'Johnny' Lovo

C. Henry Gordon

C. Henry Gordon

Insp. Ben Guarino

George Raft

George Raft

Guino Rinaldo

Vince Barnett

Vince Barnett

Angelo

Court is in session

Put Scarface on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.