Scarface (1983)
The Scarface Genesys: how Al Capone became Tony Montana
Sidney Lumet was initially considered to direct the movie, having collaborated with Pacino in "Dog day afternoon". He suggested to turn the original Howard Hawks gangster movie about Al “Scarface" Capone into the story of a cuban immigrant arrived in miami during Mariel Harbor boat lift, proposing a strongly political script. The production disagreed, replaced him with Brian De Palma, and hired as writer Oliver Stone, at the time struggling with his addiction to cocaine.
Cocaine, swear words and gore: say hello tu my little cut
De Palma submitted the film to the motion picture association three times, receiving an X-Rating each time, despite repeated cuts to some of the most violent scenes, such as a dismembered arm in the infamous chainsaw scene. Additionally, the f-word is used by Tony and his friends 207 times in the move, set a record at the time. Refusing further cuts, production enlisted a panel of experts to argue that the film, with its anti-drug narrative, deserved at least an R-Rating, and finally got it.
A Cuban story made by Italian-American goodfellas
The movie was originally intended to be a remake of the 1932 movie, inspired by Italian-American gangster Al Capone's life. De Palma himself is the son of Italian immigrants. Steven Bauer (Manny) is the only real-life Cuban in the main cast while Al Pacino, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Robert Loggia are Italian-American. De Palma insisted for the soundtrack on the Italian disco composer Giorgio Moroder while the production envisioned emerging hip hop music.
