Either version of ‘Scarface’ still packs a punch

It’s rare that an original movie and its remake are both great films. But such is the case with “Scarface,” in both its 1932 and 1983 incarnations.

What’s good about seeing both over a short period of time is that the films inform each other. In the original, Paul Muni plays an Italian, but not a real Italian — more like a kabuki Italian. Al Pacino plays a similarly exaggerated Cuban. The violence of the 1983 version tells us how the 1932 film was perceived in its time: It was considered one of the most violent films to date. And both movies deal tangentially with what it’s like to be an immigrant in America.

I prefer Brian De Palma’s 1983 version — it’s a beautifully vulgar masterpiece — but an equal case could be made for the Howard Hawks original. Watch both and decide for yourself.

“Scarface” (1932) and “Scarface” (1983) are both available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video and other streaming services.

Universal 1983