Overview
In the gritty underbelly of Chicago, ambition and betrayal ignite a violent power struggle.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- brooding
- tense
- propulsive
- classic movie night
- crime film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a gripping, powerfully directed landmark gangster picture with forceful performances and sustained suspense, despite some casting and performance objections.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Tony Camonte repeatedly expands his authority from bodyguard and enforcer toward control of Chicago’s south side and ultimately the entire city.
Tony’s obsessive protection of Cesca increasingly intersects with his own violent worldview and her recognition of their similarities.
The film combines bootlegging, gang warfare, sensational violence, and social controversy characteristic of pre-Code crime cinema.
Tony’s independent murders, defiance of Johnny, and refusal to limit his ambitions establish a steadily narrowing path toward downfall.
Films like Scarface, and why
The Public Enemy
shared pre-code gangster drama, bootlegging crime world, ruthless ambition, and escalating violence
Little Caesar
shared rise-and-fall crime narrative, prohibition-era setting, criminal ambition, and documentary-like gangster energy
The Roaring Twenties
shared hard-edged crime thriller style, underworld power struggles, and morally corrosive ambition
White Heat
shared classic gangster genre, urban criminal hierarchy, and volatile protagonist seeking absolute control
Movie Details
- Director
- Howard Hawks
- Release Date
- 1932-04-09
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (717)
Cast
- Paul Muni
- Ann Dvorak
- Karen Morley
- Osgood Perkins
- C. Henry Gordon
- George Raft
- Vince Barnett
- Boris Karloff
- Purnell Pratt
- Tully Marshall
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Brew
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Brew, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Brew, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Scarface about?
- A ruthless Chicago bootlegger turns a criminal promotion into a violent campaign for total power, imperiling both his syndicate and his family.
- What is Scarface like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Scarface as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Scarface violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Scarface as moderate.
- What did critics think of Scarface?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a gripping, powerfully directed landmark gangster picture with forceful performances and sustained suspense, despite some casting and performance objections.
- Which films are like Scarface?
- Films with a similar feel include The Public Enemy, Little Caesar, The Roaring Twenties, and White Heat.
- How long is Scarface?
- Scarface runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch Scarface?
- In United States, Scarface streams on Brew.
