Despite lacking the "moralizing" subtitle, the 1983 film faced its own controversy, receiving a "negative" initial response from critics who were repulsed by its extreme violence and profanity. Key Differences in Messaging 1932 Original 1983 Remake Full Title Scarface: The Shame of a Nation Scarface Protagonist Tony Camonte (Italian) Tony Montana (Cuban) Theme Moral warning / Social evil The American Dream gone toxic Famous Quote "Do it first, do it yourself..." "Say hello to my little friend!"
The "subtitle" most famously associated with the Scarface legacy is a title forced upon the original 1932 film by censors to ensure the movie was seen as a moral warning rather than a glorification of crime. The Origins: Scarface: The Shame of a Nation (1932) subtitle Scarface
The original film, directed by Howard Hawks and produced by Howard Hughes, faced significant pushback from the Hays Office (the Hollywood censorship body of the time). Censors were concerned that the film’s depiction of Tony Camonte’s rise to power was too alluring. Despite lacking the "moralizing" subtitle, the 1983 film
A written text crawl was also added to the beginning of the film, demanding that the government take action against organized crime. Censors were concerned that the film’s depiction of
Director Brian De Palma and screenwriter Oliver Stone opted for a singular, punchy title: Scarface .
Instead of the Italian-American Prohibition-era setting of the 1932 version, the remake focused on the Cuban Mariel boatlift and the 1980s Miami cocaine trade.
While the Al Pacino-led 1983 remake is the most culturally dominant version today, it notably .