The Surprisingly Old Roots of Scarface

Most fans think of Scarface as a unique Al Pacino classic, but it is actually a remake. The original film hit theaters in 1932 and was based on a novel inspired by the real-life exploits of Al Capone.

While the 1983 version is famous for its intense Miami drug trade setting, the 1932 original captured the grit of the Prohibition era in Chicago. Al Pacino was so moved by the original film that he insisted on a remake for his own production company. It is rare for a remake to become more culturally iconic than its predecessor, yet the Tony Montana story became a defining piece of eighties cinema. This evolution from mob history to drug cartel drama shows how timeless crime stories can be.