MovieChat Forums > Scarface (1932) Discussion > Which one did you see first?

Which one did you see first?

posted 18 years ago by mercury4
9 replies | jump to latest

I saw the original first. I went into the video store asking for Scarface and they told me they only had the 1932 version. I took it. The most interesting thing about the movie was that it starred a family friend, George Raft. I tell people all the time when Scarface comes up, that a friend of the family, George Raft, played Tony's best friend.

When I saw the remake I liked it. I didn't like it as much as the original Scarface, but I thought it was great. Paul Muni wasn't Italian and Al Pacino wasn't Cuban, but they both did a good job. There's a funny thing that the actors that played Tony's best friends in the movies have in common. In the 1932 Scarface, George Raft was the only Italian and in the 1983 Scarface Steven Bauer was the only Cuban.

[–] EyeNixon 18 years ago

The belief that 1983's Scarface is a remake is false, and it's a common misconception.

1983 Scarface is NOT a remake, it was MEANT to be one, but thanks to legal issues and budget problems they were forced to alter the script and market it as a whole different movie. So yeah, gotta stop that from floating around you see.

"Teh" is simple "teh" best typo ever.

[–] Vdcnsrg 18 years ago

Yeah but many scenes from the first movie were put in the second one. I don;t know what remakes that you saw use the exact script, they modify some parts of the movie in the remake

"Enjoy yourself -- every day above ground is a good day."

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] twilightfun 18 years ago

You read the synopsis for both and, "if it looks and quacks like . . .," then it's a remake, which the one with Pacino is. Too many things that are similar for it not to be. The names of the main character -- far too similar, even though changed; the World Is Yours sign (TWIY); the way the movie progresses, with Tony's sister's involvement; Tony's kiling the friend because of being with the sister; Tony's being gunned down at the end, with the TWIY sign showing right around where it happens, etc., all that is the same story. So fine, if someone "wants" to say it's not, that's cool. At the same time though, remember that nobody ever seems to have done a thing wrong in prison, even though they did the crime. Get it? Don't care what you use to say it synonymously, when you spell it out, Scarface = Scarface, not Bonnie and Clyde.

[–] mausklicker 17 years ago

"The belief that 1983's Scarface is a remake is false, and it's a common misconception."
are u kidding? of course depalmas scarface is a remake of hawkes scarface!
i have just seen the original yesterday for the 1st time (at last) and was really SURPRISED at how many scenes are more or less the same.
both great movies!

[–] ElMaruecan82 16 years ago

Both films are great in their own way ... and of course, you can't miss the many obvious similarites between them, but i wouldn't call Scarface 83 a remake ...

For me, it's more a homage or something like that ... remember the tribute to Hawks during the ending credits.

Purple in the morning, blue in the afternoon, and orange in the evening. Just like that, 1-2-3-4 !

[–] mjr1114 16 years ago

When the director and the star both state it's a remake, I tend to think of it as a remake.

As for which I saw first, I saw the DePalma version, first. When I saw the Hawk's version I knew the second had to be a remake. Then I bought the Special Edition in 2004, unfortunately not the one that included the 1932 version. While watching the bonus disk, I heard them talking about how they set out to remake the classic film, but bring it into 'today's' time.

I love both films, but the first is better for being the original. Plus, Pacino stated that's after viewing the Muni version, he knew he had to be in the new version.

[–] Noir-It-All 15 years ago

The original in 1971.

My dad remembered told me how excited everyone was in 1932 about the first one!

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

[–] Regan-Pazuzu 15 years ago

The 1983 version, which is one of my all time favs, saw the original for the 1st time last night actually, bought it for $2! :)
both great films, but i prefer the 1983 one still

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