list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Scarface on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Scarface/30184/default.aspx Title: Scarface
Year: 1932
Director: Howard Hawks
Plot: Completed in mid-1930, Scarface, based on Armitage Trail's novel of the same name, might have been the first of the great talkie gangster flicks, but it was held up for release until after that honor was jointly usurped by Little Caesar and Public Enemy. Paul Muni stars as prohibition-era mobster Tony Camonte, a character obviously patterned on Al Capone (whose nickname was "Scarface"). The homicidal Camonte ruthlessly wrests control of the bootlegging racket from his boss, Johnny Lovo (Osgood Perkins), and claims Lovo's mistress, Poppy (Karen Morley), in the bargain. But while Poppy satisfies him sexually, Tony has a soft spot in his heart only for his sister Cesca (Ann Dvorak). The film's finale is one of the longest and bloodiest of the 1930s, maintaining suspense and concern for the characters involved even though Muni has deliberately done nothing to make Tony likeable to audience. The grimness of Scarface is leavened by a few choice moments of black humor. Forced to leave a stage production of Rain in order to commit a murder, Tony returns to his theater seat and anxiously asks his buddies how the play came out. Some of the film's funniest moments belong to Vince Barnett as the mentally deficient, illiterate gangster secretary, who at one juncture gets so mad at a caller on the phone that he shoots the receiver. Scarface features a famous "'X' Marks The Spot" logo, inspired by news photos of gangland murders: whenever a character is killed, the letter "X" appears on screen in one form or another. Example: When a rival gangster (played by Boris Karloff) is killed at a bowling alley, the camera cuts to his bowling ball knocking down all the pins -- a strike, denoted, of course, by an "X." Producer Howard R. Hughes couldn't release Scarface until he toned down some of the violence, reshot certain scenes to avoid libel suits, added the subtitle "The Shame of the Nation" to the opening credits, and shoehorned in new scenes showing upright Italian-Americans banding together to wipe out gangsterism. After its first run, Scarface was completely withdrawn from distribution on Hughes' orders; the film would not be seen again on a widespread basis until it was reissued by Universal in 1979, shorn of 8 of its original 99 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 15
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SpoutRating: 3
]]>Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:56:47 GMTScarface1932Howard HawksCompleted in mid-1930, Scarface, based on Armitage Trail's novel of the same name, might have been the first of the great talkie gangster flicks, but it was held up for release until after that honor was jointly usurped by <a href=/films/20492/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Little Caesar</a> and <a href=/films/207818/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Public Enemy</a>. <a href="/players/P____51322/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Paul Muni</a> stars as prohibition-era mobster Tony Camonte, a character obviously patterned on Al Capone (whose nickname was "Scarface"). The homicidal Camonte ruthlessly wrests control of the bootlegging racket from his boss, Johnny Lovo (<a href="/players/P____56077/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Osgood Perkins</a>), and claims Lovo's mistress, Poppy (<a href="/players/P____50727/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Karen Morley</a>), in the bargain. But while Poppy satisfies him sexually, Tony has a soft spot in his heart only for his sister Cesca (<a href="/players/P____20860/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Ann Dvorak</a>). The film's finale is one of the longest and bloodiest of the 1930s, maintaining suspense and concern for the characters involved even though Muni has deliberately done nothing to make Tony likeable to audience. The grimness of Scarface is leavened by a few choice moments of black humor. Forced to leave a stage production of Rain in order to commit a murder, Tony returns to his theater seat and anxiously asks his buddies how the play came out. Some of the film's funniest moments belong to <a href="/players/P_____4061/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Vince Barnett</a> as the mentally deficient, illiterate gangster secretary, who at one juncture gets so mad at a caller on the phone that he shoots the receiver. Scarface features a famous "'X' Marks The Spot" logo, inspired by news photos of gangland murders: whenever a character is killed, the letter "X" appears on screen in one form or another. Example: When a rival gangster (played by <a href="/players/P____36942/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Boris Karloff</a>) is killed at a bowling alley, the camera cuts to his bowling ball knocking down all the pins -- a strike, denoted, of course, by an "X." Producer Howard R. Hughes couldn't release Scarface until he toned down some of the violence, reshot certain scenes to avoid libel suits, added the subtitle "The Shame of the Nation" to the opening credits, and shoehorned in new scenes showing upright Italian-Americans banding together to wipe out gangsterism. After its first run, Scarface was completely withdrawn from distribution on Hughes' orders; the film would not be seen again on a widespread basis until it was reissued by Universal in 1979, shorn of 8 of its original 99 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide15Tag Target (>10)1013http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u28862djt59.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Scarface/30184/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/5_Pre_Hays_Code_Films/190/19206/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Ovation
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 8/31/2007 10:24:25 PM
Body: I found this on Student Life's website and thought it was an interesting list.========================================================= Indecent and deviant: Pre-Hays Code films you should see Daniel P. Hauesser At the dawn of motion pictures, directors had few restrictions on the subjects they were allowed to film. Raciness in the silent era extends from tranquil bathing scenes featuring naked leading ladies to the intense violence of early Cecil B. DeMille epics, or the exotic, erotic indigene dances found within some remote jungle. The advent of 'talkies,' coupled with a string of sex-and-drug-laden celebrity scandals, made such overt portrayals of indecency appear dangerous to society. Public outcries to ban 'immoral' films and preliminary motions by the government to censure motion pictures led studios to voluntarily implement a series of production guidelines outlining what was acceptable to include in a film for the public. These guidelines, known as the Hays Code, were adopted in 1930, but were not vigorously enforced until 1934. Once Code enforcement began, the question arose of what to do with earlier films that contained 'indecent' elements. Many films, such as the Marx Brother's "Animal Crackers," were edited to remove risqué moments and their original versions are now lost. Others, such as "The Maltese Falcon" were simply remade (in that case to remove nudity and homosexuality). Luckily, some films have had their edited portions restored, such as "King Kong." However, many films couldn't conform to the code because their inherent subject matter was taboo. Banned from public display, these Pre-Code films were often forgotten, despite being excellent movies. Here is a partial list of some important Pre-Code films that are well-worth seeing: 1) "Little Caesar" (1931) and "The Public Enemy" (1931) These are the archetypical gangster films. Featured heavily on "The Sopranos", "Little Caesar" follows the rise and fall of crime boss Rico Bandello (the suspected inspiration for federal RICO statutes). "The Public Enemy," a film about prohibition-era criminality, is famous for the misogynistic grapefruit-in-the-face scene between Cagney and Mae Clarke. The frank portrayal of the violence and depravity of these gangsters was not possible after Code enforcement. 2) "Mädchen in Uniform" (1931) and "Ecstasy" (1933) These are two controversial early imports from Europe. The German "Mädchen in Uniform" is an outstanding film that was only released in the U.S. due to efforts by Eleanor Roosevelt. The story is about a young girl that is sent to boarding school and begins a romantic infatuation with one of her teachers. The tense undertones of lesbianism rise to the surface in ways now considered tame, but its positive outlook on lesbian relations made it a strong target of censorship. "Ecstasy" is a Czech film that brought Hedy Lamarr to the attention of U.S. audiences. Even without the extended scene of a naked Lamarr, and the first known shot of a female's face during orgasm, the movie transgressed the Code with its plot of infidelity. 3) "Freaks" (1932) One of my favorite films, this cult classic remains controversial today. Frequently referenced in pop-culture, "Freaks" featured a cast of actual circus sideshow performers. One controversial scene shows a kiss between a young man and his fiancée, who is a conjoined twin. As she locks lips with her fiancé, we view the other sister enjoying a flutter of erotic feelings in her 'own' body. The horrific, violent ending to "Freaks" is still shocking to modern audiences. 4) "Trouble in Paradise" (1932) and "Bird of Paradise" (1932) "Trouble in Paradise" is one of the great romantic comedies. Its frank discussion of sexuality was impossible once the Code went into enforcement. "Bird of Paradise" is a romantic adventure about a sailor that falls in love with a Pacific island princess. The film is dated now, particularly in its depiction of 'uncivilized natives' and its views on women. The sexuality of the characters and the fact that Dolores del Rio goes through most of the film wearing little beyond a lei make this a prime example of Pre-Code 'exotic' adventure films. 5) "Born to be Bad" (1934) and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1931) Both of these films feature prostitutes as main characters, a formula impossible under the Code. The first features a young Cary Grant as a married man who falls for a prostitute/single mother/con artist while he cares for her deviant son. The second is my favorite adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's tale. It features great early special effects, a strong reaction against the conservative Victorian era and symbolizes Dr. Jeykyll's transformation into darkness in terms of sexual depravity, not just violence. ==============================================My list:5. I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang 4. Hell's Angels 3. Scarface2. Freaks1. King Kong PSYou can find more information on Pre-Code Films and a list here.
]]>Sat, 01 Sep 2007 02:24:25 GMTOvationTop 58/31/2007 10:24:25 PMI found this on Student Life&#39;s website and thought it was an interesting list.========================================================= Indecent and deviant: Pre-Hays Code films you should see Daniel P. Hauesser At the dawn of motion pictures, directors had few restrictions on the subjects they were allowed to film. Raciness in the silent era extends from tranquil bathing scenes featuring naked leading ladies to the intense violence of early Cecil B. DeMille epics, or the exotic, erotic indigene dances found within some remote jungle. The advent of &#39;talkies,&#39; coupled with a string of sex-and-drug-laden celebrity scandals, made such overt portrayals of indecency appear dangerous to society. Public outcries to ban &#39;immoral&#39; films and preliminary motions by the government to censure motion pictures led studios to voluntarily implement a series of production guidelines outlining what was acceptable to include in a film for the public. These guidelines, known as the Hays Code, were adopted in 1930, but were not vigorously enforced until 1934. Once Code enforcement began, the question arose of what to do with earlier films that contained &#39;indecent&#39; elements. Many films, such as the Marx Brother&#39;s "Animal Crackers," were edited to remove risqu&eacute; moments and their original versions are now lost. Others, such as "The Maltese Falcon" were simply remade (in that case to remove nudity and homosexuality). Luckily, some films have had their edited portions restored, such as "King Kong." However, many films couldn&#39;t conform to the code because their inherent subject matter was taboo. Banned from public display, these Pre-Code films were often forgotten, despite being excellent movies. Here is a partial list of some important Pre-Code films that are well-worth seeing: 1) "Little Caesar" (1931) and "The Public Enemy" (1931) These are the archetypical gangster films. Featured heavily on "The Sopranos", "Little Caesar" follows the rise and fall of crime boss Rico Bandello (the suspected inspiration for federal RICO statutes). "The Public Enemy," a film about prohibition-era criminality, is famous for the misogynistic grapefruit-in-the-face scene between Cagney and Mae Clarke. The frank portrayal of the violence and depravity of these gangsters was not possible after Code enforcement. 2) "M&auml;dchen in Uniform" (1931) and "Ecstasy" (1933) These are two controversial early imports from Europe. The German "M&auml;dchen in Uniform" is an outstanding film that was only released in the U.S. due to efforts by Eleanor Roosevelt. The story is about a young girl that is sent to boarding school and begins a romantic infatuation with one of her teachers. The tense undertones of lesbianism rise to the surface in ways now considered tame, but its positive outlook on lesbian relations made it a strong target of censorship. "Ecstasy" is a Czech film that brought Hedy Lamarr to the attention of U.S. audiences. Even without the extended scene of a naked Lamarr, and the first known shot of a female&#39;s face during orgasm, the movie transgressed the Code with its plot of infidelity. 3) "Freaks" (1932) One of my favorite films, this cult classic remains controversial today. Frequently referenced in pop-culture, "Freaks" featured a cast of actual circus sideshow performers. One controversial scene shows a kiss between a young man and his fianc&eacute;e, who is a conjoined twin. As she locks lips with her fianc&eacute;, we view the other sister enjoying a flutter of erotic feelings in her &#39;own&#39; body. The horrific, violent ending to "Freaks" is still shocking to modern audiences. 4) "Trouble in Paradise" (1932) and "Bird of Paradise" (1932) "Trouble in Paradise" is one of the great romantic comedies. Its frank discussion of sexuality was impossible once the Code went into enforcement. "Bird of Paradise" is a romantic adventure about a sailor that falls in love with a Pacific island princess. The film is dated now, particularly in its depiction of &#39;uncivilized natives&#39; and its views on women. The sexuality of the characters and the fact that Dolores del Rio goes through most of the film wearing little beyond a lei make this a prime example of Pre-Code &#39;exotic&#39; adventure films. 5) "Born to be Bad" (1934) and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1931) Both of these films feature prostitutes as main characters, a formula impossible under the Code. The first features a young Cary Grant as a married man who falls for a prostitute/single mother/con artist while he cares for her deviant son. The second is my favorite adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson&#39;s tale. It features great early special effects, a strong reaction against the conservative Victorian era and symbolizes Dr. Jeykyll&#39;s transformation into darkness in terms of sexual depravity, not just violence. ==============================================My list:5. I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang 4. Hell&#39;s Angels 3. Scarface2. Freaks1. King Kong PSYou can find more information on Pre-Code Films and a list here. http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/murder/MemberTagFilms.aspxmurder
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