Subtitle Scarface 90%

A written text crawl was also added to the beginning of the film, demanding that the government take action against organized crime.

While the Al Pacino-led 1983 remake is the most culturally dominant version today, it notably . 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. A written text crawl was also added to

Beyond the title, the ending was also altered; rather than a defiant final stand, the original film had to include a scene where Camonte is captured and legally executed to show that "crime doesn't pay". The Transition to the 1983 Remake Censors were concerned that the film’s depiction of

Director Brian De Palma and screenwriter Oliver Stone opted for a singular, punchy title: Scarface .

To appease these concerns, the producers added the subtitle " The Shame of a Nation " to explicitly frame the story as an indictment of the "gangster evil" in America.

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!"