Co-director of South West Silents and Film Noir UK James Harrison explores the Criterion Collection's new Blu-ray release of Scarface (1932) plus a chance to win a copy!
It was during a late night gathering over beers/wines/beverages (delete as applicable) at this year’s Film Noir Fest where a conversation was picked up about Howard Hawk’s Scarface (1932). The reason was very much down to the new Blu-ray/4K UK release by the Criterion Collection just in time for Christmas.
It had all started about early pre-code gangster films in general (the odd silent film was mentioned as well) but the key conversation (which involved a very big table of attendees) turned to the one question.
How important is the 1932 version of Scarface?
It’s a bit of a ridiculous question to be honest. Especially when you’re sitting there at Film Noir Fest (the UK’s noir and classic crime film festival) and yet, there were people sitting in the pub that still hadn’t seen it. And there was a number of reasons for that. Some had seen the DePalma version and decided not to check out the original (hearing that the plot was very much the same), others had simply not got around to it due to the fact that it hadn’t been widely available for quite some time.
There is a some truth in that. Apart from the 2021 Imprint Blu-ray (in which a standard edition is being released in December 2024) and a barebones DVD release in 2005, there really hasn’t been much to celebrate when it comes to Howard Hawks’ classic in the UK.
Hence the reason why Criterion’s release of Scarface (both Blu-ray and UHD) is a welcome addition to the Criterion UK releases.
Particularly with a selection of extras which include a fascinating discussion with crime writer Megan Abbott and comic actor Bill Hader. Lea Jacobs discusses Hawks’ innovative use of sound and editing and critic Imogen Sara Smith returns with another great essay. One of the key extras is a chance to see the alternative ending which is just great to see straight after watching the actual film.
And what about the film itself. Produced by Howard Hughes and directed by Howard Hawks, Scarface is very much the ultimate pre-code gangster film. A ruthless crime caper which really doesn’t stop at all. Paul Muni, Osgood Perkins, Ann Dvorak, Karen Morley and (of course) George Raft shine throughout. Muni and Perkins, particularly, bring an extra kind of meanness to the screen which really does push the film to the next level.
Keep an eye out for Boris Karloff as well who has a perfect role in the film. Lee Garmes’ (The Paradine Case, Nightmare Alley, The Captive City) cinematography is perfect from start to finish and given that this release comes from a new 4K scan then you know its going to look great.
Scarface, if anything, paved the way for what Hollywood could do when it came to the gangster film. While Little Caesar (1931) and Public Enemy (1931) very much planted themselves as the first major classics of the gangster picture, it is a shame that Scarface was delayed by almost a year due to the censor issues. Had the film come out the same year as Caesar and Enemy; then the year 1931 would most certainly be the key moment for the gangster film.
Scarface established new boundaries which was acceptable to show on the screen, although, initially it took time. If you haven’t seen either the 1931 or 1983 then don’t read anything into either and get yourself a copy of the original and then see the later.
Also, after seeing both, do get yourself a copy of Glenn Kenny’s fantastic The World Is Yours: The Story of Scarface book you it’s a great companion piece to the anthology of what would be Scarface.
Go and get yourself a copy and watch film history playout in front of you.
Thanks to the Criterion Collection UK team we have a brand new copy of Scarface (1932) up for grabs as well as a Criterion tote bag; just send us your answer to the question below via our contact page by mid-night on Sunday 1st December to be in with a chance. Good Luck!
Question: Which Howard Hawks film noir was released in 1946 and starred Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall?
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