Shakespeare’s plays are more violent than Scarface, said Al Pacino in an interview. The more popular a character is, the lesser known are the facts behind it. One such character is Tony Montana, who became a heroic figure overnight, has nothing but his only superpower; his confidence. The movie will be completing 35 years in few months yet fans aren’t over their favorite dialogues as it is said to be one of the most relevant movies about the mob world; depicting the existence of gangsters and how a unique culture started in those times.
Other than what is generally known, there’s so much about Scarface that you probably didn’t know and now as you’ll go through each slide you’ll get more indulged with everything about this cult classic.
Ironically Shy
I’m so shy now I wear sunglasses everywhere I go. Who would believe that these words are from one of the most iconic actors in the worldwide history of cinema and is among the 23 actors who have received The Triple Crown of Acting; Oscar, Emmy, and Tony.
Al Pacino has spoken of his shy nature from time to time, however, the irony is that his universally adored movies are like Godfather and Scarface, where he played bold gangster roles. My first language was shy. It’s only by having been thrust into the limelight that I have learned to cope with my shyness, the actor tells and we are so overwhelmed that he brings out this opposite side of him through his characters.
Mixed Critics
You’ll find it hilarious that almost every classic movie that possibly could be on your favorite list has received equally bad reviews as good, just for example, Fight Club, Psycho, Godzilla, Titanic, Pulp Fiction, The Hunger Games, The Mask and the list can continue with many more movies that received mixed reviews and same is the case with Scarface, the only difference is, initially, the movie received majority of bad reviews, however, fans considered it to be an epic.
Getting Into Character
Al Pacino worked for Scarface not just on camera but behind the camera he worked at a higher level where he not only learned Spanish, he even asked John Alonzo, the photography director who knew the language, to be his Spanish tutor as Pacino asked him to never use English and speak with him in the same language to get more and more fluent onscreen.
Sister In Luck
Scarface was a lucky movie for most of its actors. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio played the role of Gina, Tony’s younger sister in the movie. Although she did work in the past, Scarface proved to be her first significant role which made ways for her Oscar-nominated performance in The Color Of Money where she got an opportunity to work with Paul Newman and Tom Cruise.
Too Young For Mama!
The lady who played Tony’s mother, Miriam Colon, is just 4 years older than Al Pacino. Scarface isn’t only one such example, even Sally Field who played the mother of Forrest Gump whose running quotes are forever trending, was just a few years older than Tom Hanks. Why do the casting people have to do this most of the time? Whatever may be the reason, we really enjoy this pretty cool fact we never even realized!
Doubtful About Elvira!
Michelle Pfeiffer was not a famous actress by the time she auditioned for Elvira, ie, Tony’s wife and her recent flop movie was making it doubtful and the director, De Palma and actor Al Pacino were not sure to cast her, but she was given a chance which proved to be a breakthrough for the pretty lady.
Everywhere But Miami!
Scarface was to be shot in Miami but within two weeks of the start of the shoot, they’d to move back and later most of the movie was shot in L.A., New York, and Santa Barbara for valid reasons yet to be revealed, even the Scarface mansion wasn’t in Miami but California.
A Generation’s Hit-Line
While most of the classics have stories of how the actors made slight changes to the script and that later became a success, “You wanna play rough? Okay. Say hello to my little friend!” was Oliver Stone’s scripting with Al Pacino’s performance that made it a legacy lasting till date.