Instead of the Italian-American Prohibition-era setting of the 1932 version, the remake focused on the Cuban Mariel boatlift and the 1980s Miami cocaine trade.
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!" subtitle Scarface
Director Brian De Palma and screenwriter Oliver Stone opted for a singular, punchy title: Scarface . While the Al Pacino-led 1983 remake is the
While the Al Pacino-led 1983 remake is the most culturally dominant version today, it notably . it notably .