Scarface was perhaps the most violent film made when it came out, and its violence still shocks today. In some ways I think it is even more Violent than the remake. Its also a much tighter film than the remake, but where I feel Scarface falls short is Paul Muni. Muni’s Camonte never intimidated me, nor did he radiate any kind of charisma that Capone and other gangster’s have to have in order to lead a criminal organization. Cagney would have been great in this role, because he has that magnetism, and the two films that I have seen Muni in, this and “I am a fugitive from a chain gang” Muni has never once displayed any kind of screen presence. Muni and Karen Morley, who plays Poppy come off as amateurs compared to the rest of the cast, and this ultimately keeps the film from being a 4 or 5 star picture.

On the other hand, De Palma’s “Scarface” features far better acting, but its lack of originality and lack of a conscience bring it down.