The Real "Scarface" vs. Scarface the Movie

When people hear the name Scarface they think about one of two people: Al Pacino in Scarface the movie or the real-life prohibition-era gangster "Scarface" Al Capone. It raises the question: What exactly does one have to do with the other?

The Flesh-and-Blood Scarface was Al Capone. While some people are familiar with his name they have no idea he was the original real-life mobster nicknamed "Scarface."

Capone was an Italian mafia boss during the 1920's who had such power, wealth, and control over government officials that his story would go down in history as nearly mythological. It was only natural that the infamous story would capture the imagination of writers and directors not just once, but twice.

The first film to tell a fictionalized version of Al Capone's story wasn't the 1983 version of Scarface but a 1932 Scarface movie by Howard Hawks. Also titled Scar face, the first Scarface movie actually had a lot in common with Capone's true life story (althought it was nothing close to a biography of Al Capone) than the second Scarface did. In fact, director Brian De Palma's 1983 classic Scarface, starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer was a very loose remake of the original Howard Hawks Scarface film. One fictionalized film based on another fictionalized film made for a movie that retained broad similarities between the real Al Capone and the Scarface portrayed by Al Pacino, but altered many of the details.

Here are some of the major similarities between Al Capone and the lead character (Tony Montana) in the screenplay written by Oliver Stone:

The real Al Capone and his movie counterpart were both minorities who came from humble beginnings and built empires through the sale of illegal substances. Both men were involved in murderous violence, and both of them are classic examples of Greek rise and fall, the Scarface movie theme. After living a relatively short portion of their lives in absolute decadence, both of their lives ended in a tragic and lonely manner.

Some of the major differences between the Al Capone and the lead character (Tony Montana) in the screenplay for Scarface, written by Oliver Stone:

• Capone operated in Chicago in the 1920’s and dealt mostly in liquor.
  Montana operated in Miami in the 1980’s and dealt mostly in cocaine.

• Capone never became an alcoholic.
  Montana got “high on his own supply” and became a paranoid cocaine addict.

• Capone died of complications from syphilis at his luxurious estate in Miami Beach.
  Montana died after being riddled with bullets and falling into his pool.

• There’s no evidence that Capone had incestuous desires towards his sister.
  Montana appears to have lustful feelings for his female sibling

• Capone was big celebrity and for a time he was viewed as a community leader. He set up programs for the poor and homeless. He was also an opera and sports lover as well as a fixture at the famous Cotton Club which gave rise to some of the era’s best jazz musicians.

Tony and his wife Elvira lived in high luxury as evidenced by the mansion that was used in the movie Scarface but their celebrity or influence was nothing compared to that of Capone’s.

More Information:
Wikipedia - Al Capone
Crime Library - Al Capone
IMBD - Scarface (1983)
Wikipedia - Scarface (1983)
IMBD - Scarface (1932)