The story of Scarface varies depending on the version:
- The original 1932 film Scarface: The Shame of a Nation focuses on Tony Camonte, an ambitious gangster in Chicago who rises to power by assassinating his enemies but is ultimately undone by his greed. It depicts brutality and a complicated relationship with his sister.
- The 1983 Scarface remake by Brian De Palma stars Al Pacino as Tony Montana, a Cuban immigrant who arrives in Miami during the Mariel boatlift and builds a cocaine empire. The film shows his ruthless rise to power, drug addiction, obsession, and eventual violent downfall. Key themes include ambition, self-destruction, and the dark side of the American Dream.
In summary, both films portray the rise and fall of a gangster, with the 1983 version focusing heavily on Tony Montana's descent into violence and addiction in the Miami drug trade. The story explores themes of power, greed, and self- destruction.