Written by: Armitage Trail (novel), Ben Hecht (screen story), Seton I. Miller & John Lee Mahin & W.R. Burnett (continuity), Seton I. Miller & John Lee Mahin & W.R. Burnett (dialogue), Howard Hawks (uncredited), Fred Pasley (adaptation uncredited)
Directed by: Howard Hawks, Richard Rosson
Starring: Paul Muni, Ann Dvorak, Karen Morley
Rated: --
Watch the trailer
Plot
Tony Camonte climbs the ladder of the criminal underworld.
Verdict
New York accented, bootlegging gangsters. It's hard not to watch this and see how much it informed the superior Scarface (1983). Unfortunately, this movie is too much of a pulp novel with the stereotypical gangsters.
It depends.
Review
This is a case where the remake is superior, but this film is very good considering it's from '32. If you've seen the '83 remake, then you'll realize it copies this movie beat for beat., expanding certain portions.
Tony Camonte works for Johnny Lovo, strong arming speakeasies to buy from Lovo. When Camonte starts taking over more places and from other gangs, Lovo gets upset that he's working outside of orders. Tony is also interested in Johnny's girl.
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| Scarface -Before Pacino there was Muni. |
The characterization isn't as strong. I can't help but feel I'm watching a movie version of pulp novel gangsters.
Camonte is ambitious and almost reckless. His one weakness is his sister, and he's highly overprotective.
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