PAUL MUNI IN HOWARD HAWKS ORIGINAL MOB-EXPOSE 'SCARFACE'

Title: SCARFACE Year: 1932 Rating: ***

Howard Hawks' SCARFACE is like a Cliff's Notes for a book that's yet to be written... and that's not only relating to the many-decades-later remake starring Al Pacino, but something like, say, THE ROARING TWENTIES where James Cagney (who had ironically starred in the previous years' inspiration THE PUBLIC ENEMY) takes over a prohibition-syndicate to runs things his way, and that features a comic-relief crony...

There it's Frank McHugh, here there's a bumbling, completely out-of-place Vince Barnett while ROARING tough-second Humphrey Bogart's role is played by his THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT brother, providing George Raft a resilient, slow-burn gunman that should have had far more importance and screen-time...

Paul Muni and Vince Barnett in SCARFACE

And it's not that the fearsome, threatening and psychopathic Paul Muni isn't effective in the titular role as Tony aka SCARFACE, based on Al Capone during his actual reign, but he's far more effective in I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG and even BORDERTOWN where he has an actual character-arc...

As would Pacino, kind of, beginning as a poor Cuban refugee before illegally acquiring all the money in the world until being riddling with bullets: predictably occurring with Muni after killing his sister's lover, Raft... and it's a shame not only because George is a more interesting character, but Muni and sibling Ann Dvorak finally make a great 11th hour team-up with the outside cops as their final cursed enemy...

Paul Muni and Osgood Perkins in SCARFACE

Otherwise, her input is merely sporadic, at one point (during the pre-code early-30's) almost saying he's full of heated, unnatural incest... as is initial mob boss Osgood Perkin's moll Karen Morley, who Muni constantly flirts with and eventually/predictably winds up with...

But this happens during the 10th hour as the first two acts are basically a collection of scenes, including violent montages and several strategic assassinations including pre-fame goon/squealer Boris Karloff (meanwhile, an anticipated flower-selling mob boss's death occurs frustratingly off-screen)...

From SCARFACE

With a mostly stagnant camera centering on stage-like scenarios, groundbreaking director Howard Hawks (working for Howard Hughes) never completely stretches the searing expose beyond the built-in controversial subject matter... 

But for what it's worth, it's a good enough 93-minutes of Paul Muni learning (and literally executing) the cinematic importance of the newfangled rat-a-tat tommy-gun.

George Raft in SCARFACE

Paul Muni in SCARFACE

Paul Muni in SCARFACE

Paul Muni in SCARFACE with Osgood Perkins

Karen Morley in SCARFACE

Paul Muni in SCARFACE with George Raft

Boris Karloff in SCARFACE

Boris Karloff in SCARFACE

Boris Karloff in SCARFACE

Paul Muni in SCARFACE

Paul Muni in SCARFACE with George Raft

Paul Muni in SCARFACE

Osgood Perkins in SCARFACE

Ann Dvorak in SCARFACE

Paul Muni in SCARFACE

Karen Morley in SCARFACE

Karen Morley in SCARFACE and much later on KOJAK

Karen Morley in SCARFACE