Scarface: The Shame of the Nation (1932) directed by Howard Hawks, chronicles the rise and fall of an Italian gangster, Tony Camonte. Released by United Artists, Scarface: The Shame of the Nation was the most violent gangster-crime film of its time. Howard Hawks depicts violent gangsters as children playing games, having fun, deflecting emotion from brutal violence to easier comedic, ironic or subtle touches. The Pre-Code era film tells the tale of gang rivalry, control over turf, and the interference of the government. This glorification of the “gangster threat” to me was not apparent. However, during the 30’s, the film may have been seen as a glorification of the gangster life. Tony seemed like a nice guy down the wrong path. The film did not actually detail how gangsters truly were at the time.
