Scarface

Scarface is a 1983 American crime drama film directed by Brian De Palma, and written by Oliver Stone. It is based on the novel of the same name by Armitage Trail and a remake of the 1932 film of the same name by Howard Hawks. The film stars an ensemble cast led by Al Pacino, who stars as Cuban refugee Tony Montana. In the film, Montana arrives in Miami during the Mariel boatlift and becomes a powerful drug lord.

Pacino worked with producer Martin Bregman to develop the project. Bregman and Sidney Lumet both conceived the idea of setting the story during the boatlift. Lumet was initially hired to direct the film but left, feeling that it was too violent and wanted it to be more of a political film. De Palma replaced Lumet as director and Bregman hired Stone to write the script. Stone, who had been struggling with his own cocaine addiction at the time, wrote the script in Paris. Several actresses were considered for playing Elvira Hancock before Michelle Pfeiffer—then almost Glenn Close—was chosen for the role; Pacino and De Palma had argued against her casting, but Bregman fought for her inclusion. The film was initially going to be entirely shot in Miami, but the Cuban community denied requests to film there, feeling that the script portrayed them in a bad light. Filming took place from November 1982 to May 1983 in Los Angeles and two weeks in Miami. The film's soundtrack and score was composed by Giorgio Moroder.