Scarface: 11 Behind-the-Scenes Images of a Criminal Classic

      Scarface, Brian De Palma's iconic film about a crime lord featuring Al Pacino as Tony Montana, stands out as one of the most visually striking and captivating movies ever made.

      Here are 12 behind-the-scenes photos from its initial promotional campaign in 1983.

      The Origin of Tony Montana's Name

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      Have you ever wondered why Tony Montana, the Cuban immigrant portrayed by Al Pacino, exuded such confidence even before becoming a drug lord? Perhaps it's in his name.

      Scarface screenwriter Oliver Stone revealed in his insightful memoir, Chasing the Light, that Pacino’s character was named after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana, who epitomized self-assurance.

      While it could be argued that a Spanish-speaking character might more appropriately be named not "montaña," which translates to mountain in Spanish, it’s worth noting that mountains were certainly present in Scarface, symbolized by the numerous mounds of white powder in Tony's mansion.

      A Surprising Frequency of an Explicit Word

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      Stone mentioned that a particular expletive appears 183 times in Scarface.

      He recounted that actress Joan Collins once joked, “I’ve heard there are 183 f—-s in the movie, which is more than what most people experience in a lifetime.”

      This alone would have ensured an R rating for Scarface, but the film is also notably violent.

      Michelle Pfeiffer's Dedication

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      Michelle Pfeiffer won the role of Elvira, initially hesitant to be Tony's wife, over many of Hollywood’s top actresses, despite her biggest previous role being in Grease 2. She made significant sacrifices for the part.

      “Did I feel glamorous? Not really, I was actually quite hungry,” she shared on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight in 2012. “I played a cocaine addict and couldn’t eat. The shoot was supposed to last four months, but it ended up stretching to six months. I was really hungry by the end.”

      She delivered an outstanding performance, but it’s unfortunate to hear about her struggles.

      Robert De Niro Almost Took the Role

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      In a joint interview with Pacino for GQ in 2019, Robert De Niro recalled encouraging Pacino to take on the role, saying, “If you don’t do it, I’m going to do it.”

      Pacino remembered that De Niro and Martin Scorsese had “toyed with the idea” of making a Scarface film.

      This is just one instance of Pacino and De Niro almost swapping roles.

      Al Pacino Stayed Sober

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      Despite the substance abuse depicted in the film, Pacino — seen above with director Brian De Palma — chose to stay away from drugs, according to Stone.

      “It surprised me that Al had never actually snorted cocaine or had any experience with drugs,” Stone wrote in his memoir, adding that producer Martin Bregman informed him that Pacino “struggled with alcohol in his youth but was completely sober now. Still, he had no trouble playing the ultimate coke addict on screen.”

      It's not too shocking, considering Pacino is one of the greatest actors around.

      Consequences of Fake Drugs

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      While Pacino wisely avoided using real cocaine, the substitute he used still caused issues.

      He told FOX 5 Washington DC in 2015 that the fake drugs he inhaled did lead to problems:

      “I knew that with Scarface, they mixed it with something else, not narcotics, to reduce the quantity. But for years afterward, I had issues. I don’t know what happened to my nose, but it’s different now. My breathing has been a bit altered,” he explained.

      Belief in Its Potential

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      Stone noted in his memoir that De Palma (shown above with Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) faced a significant financial blow with his previous film, Blow Out, and believed Scarface could become “a major commercial success.”

      It ultimately became the 16th highest-grossing film of 1983 and is now considered a classic.

      Stone remarked that it was initially seen as “more of a failure than a triumph,” but he quickly recognized its lasting impact and significance.

      De Palma Faced Challenges

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      Despite Scarface being one of our favorite films by Brian De Palma, Stone detailed in his memoir that the director was having a rough time while making it.

      Stone described De Palma as “overweight, physically slow, and wearing the same pressed khaki uniform typical of an engineer throughout the shoot. He was also, from what I understand, going through a divorce from his wife, Nancy Allen, which likely didn’t help his mood. Still, he was undoubtedly a genius.”

      It’s worth mentioning that, at least in the photo above, De Palma doesn’t seem to be wearing the