Scarface: 11 Behind-the-Scenes Images of a Legendary Crime Film

      Scarface, Brian De Palma’s iconic crime film featuring Al Pacino as Tony Montana, is celebrated as one of the most visually extravagant and captivating movies ever made.

      Here are 12 behind-the-scenes photos from the original promotional campaign of Scarface released in 1983.

      Tony Montana Was Named After a Notable Football Player

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      Have you ever questioned why Tony Montana, the Cuban immigrant portrayed by Al Pacino, exuded so much confidence even before reaching kingpin status? It might have something to do with his name.

      Scarface screenwriter Oliver Stone noted in his insightful memoir, Chasing the Light, that Pacino was named after Joe Montana, the assured quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers.

      Granted, as a Spanish speaker, Tony might have been more appropriately named differently than “montaña,” which translates to mountain in Spanish. However, mountains were certainly emblematic in Scarface, represented by the many mounds of white powder in Tony’s estate.

      An Abundant Use of a Certain F-Word

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      Stone mentioned that a particular F-word is uttered 183 times in Scarface.

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

      This alone would have warranted an R rating, but the film is also notoriously violent.

      Michelle Pfeiffer Was Starving

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      Michelle Pfeiffer landed the role of Elvira, initially hesitant spouse of Tony, outshining many of Hollywood's leading actresses, despite her biggest prior role being in Grease 2. She made considerable sacrifices for this role.

      “Did I feel hot? No, actually, I was hungry,” she stated on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight in 2012. “I was portraying a coke addict and couldn’t eat. By the end… it stretched from a planned four-month shoot to six months. I was quite hungry by then.”

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

      Robert De Niro Could Have Been Tony Montana

      Credit: Universal Pictures

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

      Pacino noted that De Niro and Martin Scorsese were also “toying with the idea” of a Scarface project.

      This is just one of the many instances where Pacino and De Niro nearly swapped roles.

      Al Pacino Avoided Real Drugs

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      Despite the drug use depicted by his character, Pacino—seen above with Scarface director Brian De Palma—opted to stay away from actual substances, according to Stone.

      “It amazed me that Al had never done cocaine or had any experience with drugs,” Stone wrote in his memoir, adding that producer Martin Bregman mentioned Pacino “had a significant alcohol issue in his youth but was now completely sober. Yet he adeptly embodied the quintessential coke addict on screen.”

      Not too surprising, considering Pacino is one of the finest actors of all time.

      Unfortunate Nasal Consequences

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      While Pacino was wise to refrain from consuming real cocaine, his alternative approach came with its own issues.

      He shared with FOX 5 Washington DC in 2015 that the fake substances he inhaled caused some damage:

      "I knew that with Scarface, they mixed it with different materials. Not narcotics, but something else to dilute it. For years afterward, I experienced issues in that area. I’m unsure what happened to my nose, but it feels different now. My breathing has changed a bit,” he revealed.

      He Felt Confident About Its Success

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      Stone recounted in his memoir that De Palma (above with Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) faced “a serious financial loss with Blow Out,” his prior work, and believed Scarface had the potential to be “a major commercial success.”

      Ultimately, it ranked as the 16th highest-grossing film of 1983—but it also became one of the most unforgettable films.

      Stone noted that it was initially deemed “more of a failure than a success,” but he soon recognized its lasting impact and popularity.

      De Palma's Challenging Times

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      Though Scarface is among our favorite films by Brian De Palma — and we adore his works — Stone remarked in his memoir that the director was facing difficulties during the filming of Scarface.

      He wrote that De Palma appeared “overweight, physically slow, and repeatedly wore the same pressed khaki outfit one might expect from an engineer throughout the production. Additionally, he was reportedly going through a divorce from his wife, Nancy Allen, which likely didn’t improve his disposition. But without a doubt,