Director Martin Scorsese is the legendary filmmaker behind cult classics such as Casino, Goodfellas, The Wolf of Wall Street, and more. He is often regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time and is still working hard to make cinema at the age of eighty.
Scorsese has also been very vocal about his opinions on other films and always makes it a point to appreciate good cinema when he says it. The director reportedly told Scarface actor Steven Bauer that the film would be hated by Hollywood, after a screening of the Al Pacino movie.
Martin Scorsese Was Reportedly Interested In Making Scarface
Director Martin Scorsese was reportedly very much influenced by the 1932 Howard Hawk’s version of Scarface. The director has claimed on multiple occasions how the tone of the film and the characters inspired his own gangster dramas such as Goodfellas and Mean Streets.
The idea for the remake of Scarface came to actor Al Pacino when he saw the original in theatres and felt that there was potential for a remake. He contacted his manager and producer Martin Bergman to develop the film. Pacino also reportedly sought advice from fellow actor Robert De Niro, who suggested making the film with Brian De Palma.
De Niro also reportedly mentioned that if Pacino would not do it, he would do it with Martin Scorsese. Pacino mentioned later, in an interview with GQ that he was not aware that De Niro and Scorsese were interested in doing the film and that Scorsese had actually tried to get it made. Pacino said,
“I didn’t know that Marty and Bob were interested in it…When he got Lamett…It was Lamett’s idea to do it Cuban. But then Marty and Lamett didn’t quite agree on where the thing should go and how it should be done…They had a parting. And then Brian came in.”
After failing to come to a consensus, Martin Scorsese reportedly left the project and then Al Pacino got to make the film with Brian De Palma.
Martin Scorsese’s Warning About Scarface
When Scarface was released in 1983, the film was panned by critics and received overwhelmingly negative reviews. Many critics pointed out the violence and profanity in the film and called it empty. Audiences, including writers such as Kurt Vonnegut and John Irving reportedly walked out during a particular scene in the film.
Director Martin Scorsese was reportedly clairvoyant in his review of the film. While Scorsese loved the remake, he reportedly warned actor Steven Bauer, who played Manny in the film, that it would be hated by everyone in Hollywood. Bauer later mentioned in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter,
“[He said] ‘You guys are great – but be prepared. They are going to hate this movie in Hollywood’…And I said, ‘Why?’ And he said, ‘Because it’s about them’…There’s nothing wrong with chasing the American dream, but if you become greedy, it’ll fall from under you. You will self-destruct…. [Scorsese] knew there were tendencies in Hollywood to just be over the top.”
The film was a moderate success at the box office, earning $66 million against a $37 million budget. While the film was panned upon release, it had a resurgence in the 1990s and has since been regarded as one of the best gangster films of all time. Many lines from the film have been iconic and are a part of pop culture.
