Symbolism In Scarface

Among the most renowned gangster movies of its time, Scarface is a thrilling depiction of the organized crime which occurred in Chicago during the early 1900’s. The incessant and merciless violence exhibited by mobsters in the film does not stray far from the brutality faced worldwide, with multiple scenes having to be removed due to censorship.

Despite being an overall 4-star production, the film proves to be difficult to follow at times. Jumping between action-packed scenes, some central plot points are obscured by the pacing, and only the generally violent outcome is seen. As far as the score goes, the most noteworthy melody is without a doubt the tune Tony whistles throughout the film. This piece serves as an audio cue for the audience, a subtle yet effective method of foreshadowing.

One portion of the storyline which appeared to be absent was the character development of the protagonist, Tony Camonte. The film reveals his character traits at a steady pace, and builds up on them, though they never seem to come to any form of resolution. For instance, Tony’s attitude towards his younger sister is only slightly altered near the end of the film, when the two team up to retaliate against the police force surrounding the building. Even as she is injured and on the brink of death, he is forceful and selfish, refusing her pleas for him to simply hold

This phrase, “The World is Yours” is displayed twice throughout the movie, once as Tony is showing Poppy his apartment, and the other, subsequently to the audience witnessing his death. The lights flicker off and are illuminated once more, before the camera fades out to black. While far from perfect, the film remains a classic, and has been preserved in the United States National Film Registry since 1994, as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically