Paul Muni left al pacino "blown away" — how a 1932 performance shaped a modern Scarface
Introduction
Al Pacino has long been regarded as one of American cinema's most influential actors. In a revealing recollection, Pacino credited an early screen performance with changing his perception of acting and directly inspiring his involvement in a later, highly influential remake. The moment came when he finally saw Howard Hawks' 1932 Scarface and encountered Paul Muni's portrayal of Tony — a viewing Pacino later described as the first time he had been "blown away" by another actor.
Encountering a performance decades later
Born in the decade after the original Scarface was released, Pacino did not see Paul Muni's performance as a child. By the time he watched the 1932 film in 1974, he was already established for his work in The Godfather and Serpico. The experience, however, marked a singular professional moment. Pacino later told Du Jour magazine that Muni's performance left him speechless, calling it "the first time in my life that I was blown away by a performance" and describing the feeling as "almost uplifting. "
From admiration to action: the genesis of a remake
The impact of that viewing went beyond admiration. Pacino actively pursued a modern reimagining of Scarface, contacting his agent, Martin Bregman, and assembling a creative team to bring the story into a contemporary setting. The remake emerged with a screenplay by Oliver Stone and direction by Brian De Palma, and Bregman served as a producer. Pacino took an engaged role in the project, including participating in casting discussions; he initially opposed the casting of Michelle Pfeiffer as Elvira, who would later become one of the film's noted presences.
How the two Scarfaces relate
Pacino was conscious of the relationship between Muni's original and the new interpretation. He did not intend to create a scene-for-scene copy but wanted to honor the inspiration while allowing the remake to stand on its own. The 1983 Scarface, noted for its explicit depiction of violence and its portrayal of an immigrant's violent rise and fall, became one of the most discussed gangster films of its era. While many critics and viewers have compared the two films, Pacino maintained that the remake was a distinct work informed by, rather than beholden to, Muni's performance.
Legacy and context in Pacino's wider career
The episode sits within a broader pattern of highs and lows in Pacino's long career. Later assessments of his filmography note both celebrated peaks and underappreciated work. Critics and reporters have highlighted several Pacino films that did not receive their due on first release, including controversial or underrated entries such as Cruising and Carlito's Way, and praised later committed performances in films like Insomnia. These films illustrate the range of projects Pacino pursued after being shaped, in part, by the revelation of Muni's early work.
Enduring influence
Paul Muni's Tony remains the most widely cited element of the 1932 film, and Pacino's public acknowledgment of its effect underscores how performances can travel across generations to reshape careers. For Pacino, the moment of being "blown away" did not simply remain an anecdote; it was a catalyst that led to one of modern cinema's controversial and enduring gangster films. Both Scarfaces continue to be referenced in discussions about the gangster genre and the ways in which actors inspire one another across decades.
