Review: The World Is Yours
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 6, 2013
The story of "Scarface" begins with a novel of the same name, written in 1929 by tragically short-lived Armitage Trail (Maurice Coons.) His novel was inspired by the exploits of  Depression Era gangster Alfonso "Al" Capone, who was nicknamed `Scarface.' The novel was adapted to the screen production of the 1932 film "Scarface," directed by Howard Hawks. The old film is still an underground hit with movie buffs but the 1983 version most certainly takes the cake. It became "iconic," for the lack of a better word. It was relevant, populated with characters and action to which the modern audience could relate. After the 1983 "Scarface" finished shooting, it was no longer just a "remake."If you ever happen to participate in a "Scarface"-themed game of Jeopardy, and you've read this book, I think it's a safe bet that you are going to win. It's not called the "Ultimate" guide for nothing. Anything and everything you ever wanted to know about the movie is here:✔ Where the idea for the film came from.✔ What creative minds were behind the production of Scarface.✔ Production: the problems, the setbacks, the successes.✔ The secret to how the ratings for the film were tweaked.✔ The political and social underlining issues of the times that made Scarface such a hit.Etc., etc., etc.I must admit, I've learned a lot. I suppose it does take an Oxford-educated man (who, by his own admission, watched "Scarface" 200 times) to write a book about the pun-ultimate gangster movie that will have such a depth of information. This guide goes way beyond just listing trivia. For example, here's a tentative comparison of the main characters of Macbeth and Scarface:"...the audience is watching a flawed, evil man, a monster who happens to be a captivating, silver-tongued devil saying what we sometimes wish we had the nerve to say to people. Tony Montana and Macbeth are fantasy characters who defy the natural order of things. Their problem is that they expect too much out of life."There is a detailed comparison of the 1932 and 1983 films, down to the conception of the hero and the visual palette.At the end of the book, there's even a scene by scene description with notes and even continuity errors.There is so much information and analysis here in this guide, it's hard to put it all in a short review. If you are a "Scarface" fan, this book is definitely worth owning. Recommended.