Scarface (1983) - FRAMED

Original 1983 Universal City Studios publicity still #2154-16.

This powerful original still from Brian De Palma’s Scarface captures Al Pacino in one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history—Tony Montana, arms spread, high on power and paranoia, moments before his explosive downfall. Issued by Universal Pictures in 1983 for theatrical promotion, it’s stamped and captioned, featuring the original type-set credit block and image number (#2154-16).

Cultural Significance of Scarface (1983):

Initially controversial, Scarface has since become one of the most influential and enduring films of the late 20th century:

    •    Redefining the gangster: Pacino’s Tony Montana wasn’t just a drug lord—he was an immigrant chasing the American Dream by any means necessary. His rise and fall became a metaphor for unchecked ambition and capitalism’s dark underbelly.

    •    Cultural lightning rod: The film shocked 1983 audiences with its brutal violence, profanity, and unapologetic excess. But by the 1990s and 2000s, Scarface had become a cultural touchstone—quoted in hip-hop, fashion, sports, and politics.

    •    From villain to icon: Tony Montana became a pop culture symbol of ambition, rebellion, and defiance. His desk, his guns, and his famous line—“Say hello to my little friend”—are now part of the cinematic lexicon.

    •    Style as storytelling: De Palma’s slick direction and Giorgio Moroder’s synth-driven score created a hyper-stylised Miami that reflected the moral decay of the era’s greed-driven ethos.

• Year: 1983
  
• Size: 8 X 10 Inches
• Framed Size: 13 X 15 Inches 
• Product Code: T6013