Choose which version of "Scarface" you would like to watch. As stated above, the two versions of "Scarface" are two very different films. The 1932 version is a classic gangster film that was produced by Howard Hughes and featured Boris Karloff. It also holds the distinction of being one of the first films to feature the "Tommy gun." The 1983 version is one of the most notorious gangster pictures ever made. It spawned the often-quoted line "Say hello to my little friend!" Pacino's performance of Tony Montana was ranked No. 74 on "Premiere" magazine's "100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time." Keeping this in mind, it's really all about what type of gangster you are in the mood for - a drug dealer or a bootlegger.
Choose which format you would like to watch the film in. Both versions of "Scarface" are available on DVD and VHS. If you are just looking to rent the movie, you might have a hard time finding a video store that still rents VHS tapes. You can, however, purchase either version on VHS or DVD online. If you have Netflix, the 1932 version is available for instant streaming.
Watch the movie. After you have picked which version you want to watch, all that's left is to pop into your VCR or DVD player. Something to keep in mind if time is a factor is the 1932 "Scarface" is only 93 minutes long while the 1983 version is 170 minutes.
Watch for the letter "x" if you're watching the 1932 version of "Scarface." The filmmakers sprinkled the letter throughout the movie as a symbol for when a character is about to die.
Notice in the 1983 version that although the movie is called "Scarface" in reference to Tony Montana, the word "Scarface" is only spoken once in the whole film, and even then it's spoken in Spanish.
Choose your audience carefully if you are going to invite friends over to enjoy "Scarface" with you. Both versions are adult films. The 1932 version was initially released without censor approval, which they refused to give because of the film's violence and depictions of gangs. The original cut of the 1983 version received an X rating. Even after editing it down to get an R rating, it still features 42 deaths and 226 uses of a certain four-letter word that starts with an F.
Pay attention to the deaths of both lead characters. In the 1932 "Scarface" Tony Camonte is killed in front of a flashing billboard that reads "The World is Yours." In the 1983 version Tony Montana is killed in his home where a nearby globe says "The World is Yours."