Gonzalez 1

Gerardo Gonzalez

Trisha Briones

English 1301-162

December 3, 2023

Scarface Poster Analysis

The iconic poster created for the movie

“Scarface” in 1983 does a great job of having

multiple deep artistic meanings. The poster

appears simplistic, using only three colors:

black, white, and red. The majority of the

poster is black and white images to contrast the

big red bold letters, which immediately draw

your attention to the star and the title of the

film “Al Pacino Scarface.” Unexpectedly,

when taking a deeper look at the poster, the

colors and images play a significant role in

expressing the heart and soul of the main

character.

The left side of the poster gives information about the setting and what to expect when

watching the film. An assumption can be made that an immigrant ends up in Miami, who later

we find out is from Cuba, is coming to America in search of the American dream. Miami in 1980

was a time when Miami was known for having the highest murder rates, drug cartels, and being

heavily populated by Latin Americans. The poster also states he will find “wealth, power, and
 Gonzalez 2

passion beyond his wildest dreams,” hinting at what one might expect from the film. The poster

also states that “the world will remember him by another name… SCARFACE.” This almost

hints at how the movie is doomed to end.

One might ask how he earned the nickname “Scarface” and what the name implies. Is the

title based on the character's noticeable facial scar? After analyzing the poster in its entirety, one

can determine if the nickname's meaning is way more profound. The name sounds intimidating,

suggesting he earned the name by succeeding maliciously. The character is depicted in the

middle of the poster, split into black and white colors. Immediately, one can imply there might

be good and evil within his character. Perhaps he has an inner battle with his conscience,

believing he is a good person who wants to do good but battling his subconscious, which thrives

on gaining fortune and power.

The black shirt under the suit is significant; is he masking the bad buried deep inside his

soul? “Scarface” is shown holding a firearm to the black side of the poster opposite the white,

once again portraying his conflicting personality and his inner battle between good and evil. A

black pocket square is shown on Scarface’s bright white suit. The style and color of the suit give

the impression that the film is heavily based on gánsters and will involve violence. “Scarface” is

also seen leaning towards the black side, which might imply he is slowly succumbing to the dark

side of his personality. One can assume he is aware of his inner evil, even acknowledging this is

his true self. The contrast of the black shirt under the white jacket can be viewed as his true

persona, “a wolf in sheep's clothes."

At the bottom of the poster reads, “He loved the American Dream. With a vengeance."

how far is Scarface willing to go to achieve and attain the American dream? Scarface is wearing

a crisp white suit, suggesting he may want to portray his good side and newfound fortune
 Gonzalez 3

publicly. His desire to be seen as virtuous begs whether he achieved the “American dream” by

playing by the rules or doing unspeakable things. Tony Montana's face appears gray, and his

facial expressions insinuate a grim tone to his entire mood and maybe underlined depression and

grief. He may be grieving the loss of peace, humanity, and perhaps even true love to gain his

desires. However, were his choices made in vain? Not knowing if he reached his end goal or felt

fulfilled could imply that the chase for wealth was not worth the loss of his soul. It could be said

that Scarface had a distorted view of the American dream, believing that wealth and ruthlessness

were needed to succeed.

The bold red letters spelling the name "AL PACINO SCARFACE" have a connection

with blood and the cost of his greed. There will be bloodshed and lives lost, maybe even his own.

Scarface has his left hand in a fist, which is associated with aggression and violence. In the

poster, Scarface is an older man. His skin is combined grey, black, and white, saying that Tony is

between good and evil.

In conclusion, the poster's simplistic style tells an incredible story about an ambitious,

hot-tempered, but not heartless immigrant. The only three colors used in this poster set a tone

and mood for the entire movie. White portrays his good side, black displays evil, and red is the

price that will be paid for his perception of the American dream. One cannot deny the cinematic

poster's impact on past and future generations. Many who have not seen the film are familiar

with the character and immediately recognize the iconic poster, which is more than just three

colors and a picture of a man.

 Gonzalez 4

Citations

https://www.thevintageposter.com/poster-detail/?inv=14821