Scarface: The Shame Of The Nation | The Critique

Made in 1932, this movie literally immortalized infamous gangster Al Capone forever till there is any humanity on this planet. Remade in innumerous ways in different languages and tints and colors, Scarface made in 1932 by Howard Hawks and Richard Rosson and produced by an equally controversial Howard Hughes is considered to be an important film in the history of world cinema.

Scarface is journey of Tony Camonte from a small time goon to America’s biggest gangster. Tony works Johnny and becomes his trusted lieutenant. However, he has a mind of his own. After a point he ignores Johnny’s commands. His violent actions attract fame and police. This jeopardizes his situation and war is declared in the mafia world. There is another subplot involving his sister and his friend marrying against his wishes. This subplot becomes an integral part of the climax and brings a rude closure to his story.

Backed by Howard Hughes, crew collected the guts to achieve something unimaginable in that era. Gore and realism that haunted people, lauded and condemned at the same time. Performances are real. Hysterics and stereotypes were avoided. Paul Muni made Al Capone vulnerable and very real. His preparation reflected on screen. Script and direction were simply brilliant. Directors who made gangster movies in post World War 2 era considered this classic a textbook for their education.

Even after eight decades, Scarface is one of the most watched films of Pre-World War – 2 era and one of the most highly rated gangster movies ever made. Many consider it a breakthrough film which changed the norms of censorship and exposed double standards in name of morality. It was defiant and defined the rules. Howard Hughes will be remembered long for his stand for sake of art. In 1983, it was remade with Al Pacino as Tony Montana.  Like the original, latter got appreciation and attained a cult status as well.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

On The Face Of Senator- Aviator | My Take | Under Lens

This is a memorable scene from Martin Scorsese’s work of art based on life of Howard Hughes. On a personal front, I loved this film and might have seen this particular scene, again and again for maybe more than 1000 times in about 100+ reruns of this movie on my system. This scene almost flows in my blood.

Senator Brewster is firing questions and a determined Hughes is replying to each of them. Brewster is spitting venom on behest of Trippe who wants to buy TWA (Hughes’ company) and ruin him. Hughes, on the other hand, is mentally sick and is searching for love. He needs satisfaction and his pursuit is akin to that of Kane in Citizen Kane. He can be easily grounded. However his will power and arrogance are two things that keep him going against all the odds.

The question about ‘Hercules’ comes up. A giant monster which was supposed to rule the air but given the technology in hand and other issues, it has failed to meet the expectations. His honesty, his character and his willpower are challenged. He finally vents it all out. He says nothing can stop him from flying Hercules… it will fly because he has promised so and he is not someone who does not honor his word.

The stage setup is perfect. It gives a quintessential feel of claustrophobia. The camera clicks by press add to the effect. The arguments between two parties appear as if one person is fighting with the system. This was brilliantly emulated by Mani Ratnam in Guru. Acting… when someone like Leonardo Da Caprio is on screen, do I need to say anything?

Director is able to deliver exactly what he might have thought. The scene increases your heartbeats and you sympathize with Hughes.  You can feel the impact. When the scene is over you can feel yourself rejuvenated. Not many scenes in the entire history of cinema can do this to you. Martin Scorsese is God. I mean it.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Howard ‘Aviator’ Hughes | Statesmen

Howard Hughes was a very versatile person in business. He was an aviator, oil czar and a crazy movie maker. He was one of the most controversial businessmen of all time. He inspired biopics like Citizen Kane and Aviator and has been a focal point of movies like ‘Hoax’. He married actress Jean Peters and had an intimate relationship with actresses of 30’s, notable Katherine Hepburn.

The two most remembered movies (for odd reasons) were Hell’s Angels and Outlaw. Hell’s Angels was released in 1930. That time the budget of the epic movie soared upto $3.8 million. It was written and directed by Howard himself. The plot of the movie was woven around air warriors of world War I. the expenses were attributed to multiple reshoots, large number of cameras and Howard’s perfectionist attitude. Contemporary makers like MGM were shocked when they were told how Howard is making his movie. With Jean Harlow in lead, this movie was a blockbuster but owing to big budget lost $1.5 million on the boxoffice. It is still considered one of the finest war movie.

The megalomaniac’s Outlaw was released in 1941 amidst great controversies after a remarkable censor battle. The lead lady Jane Russell and her revealing attire grabbed the eyeballs. Her sensational gown and the exposure caused unrest in Censor Board. Howard won the battle. The poster of the movie is still the most remembered cinema poster. Interestingly, the half-cup bra worn by Russell lead to an improvement in aviation technology.

Howard will always being remembered as an adventurous business men, an eccentric movie maker and to many a corrupt person… but more than that he was a person who needed love immensely.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Hammers High: The Hoax

Howard Hughes was a personality of billion shades. This world knows him as a pioneer in cinema and aviation, a multi-billionaire and an exclusive case of schizophrenia who died of kidney failure. He was a phenomenon for Hollywood.

Famed saga Citizen Kane was loosely built (as personality, not characterization) on Howard Hughes. Caprio made a mark as Aviator based on his life. Melvin And Howard showed how low a man can fall to take advantage of a sick billionaire. But apart from the league, there is a movie that shows the real fame of Howard Hughes. The movie was The Hoax, directed by Lasse Hallstrom and starring Richard Gere based on a true incident.

From year 1966 to 1976, Howard led a very nomadic yet recluse life. He stayed in hotels and stayed away from public due to his fear of contracting with germs. Lack of social life led to spread of rumors and a writer Clifford Irving took advantage of the scenario.

He created sensation by claiming that he co-authored the autobiography of Howard Hughes. Howard didn’t respond with a counterstatement at that time. He was at pinnacle of his reclusion. Silence was taken as a nod. That was 1972. The autobiography was heavily booked as people took it for a genuine book. However, just before the publication of the book, Howard finally stood against the fraud and as a result of his crime, Irving was sentenced to jail for 17 months.

In 1977, Clifford Irving released a book titled The Hoax. It was an account of the events. Thirty years after the release, the movie starring Richard Gere was made. Howard Hughes had a very complicated story. He was a businessman, but more interested in art of cinema and aviation. A man who had a scrambled life.

For The Reel; Written By: Sujoy Ghosh