Scarface (1983)
This movie was filmed in Miami, Florida, California, New York,

 


Synopsis

Scarface follows gangster Tony Montana (Al Pacino) and his close friend Manny Ray (Steven Bauer) from their trip on the Cuban Boat Lift for refugees to their arrival in Miami. After killing a powerful Cuban figure, Montana and company gain the ability to leave their refugee camps and roam around the U.S. After unsuccessfully trying to make it legitamately in the country, Montana and Ray resort to selling cocaine to dealers around the world. Tony's rise is quick, but as he becomes more powerful, his enemies and his own paranoia begin to plague his empire.

 

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Before we Begin

Below are the THEN and NOW shots of the filming locations used in Brian De Palma, Scarface. The now shots are taken accordingly during our recent visit to the place (2007) while the then shots (1983) are the still images from the movie. This is a direct visual comparison of how the filming locations have changed over time. Some places and buildings are now totally unrecognizable due to massive development and area progress while some have undergone the opposite direction towards deterioration and decay. Some places, however, have stayed intact as they were, unaffected by the passage of weather and time.

The order below is the same order from the beginning to the end of the movie. If you can provide further information or help me locate the missing links, it will be greatly appreciated. These are all my personal observations and any form of constructive criticism or informative suggestion would be most welcome. Roly – Filming Locations Detectives

 

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Filming locations  

 

The Opener

The opening scene, which has the (archive footage) from the migration.


(Click on the still for a better & larger image)

Still image number - Scarface still.1

We were unable to find this filming location, if you recognise the building or anything in the still, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


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The Interment camp

After the arrival of Tony Montana (Al Pacino) Manny Ribera (Steven Bauer) and the crew they are held in the Interment camp before the papers could be filled in.


(Click on the stills for a better & larger image)

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The Interment camp was filmed in Los Angeles and not Florida under the freeway interchanges at the junction of I-10 the Santa Monica Freeway and I 110, the Harbor Freeway, downtown LA behind the new Convention Center.
Unfortunately we were unable to vist LA on this trip, if you can help in this department please let us know!


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The Dish washer

This where Tony and Manny go and work – Tony Montana the Dish Washer.


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

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This was recreated at Little Tokyo in downtown LA.
Unfortunately we were unable to vist LA on this trip, if you can help in this department please let us know!


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Carlise Hotel

This is a building where Tony and his crew turn left to pick up the drugs from the Columbians


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This hotel is located on Ocean Drive, Miami Beach and still named Carlise Hotel

click on the video footage



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Chainsaw Scene

This is the most famous scene in scarface. This is where Tony picks up the drugs from the so called 'Sunrays apartments'

click on the video footage



(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

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The Colony Hotel, located at 728, Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida, next to Beacon Hotel

click on the video footage



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More photos of this location


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The phone call

On the phone to Omar for his money


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Still image number - Scarface still.21

We were unable to find this filming location, if you recognise the harbour or anything in the still, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


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Frank Lopez house

Frank Lopez (Robert Loggia) house


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Still image number - Scarface still.22a

We were unable to find this filming location, if you recognise the harbour or anything in the still, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


(Click on the photos for a better & larger image)

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The Babylon Club

This is where Tony first meets Elvira Hancock (Michelle Pfeiffer)


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

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Still image number - Scarface still.23a

Thanks to Mike over at Movie Shot's LA who was kind enough to tell me that the Babylon Club is soundstage 25 at Universal Studios, Hollywood. If you have any photo's of Universal Studios, Hollywood Sound Stages, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


(Click on the photos for a better & larger image)

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Money and the Power

This is the hotel where Manny gives Tony a lession in American women and how to pull them!


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

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The hotel is located at Fontainebleau Hilton Resort - 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida. You can not see the beach now as a boardwalk as been built linking all the hotels from the carpark


(Click on the photos for a better & larger image)

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The pool scene

Manny acting cool by the pool


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The hotel is located at Fontainebleau Hilton Resort - 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida. It still looks the same as in 1980's

click on the video footage



(Click on the photos for a better & larger image)

Still image number - Scarface location.11
Still image number - Scarface location.13

 

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The Porsche Boutique

Tony tries to impress Elvira by buying a Porsche


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

Still image number - Scarface still.27

We were unable to find this filming location, if you recognise the car showroom or anything in the still, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


(Click on the photos for a better & larger image)

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Gina

Tony visiting Gina and and his Mom


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

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Thanks to Mike over at Movie Shot's LA who was kind enough to tell me that this house is located in Wilmington, CA. If you have any photo's of Universal Studios, Hollywood Sound Stages, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


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Alejandro Sosa

This is Alejandro Sosa home, the drug lord


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

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This estate is called Rococo Spanish Hacienda, located in the town of Montecito a few miles from Santa Barbara. We were unable to visit LA, however if you have photos of this location, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


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Lopez Motors

This is Lopez motors.


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

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We found this totally by accident, this is now called Braman Motors, however no one could confirm this, I have to go by my gut feeling.


(Click on the photos for a better & larger image)

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Still image number - Scarface location.2

 

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Franks hide away

This is Franks's hideaway, where Elvira plays hard to get


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

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We were unable to find this filming location, if you recognise the building or anything in the still, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


(Click on the photos for a better & larger image)

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Tri American City Bank

Tri American City Bank, is where Tony and his crew bank all of their money


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

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Thanks to Mike over at Movie Shot's LA who was kind enough to let us use these images of the bank used in the filming. This bank is located in Located in San Fernando Valley on Ventura Blvd, Encino, Los Angeles Thanks Mike


(Click on the photos for a better & larger image)

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Still image number - Scarface still.15

 

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Montana Management Co

Montana Management Company is a respectible front for Tony


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

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While zooming in on this building, we noticed it has 9401 Brickell Ave on the front of the building. We could not find this address in Florida, if you recognise the building or anything in the still, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


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Montana Travel Co

Montana Travel Company is another enterprise of Tony's


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

Still image number - Scarface still.38

While zooming in on this building, we noticed it has 9401 Brickell Ave on the front of the building. We could not find this address in Florida, if you recognise the building or anything in the still, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


(Click on the photos for a better & larger image)

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Gina’s Beauty Salon


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

Still image number - Scarface still.39

We could not find this building in Florida, if you recognise the building or anything in the still, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


(Click on the photos for a better & larger image)

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The wedding

Tony’s House the wedding scene


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

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Still image number - Scarface still.42

We could not find this building in Florida, if you recognise the building or anything in the still, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


(Click on the photos for a better & larger image)

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New York Killing

Tony and his crew is sent to New York to take out a journalist planning to expose the drug trafficking industry.


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

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Still image number - Scarface still.45

We believe this to be actually in New York, if you recognise the building or anything in the still, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


(Click on the photos for a better & larger image)

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Waiting for the journalist

Tony and his crew wait outside the journalist's hotel for him to emerge after planting a bomb under his car.


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

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Still image number - Scarface still.47

We believe this to be actually in New York, if you recognise the building or anything in the still, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


(Click on the photos for a better & larger image)

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Following the journalist

Tony and his crew follow the journalist


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

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Still image number - Scarface still.51

We are unsure were the left still is located however the right still is located at the United Nations building, located in Manhatton, New York City. If you recognise the building or anything in the still, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


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Calling Frank Lopez

Tony calls Frank Lopez to give him the bad news about the hit.


(Click on the Stills for a better & larger image)

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We could not find this building in Florida, if you recognise the port or anything in the still, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


(Click on the photos for a better & larger image)

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The end

The gates leading to Tony's house


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Still image number - Scarface still.52

We could not find this building in Florida, if you recognise the building or anything in the still, could you please send me an e-mail along with the still number (located if you place your mouse pointer over the image) Thanks Roly


(Click on the photos for a better & larger image)

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Additional Information

All words and photographs are (copyrighted) to Roland Keates, the still images are (copyrighted to) the film owners. If you wish to reproduce anything on this website, please e-mail me first. Roly Keates


 

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