Scarface arrived in 1983 through Universal Pictures, directed by Brian De Palma and written by Oliver Stone, reimagining the 1932 gangster classic for the cocaine-fueled excess of Miami in the Reagan era. Starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana, the film was initially met with mixed reviews and controversy over its violence, but it steadily grew into a cornerstone of American crime cinema, its iconography absorbed into music, fashion, and film for decades after. The trailer that introduced it to audiences played a key role in setting expectations for a story of ambition, loyalty, and downfall.
This cell comes from that original trailer material and centers on Elvira Hancock, the character played by Michelle Pfeiffer. Elvira represents wealth, detachment, and the hollow glamour that surrounds Tony's rise, making her one of the most collected figures from the film's promotional history. A trailer cell like this preserves a single frame from the footage used to market the picture, offering collectors a direct link to how Elvira was first presented to the public before the film's release, independent of the final cut audiences would come to know.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm colour positive trailer print of Scarface (1983), though few identifying marks are visible.
Gauge
Four perforations per frame on both edges, 35mm layout; the strip holds three frames, shown turned sideways on the panel.
Perforations
Four per frame along both edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle punches with clean edges and no visible tearing or damage.
Soundtrack
Not visible in this capture. The strip appears to be a picture-only trailer section, with no optical track, Dolby data blocks or timecode line seen beside the frames.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture. No manufacturer text, safety-film wording or key numbers can be read along the edges.
Base & colour
Neutral to slightly warm clear base with a tan band along one edge; the dye image shows full colour with no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
A few thin white scratch-like lines run along the strip edge beside the frames; none cross the picture area, and no splices or cue marks are seen.
Picture
Positive colour image; the three frames repeat the same shot with no movement between them, and the strip is too short to say more about the film on record.
Era check
Colour positive on 35mm base with standard perforations is consistent with a 1980s release trailer print, though no soundtrack or edge code is visible to confirm the date.
Read from the original intake capture shown below. Observations only — film is authenticated, not graded.
This original motion picture film element has been examined and authenticated by Crown Grading in partnership with National Film Vault, and encapsulated for archival preservation.
Why so little survivesRelease prints were leased to theaters, not sold. When the run ended they went back to the distributor to be destroyed, and most were. What collectors hold today came from the prints that escaped that order, and no new 35mm prints of these films are being struck.
CROWN SERIAL 000070194
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
