The making of the original 1932 film “Scarface” was directly influenced by notorious gangster Al Capone and the Chicago Outfit, according to a new AMC+ documentary series, “Hollywood Crime Story: The Mob Takes Over the Movies.” The film, about a Prohibition-era Chicago mobster, faced pressure from Capone and his associates to ensure it did not directly portray his life or the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, a crime often attributed to him.
During the 1920s, Hollywood and organized crime were increasingly connected. As the film industry grew in Los Angeles, the mob sought opportunities in the burgeoning entertainment business. Johnny Rosselli, an associate of Capone, was sent to Los Angeles in the mid-1920s to establish connections within the film industry. Rosselli reportedly befriended studio heads and dated movie stars, paving the way for further mob involvement.
Capone himself visited Los Angeles in 1927, staying at the Biltmore Hotel under the alias Al Brown. His flamboyant presence in yellow and pink suits drew media and police attention, leading to his temporary expulsion from the city. Despite this, Capone expressed interest in acquiring property and becoming a taxpayer in California.
Around this time, Hollywood was exploring gangster themes in films such as the 1927 silent film “Underworld” and Howard Hughes’s 1928 production “The Racket.” With the advent of