{{short description|2008 book by Ken Tucker}} {{Infobox book | image = File:Scarface_Nation,_The_Ultimate_Gangster_Movie_and_How_It_Changed_America.jpeg | author = Ken Tucker | language = English | country = United States | genre = Non-fiction | publisher = St. Martin's Press | pub_date = 2008 | subject = Scarface }} {{italic title}} '''''Scarface Nation: The Ultimate Gangster Movie and How It Changed America''''' is a 2008 book written by Ken Tucker and published by St. Martin's Press about the 1983 American crime film ''Scarface'' and its influence on society, film, and the music industry.
==Background== Tucker is a former critic for ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''. He interviewed most of the film's cast and crew, except Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer. He observed that they were unaware of the reasons for the popularity and influence of the film. Tucker researched for two years; he read the 1930 novel ''Scarface'' by Armitage Trail and watched both the 1932 and 1983 films numerous times.<ref name=PM>{{cite web|last1=Rea|first1=Steven|title=New book examines the mystery of the 'Scarface' phenomenon|url=http://www.popmatters.com/article/66206-new-book-examines-the-mystery-of-the-scarface-phenomenon/|accessdate=September 10, 2015|publisher=PopMatters|date=November 26, 2008}}</ref> He also bought a lot of ''Scarface''-related products, such as flip-flops, shower curtains, dartboards, and poker chips.<ref name=TBS /> The ''Scarface'' pajamas that he bought "kind of freaked out [his] wife".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ward|first1=Kate|title='Scarface Nation' by Ken Tucker|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2008/11/21/scarface-nation-ken-tucker|accessdate=September 11, 2015|work=Entertainment Weekly|date=November 21, 2008}}</ref>
==Content== The book is divided into seven main chapters: Major Immigrant Smuggling Ring, The Director, Scarface Music, Howard Hawk's ''Scarface'', Armitage Trail's ''Scarface'', Movies TV Shows Novels, and A Meaning of ''Scarface''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Scarface Nation: The Ultimate Gangster Movie and How It Changed America|isbn = 9781429993296|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B7UQJAyrmLQC|accessdate=September 11, 2015|last1 = Tucker|first1 = Ken|date = 11 November 2008}}</ref> An appendix titled "Scarface as a business plan (or the 8 Habits of Highly Successful but Tragic Gangsters)" was also included in the book.<ref name=TBS /> Martin Scorsese told Steven Bauer that "Hollywood is going to hate this film, because it's about them". Tucker notes that the film was created by White males, yet it has influenced Black and Hispanic youth the most.<ref name=Time /> By the suggestion of Sidney Lumet, the origin of the main character Tony Montana was changed from an Italian to a Cuban.<ref name=TBS>{{cite news|last1=Sragow|first1=Michael|title='Scarface Nation' author urges everyone to get to know his little friend|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2008/11/14/scarface-nation-author-urges-everyone-to-get-to-know-his-little-friend/|access-date=September 11, 2015|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=November 14, 2008}}</ref> In his work, Tucker calls ''Scarface'' an "ultimate gangster film" and "a great shallow masterpiece".<ref name=Time /><ref name=TBS />
==Reception== Louis Bayard wrote for ''Salon'' that Tucker had set a difficult mission for himself, writing about a film that was "not good at all".<ref name=Salon>{{cite web|last=Bayard|first=Louis|authorlink=Louis Bayard|title=Why "Scarface" is f-ing great|url=http://www.salon.com/2008/11/13/scarface/|accessdate=September 11, 2015|work=Salon|date=November 13, 2008}}</ref> S. James Snyder wrote for ''Time'' magazine that "Tucker bolsters his argument that whatever your opinion on the film, ''Scarface'' cannot be dismissed."<ref name=Time>{{cite news|last1=Snyder|first1=S. James|title=Scarface Nation|url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1859898,00.html|accessdate=September 11, 2015|work=Time|date=November 19, 2008}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.amazon.com/Scarface-Nation-Ultimate-Gangster-Changed/dp/B003UYV1X8 ''Scarface Nation''] at Amazon.com
{{Scarface}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2008 non-fiction books Category:English-language non-fiction books Category:Books about individual films Category:Scarface (1983 film) Category:American non-fiction books Category:St. Martin's Press books