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Tony Camonte, is the main protagonist of the 1932 crime film Scarface.
He is an Italian immigrant who becomes a key lieutenant for mob boss John "Johnny" Lovo after assassinating the reigning crime boss "Big" Louis Costillo. Tony is characterized by his unrelenting ambition, violent tendencies, and obsession with power. Despite being warned by his boss, Johnny, not to provoke the North Side Irish gangs, Tony aggressively expands his territory, leading to all-out war.
He was portrayed by the late Paul Muni.
His Evil Ranking[]
What Makes Him Close to Being Pure Evil?[]
- Tony’s initiation into the upper echelons of Chicago’s underworld begins with the assassination of the South Side’s crime boss, "Big" Louis Costillo. This murder is carried out under Johnny Lovo’s orders, Tony coldly eliminates Costillo and shows no hesitation or remorse.
- Tony is heavily involved in the illegal production and distribution of alcohol during Prohibition. He and his gang control numerous speakeasies, making a fortune by selling illegal beer to bars across Chicago.
- Tony extorts protection money from businesses, especially speakeasies, coercing them to buy beer from his operation under the threat of violent retaliation. This tactic is typical of organized crime syndicates looking to maintain control and generate income, and Tony is no exception.
- Tony also engages in bribery to keep law enforcement and public officials on his payroll. This ensures that his illegal operations can continue without interference and that he receives tip-offs about police raids or investigations.
- He Ignored Johnny’s warnings of not fighting against the Irish and the north but he still didn’t listen, and he orders an attack on an Irish-owned speakeasy run by gang leader O’Hara. The attack is brutal and unprovoked, Tony did this because of his desire to expand his territory and assert dominance over the North Side of Chicago's underworld.
- The leader of the Irish Gang (O’Hara) that Tony attacked actually survived the ambush, and is sent to the hospital, he was peacefully recuperating in the hospital, but Tony sends his men to finish the job. O’Hara is then murdered in cold blood.
- Tony continues his campaign against the Irish gangs by having Tom Gaffney, O’Hara’s successor, assassinated in a bowling alley. This act is a direct power play, eliminating a major rival to his control over Chicago’s underworld. Camonte’s primary motivation for killing members of the Irish gangs, including O’Hara and Gaffney, is to overthrow them and consolidate his power in Chicago’s underworld. He wants to dominate the entire city, His campaign against the Irish gangs is driven by his ambition and the desire to be the sole ruler of Chicago's criminal underworld.
- Tony is extremely overprotective of his sister Cesca which leads to one of his most heinous acts. Guino, his closest friend and right-hand man, has been sleeping with his sister, Tony then kills him in a fit of rage. The murder is particularly tragic as Tony learns too late that Guino and Cesca were married and deeply in love.
- After surviving an assassination attempt orchestrated by Johnny Lovo who has grown tired of him. Tony tracks down and kills his former boss. This act solidifies Tony as the undisputed ruler of the South Side of Chicago.
- The police close in on Tony, he chooses to fight rather than surrender. This isn’t self-defense as Camonte’s final confrontation is with law enforcement who just want him to surrender, but instead he engages in a violent shootout, killing several police officers in a desperate attempt to escape, he was then killed in the shootout. The shootout also leads to him accidentally killing his sister.
- Overall, Tony is power-hungry, obsessed, ruthless, and has killed dozens of people making him the most heinous character of the film.
What Prevents Him from Being Pure Evil?[]
- Despite how possessive he is of her Tony still shows a deep love for his sister Cesca. His overprotectiveness leads to tragic consequences, but it also reveals a more vulnerable side to his character. And he is devastated and saddened after accidentally killing Cesca in the final shootout.
Trivia[]
- His remake counterpart Tony Montana cannot qualify as Near Pure Evil due to possessing moral standards, being played too much for sympathy and his crimes are far less heinous by comparison.
