Scarface Rides Again
The wackiest thing I saw at the LA Auto Show last week was the Jada Toys display.
Jada Toys specializes in die cast collectible scale models of cars and radio controlled cars. Their cars are incredibly detailed and meticulously accurate — it's their selection of models that is wacky. And the way they choose to promote their models — by bringing in a full-scale original — is what puts it over the top.
Witness the Scarface 1963 Cadillac Series 62. It's a 1:18 scale die cast model of Al Pacino's car in Brian DePalma's 1983 film Scarface. For $34.99, not only do you get the gaudy big-finned convertible with faux tiger print interior and trunk liner, you also get a miniature Al Pacino. Jada Toys brought out an actual full-scale replica of the car, which is as hideous as I remembered.
Scarface is a touchstone movie for the gangster rap community, and somewhat of an embarrassment for the creative team who made it. If you haven't seen it in a while, take another look — class acts like Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mary elizabeth Mastrantonio, Robert Loggia and F. Murray Abraham cavort in high dudgeon over Giorgio Moroder's overblown score. A true camp romp, and a flop in its day, now elevated to iconic status — immortalized by a die cast toy.
Comments
Leave a Reply