How Steven Spielberg Helped Shape Scarface’s Legendary Shootout Scene

The New Hollywood movement marked a turning point in American film, defined by a spirit of collaboration that’s rare today. While directors like Robert Altman and Dennis Hopper paved the way, it was the so-called ‘movie brats’—Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Brian De Palma —who truly left their mark on the 1970s. These filmmakers weren’t just colleagues; they were friends who supported each other’s creative visions, often lending a hand behind the scenes.

One of the most fascinating examples of this camaraderie came a few years after the New Hollywood era had faded. Brian De Palma was working on Scarface, a bold crime epic that captured the excess and danger of chasing wealth and power. The film, starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana, became a cultural touchstone, especially for its explosive final act. The climactic shootout, where Pacino’s character famously declares, “Say hello to my little friend,” is now legendary—but few know that Spielberg played a key role in bringing it to life.

Unexpected Setback and a Famous Visitor

During production, disaster struck. Al Pacino, in the middle of filming the intense shootout, accidentally grabbed his prop gun by the barrel, burning his hand badly enough to require a hospital visit. With his star out of commission for two weeks, De Palma faced a major challenge: how to keep the shoot moving without its lead actor. He made the most of the downtime, filming every possible angle of the action that didn’t require Pacino.

It was during this lull that Spielberg dropped by the set. Rather than just visiting, he jumped in to help. De Palma later recalled,

“Stephen wandered over, we did a few shots: ‘What do you think about this Steve, should we put another camera up here?’ ‘Why not?!’ I mean every body was shooting people, shooting at people.”

Spielberg’s input brought fresh energy and perspective to the scene, and his reputation after Jaws meant his advice was always welcome.

Collaboration at the Heart of New Hollywood

De Palma didn’t just let Spielberg watch—he handed him real responsibility.

“I gave him one of the units to shoot the Colombians coming up the staircase, so we were just shooting people getting shot for a couple of weeks. We all had great respect for each other’s work, and we were just trying to help each other out when we would see things that we thought could be improved.”

This willingness to share creative control was a hallmark of the era, and it helped make Scarface’s finale so memorable.

Even after the official end of the New Hollywood period, the bonds between these directors remained strong. Their mutual respect and readiness to pitch in—whether in the editing room or on set—shaped some of the most iconic moments in American film history. The Scarface shootout stands as a testament to what can happen when great minds come together, even in the face of unexpected setbacks.