Do you think Frank Sanchez is similar to Tony Montana?

JimmyBond0129 · June 2009

Everytime I see Robert Davi's performance in Licence to Kill I can't help but think of Al Pacino's performance in Scarface because both characters were drug barons, they sold cocaine and they were eventually killed. But the one notable difference between Montana and Sanchez is that Tony actually had some morals.

Dan Same · June 2009

Sanchez had morals; he believed in loyalty, for example. Truth be told, I don't think they were all that similar. Montana has always reminded me of a 30's James Cagney-type gangster, while Sanchez is more of a businessman who happens to sell drugs.

Hardyboy · June 2009

Interesting you'd say Montano reminds you of a '30s gangster, since Scarface is a remake of the classic '30s film starring Paul Muni! Anyway, I don't see much resemblance between the characters myself: Pacino's Montano is an out-of-control, egomaniacal drug addict; while Davi's Sanchez is cool, methodical, and business-like. I can't imagine him consuming his own product--or lusting after his own sister!

Dan Same · June 2009

Hardyboy wrote:

Interesting you'd say Montano reminds you of a '30s gangster, since Scarface is a remake of the classic '30s film starring Paul Muni!

Indeed. It's a really good film (although nowhere near as good as the De Palma version IMO).

I actually think however that Pacino's similarities to 30's gangsters goes beyond that. I think he's more similar to some of Cagney's gangsters, such as in The Public Enemy or White Heat (a late 40's film) than he was to Muni. IMO Pacino was in fact, performative wise, extremely different from Muni, who was much less theatrical than Pacino ever was. Cagney has always struck me as the Al Pacino of his day.

JimmyBond0129 · June 2009

Dan Same wrote:

Sanchez had morals; he believed in loyalty, for example. Truth be told, I don't think they were all that similar. Montana has always reminded me of a 30's James Cagney-type gangster, while Sanchez is more of a businessman who happens to sell drugs.

Well in Scarface Montana says "I never **** ed anybody over in my life who didn't have it coming to them." In Licence to Kill Sanchez **** ed Felix Lighter over and Lighter wasn't even the one responsible for his apprehension. Also it was pretty amoral for Sanchez to kill an innocent woman like Della.

In Scarface Tony didn't want to assassinate that Bolivian anti-government activist because he was with his wife and kids at the time.

Loeffelholz · June 2009

JimmyBond0129 wrote:

Well in Scarface Montana says "I never fucked anybody over in my life who didn't have it coming to them." In Licence to Kill Sanchez fucked Felix Lighter over and Lighter wasn't even the one responsible for his apprehension. Also it was pretty amoral for Sanchez to kill an innocent woman like Della.

In Scarface Tony didn't want to assassinate that Bolivian anti-government activist because he was with his wife and kids at the time.

A good point, Jimmy! Although you may be chided for revealing spoilers, if there's any consistency in the world at all

One of the great, classic ironies in De Palma's Scarface is

...Tony Montana's ultimate undoing by his refusal to cross that particular moral line.

JimmyBond0129 · June 2009

Loeffelholz wrote:

A good point, Jimmy! Although you may be chided for revealing spoilers, if there's any consistency in the world at all One of the great, classic ironies in De Palma's Scarface is

...Tony Montana's ultimate undoing by his refusal to cross that particular moral line.

Well I tried to be as vague as possible but I suppose that is a bit of a spoiler.

Sir Hillary Bray · June 2009

If Sanchez is comparable to anyone in De Palma's Scarface, to me it would be to Alejandro Sosa, who like Sanchez lived in classy trappings and whose suave exterior concealed a ruthless thug.

Had he survived, Dario would have turned into a Tony Montana type.

Blackleiter · September 2009

That would Franz Sanchez, not Frank, correct?

0013 · October 2009

The thing about Sanchez is he's almost entirley belivable, more so than say most Bond Villains. No plan to 'Take over ze world!' with nuclear bombs, or plauges (though one could say drugs are a plauge, a man made one)
Yeah there are similarities, but Sanchez is more cultured, whereas Montana is more of a vulgarian with money, lavish and flash with the cash.

That said, I can't knock there tastes in weaponry. Sanchez the Micro Uzi, and stingers,
Montana with the M16A2 and a M203 grenade launcher..

"Say hello to my little friend!"

PPK 7.65mm · October 2009

Given that both men are hispanic and came from poor backround, which led them to a life of crime in the drug trade of the 1980's yes I can see a little comparison between them. In the Licence To Kill tie in novel, Sanchez is explored more than he is in the finished film. His mother was German and his father was Panamanian, also like in the finished film their many different times John Gardner reference's how much Sanchez values loyalty in his organization. His having placed Dario as the main enforcer is shown as the best example of this. Unlike Truman Lodge or Heller, Sanchez clears knows that Dario would anything Sanchez ordered him to do even it ment certain death. Tony Montana on the other hand is a raving power crazed madman, who as many of you stated fell victim to his own ego in the end. Also Sanchez up until the climax of LTK is pretty in control of his emotions when committing killing were as Tony clearly gets off on the act of killing, using his bottled up rage to fuel his blood lust.

Do you think Frank Sanchez is similar to Tony Montana?

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