Raft's big break came when cast as the second lead, alongside Paul Muni as Tony Camonte, in "Scarface", directed by Howard Hawks where he played second-in-command Guino Rinaldo, who falls in love with Camonte's sister and is murdered by him. Raft's performance was notable for his character's frequently flipping a coin (a nickel) during scenes, which became an iconic trope in gangster films. While others claimed credit for this gangster mannerism, writer W.R. Burnett said it was Raft. "He realized he wasn't a good actor, which he wasn't. But he knew if he reacted to what other people said, he was effective." The film was shot in September 1931, but not released by United Artists until the following year. It was a landmark hit, and was a star-making role for Raft.