The Public Enemy

United States

1931

83 Min

Black and White

1.37:1

English

Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
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SCR Kubec Glasmon, John Bright, Harvey F. Thew

CAST James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Edward Woods, Joan Blondell, Mae Clarke, Robert Emmett O'Connor

Tom Powers and Matt Doyle are best friends and fellow gangsters, their lives frowned upon by Tom’s straight laced brother, Mike, and Matt’s straight laced sister, Molly. From their teen-aged years into young adulthood, Tom and Matt have an increasingly lucrative life, bootlegging during the Prohibition era. But Tom in particular becomes more and more brazen in what he is willing to do, and becomes more obstinate and violent against those who either disagree with him or cross him. When one of their colleagues dies in a freak accident, a rival bootlegging faction senses weakness among Tom and Matt’s gang, which is led by Paddy Ryan. A gang war ensues, resulting in Paddy suggesting that Tom and Matt lay low. But because of Tom’s basic nature, he decides instead to take matters into his own hands. —IMDb

Director

William A. Wellman

William A.Wellman, the Oscar-winning director-screenwriter producer, was nicknamed “Wild Bill” because his larger-than life personality was as dynamic and freewheeling as one of his movies. TCM’s salute to this film legend includes a revised version of Richard Schickel’s The Men Who Made the Movies: William Wellman,made in 1973 and now updated with new interview material, re-mastered footage and a new narration by director Sydney Pollack. Joining host Robert Osborne to introduce and discuss TCM’s lineup of films is the filmmaker’s son, actor-producer-author William Wellman Jr.

Wellman (1896-1975) was born in Brookline, Mass., and saw action in World War I as part of the famous Lafayette Flying Corps. Between 1920 and 1923 he rose from bit actor to director of Hollywood films and made his name as a major filmmaker by directing the 1927 Wings, which won the first Best Picture Oscar®. He went on to create a wide variety of movies, and our festival is divided into genres in which… read more

Social Issue Films include The Public Enemy (1931), the hard hitting movie that turned James Cagney into a star and helped make gangster films the sensation of the decade. Wellman brought a more thoughtful approach to the Western The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), a classic indictment of mob violence. Wellman’s Pre-Codes, movies made before the Motion Picture Production Code cracked down on uninhibited portrayals of sex and violence, include two earthy Barbara Stanwyck vehicles. Night Nurse (1931) has the actress sashaying in her undies and foiling a plot to murder two children, while The Purchase Price (1932) casts her as a “kept woman” who becomes a mail-order bride.

Among Wellman’s Romances is the wacky comedy Nothing Sacred (1937), which gave Carole Lombard one of hermost delightful vehicles. It’s said that the set on this one was in a constant state of pandemonium because of the practical jokes Wellman and Lombard played on each other. Wellman won the Oscar® for Best Story for the original version of A Star Is Born (also 1937). Aviation Films range from Central Airport (1933), which includes aerial stunts that remain impressive for their day; to The High and the Mighty (1954), the original airliner-in distress epic that brought Wellman a Best Director Oscar nomination. Adventures directed by Wellman include Westward the Women (1951), about a wagon trail of females headed for California; and Track of the Cat (1954), an unusual Western distinguished by Welllman’s striking use of muted color with occasional bright accents. —TCM Spotlight

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ruby stevens

25Apr12

cagney embarks on a life of crime and his presence can't be denied. edward woods was originally cast as tom until wellman swapped them out after witnessing the force of cagney's persona, jumpstarting the trend of casting 'common man' types in warner's depression era films. louise brooks was offered the female lead and turned it down, leaving the part open for newcomer jean harlow, and the rest is history

Greg S.

10Feb12

The vignettes of Powers as a kid underscore the whole film. Tom really never grows up, he's always a child who is a product of his environment just trying to keep up. Consider him recieving his first gun for Xmas, or how he's sexually intimidated by Harlow (who's made up to look a bit scary). Most of all consider how the rival gangsters are never seen, just going to show how lost little Tommy really is. Must see.

Dave

29May11

Cagney coming into his own in the role that catapulted him to stardom. It is among the finest examples of the classic gangster film and is still a joy to watch to this day. A classic of the 1930s that lives up to its reputation.