Movie Information
Overall Rank: 3106
Average Rating: 2.8/4
# of Ratings: 56
Theatrical Release Date: 04/23/1931
Language: English
Genre: Action, Crime
MPAA Rating: NR
Director: William A. Wellman
Actors: James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Edward Woods, Joan Blondell, Donald Cook, Leslie Fenton
Plot: Two friends grow up doing jobs for gangsters, and so they become gangsters
themselves. -- sapien
Quick Movie Reviews
Rating of
3.5/4
Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 05/19/2023
Along with "Little Caesar," "The Public Enemy" remains an enduring early gangster flick that's still influential today.
Rating of
3/4
sapien - wrote on 03/05/2010
The ending was excellent. In fact, the entire movie was excellent.
Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
2/4
"The Public Enemy" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 01/25/2012
James Cagney's breaking role sees him as one of the original "hoodlums", tracing his steps from young tearaway to enforcer during the prohibition years. Pretty much the template for every gangster film to come after, The Public Enemy was a groundbreaker that inevitably had its hands tied by the strict moralistic code that straight jacketed the industry at the time, which in retrospect can be seen to have been rather counterproductive. Without seeing the consequences of his violent crimes on-screen, the cocky and charismatic Cagney is actually quite an appealing character compared to his moralistic but seemingly self righteous and pompous brother. Particularly in the face of such a ridiculous law as prohibition. It has some very memorable scenes, especially the infamous "grapefruit" scene …
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