The Public Enemy (1931)
All his life he took what he wanted...Why not women?
Two young Chicago hoodlums, Tom Powers and Matt Doyle, rise up from their poverty-stricken slum life to become petty thieves, bootleggers and cold-blooded killers. But with street notoriety and newfound wealth, the duo feels the heat from the cops and rival gangsters both. Despite his ruthless criminal reputation, Tom tries to remain connected to his family, however, gang warfare and the need for revenge eventually pull him away.
Director: William A. Wellman
Genre: Crime, Drama
Runtime: 84 min
Release Date: April 23, 1931
Cast
- James Cagney - Tom Powers
- Jean Harlow - Gwen Allen
- Edward Woods - Matt Doyle
- Joan Blondell - Mamie
- Donald Cook - Mike Powers
- Leslie Fenton - Samuel 'Nails' Nathan
- Beryl Mercer - Ma Powers
- Robert Emmett O'Connor - Paddy Ryan
- Murray Kinnell - Putty Nose
- Clark Burroughs - Dutch (uncredited)
Screenplay
- Kubec Glasmon
- John Bright
- Harvey F. Thew (Adaptation)
Cinematography: Devereaux Jennings
Editing: Edward M. McDermott
Production: The Vitaphone Corporation, Warner Bros. Pictures
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Budget: $151,000
Box Office: $557,000
Original Language: en
Themes
Broken Homes and Juvenile Delinquency, Heartbreaking Tragic Losses, Stories of Heartbreak and Suffering
Keywords
gangster, anti hero, tragedy, organized crime, best friend, juvenile delinquent, pre-code, grapefruit
Trailer
The Public Enemy TrailerSimilar Movies
More Films by Director: William A. Wellman
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is The Public Enemy about?
- Two young Chicago hoodlums, Tom Powers and Matt Doyle, rise up from their poverty-stricken slum life to become petty thieves, bootleggers and cold-blooded killers. But with street notoriety and newfound wealth, the duo feels the heat from the cops and rival gangsters both. Despite his ruthless criminal reputation, Tom tries to remain connected to his family, however, gang warfare and the need for revenge eventually pull him away.
- Who directed The Public Enemy?
- The Public Enemy was directed by William A. Wellman.
- Who stars in The Public Enemy?
- The Public Enemy stars James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Edward Woods, Joan Blondell, Donald Cook, Leslie Fenton.
- How long is The Public Enemy?
- The Public Enemy has a runtime of 1h 24m (84 minutes).
- What genre is The Public Enemy?
- The Public Enemy is a Crime, Drama film.
- What is the budget of The Public Enemy?
- The Public Enemy had a budget of $151,000.
- How much did The Public Enemy gross?
- The Public Enemy grossed $557,000 worldwide.
- Where was The Public Enemy produced?
- The Public Enemy was produced in United States of America.
- What are the themes of The Public Enemy?
- The themes of The Public Enemy include: Broken Homes and Juvenile Delinquency, Heartbreaking Tragic Losses, Stories of Heartbreak and Suffering.