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The Public Enemy (1931)

83 min  -  Action | Crime | Drama  -   23 April 1931 (USA)
7.8
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Ratings: 7.8/10 from 8,020 users  
Reviews: 87 user | 35 critic

A young hoodlum rises up through the ranks of the Chicago underworld, even as a gangster's accidental death threatens to spark a bloody mob war.

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

Kubec Glasmon (by), John Bright (by), and 1 more credit »

Stars:

James Cagney, Jean Harlow and Edward Woods
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Still of James Cagney, Jean Harlow and Edward Woods in The Public Enemy Still of James Cagney and Edward Woods in The Public Enemy Still of James Cagney and Edward Woods in The Public Enemy Still of James Cagney and Edward Woods in The Public Enemy Still of James Cagney and Edward Woods in The Public Enemy Still of James Cagney in The Public Enemy
32 photos | 1 video | 53 news articles | full cast and crew »

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Cagney ...
Jean Harlow ...
Edward Woods Edward Woods ...
Joan Blondell ...
Donald Cook Donald Cook ...
Leslie Fenton Leslie Fenton ...
Beryl Mercer Beryl Mercer ...
Robert Emmett O'Connor Robert Emmett O'Connor ...
Paddy Ryan (as Robert O'Connor)
Murray Kinnell Murray Kinnell ...
Full cast and crew »
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Storyline

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. Written by Huggo  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Prohibition | Gangster | Gang War | Grapefruit | Best Friend  | See more »

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Enemies of the Public See more »

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros. Pictures See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Brunswick)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

At about half an hour into the film, there is a sign indicating a showing of the Duke Ellington film, Black and Tan. Since "The Public Enemy" has much to do with prohibition, this is a clever pun by the filmmakers, as a black and tan is also a common mixed drink (typically stout and ale, hence its name). See more »

Goofs

Continuity: As Tom and Matt leave the fur warehouse after their abortive robbery attempt early in the film, Matt is clearly seen throwing down his gun on the roof of the building; but after they slide down the drainpipe and run to freedom through the alley both Tom AND Matt throw their guns onto a nearby roof, even though we have already seen Matt discard his. See more »

Quotes

Tom Powers: [Tom stumbles from a gun fight gone wrong with the rival gang. He's barely walking and soaked from the rain] ... I ain't so tough.
[Tom collapses in the gutter]
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Scorsese on Scorsese (2004) See more »

Soundtracks

"I Surrender Dear"
(1931) (uncredited)
Music by Harry Barris
Played in Gwen's apartment See more »