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The Public Enemy
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The Public Enemy (1931) More at IMDbPro »

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The Public Enemy (1931) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   5,672 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 20% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Kubec Glasmon (by) and
John Bright (by) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Public Enemy on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 April 1931 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
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. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win more
User Comments:
Still riveting, over 70 years later! more (81 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

James Cagney ... Tom Powers

Jean Harlow ... Gwen Allen
Edward Woods ... Matt Doyle
Joan Blondell ... Mamie
Donald Cook ... Mike Powers
Leslie Fenton ... Nails Nathan
Beryl Mercer ... Ma Powers
Robert Emmett O'Connor ... Paddy Ryan (as Robert O'Connor)
Murray Kinnell ... Putty Nose
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Clark 'Buddy' Burroughs ... Dutch (uncredited)
Mae Clarke ... Kitty (uncredited)
Frank Coghlan Jr. ... Tom as a Boy (uncredited)
George Daly ... Machine Gunner (uncredited)
Frankie Darro ... Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
Snitz Edwards ... Miller (uncredited)
Rita Flynn ... Molly Doyle (uncredited)
Dorothy Gee ... Nails' Girl (uncredited)
Douglas Gerrard ... Assistant Tailor (uncredited)
Dorothy Gray ... Little Girl (uncredited)
Ben Hendricks Jr. ... 'Bugs' Moran as a Boy (uncredited)
Robert Homans ... Officer Pat Burke (uncredited)
Eddie Kane ... Joe - Headwaiter (uncredited)
Mia Marvin ... Jane (uncredited)
Sam McDaniel ... Headwaiter (uncredited)
Helen Parrish ... Little Girl (uncredited)
Lee Phelps ... Steve - Bartender (uncredited)
Russ Powell ... Bartender (uncredited)
Purnell Pratt ... Officer Powers (uncredited)
Nanci Price ... Little Girl (uncredited)
Landers Stevens ... Doctor (uncredited)
William H. Strauss ... Pawnbroker (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan ... Mug (uncredited)
Lucille Ward ... Larry Dalton's Weeping Mother (uncredited)
Adele Watson ... Mrs. Doyle (uncredited)
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Directed by
William A. Wellman 
 
Writing credits
Kubec Glasmon (by) and
John Bright (by)

Harvey F. Thew (screen adaptation) (as Harvey Thew)

Produced by
Darryl F. Zanuck .... producer (uncredited)
 
Cinematography by
Devereaux Jennings (photography by) (as Dev Jennings)
 
Film Editing by
Edward M. McDermott  (as Edw. M. McDermott)
 
Casting by
Rufus Le Maire (uncredited)
 
Art Direction by
Max Parker 
 
Costume Design by
Edward Stevenson (uncredited)
 
Makeup Department
Perc Westmore .... makeup artist (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dolph Zimmer .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Harvey Parry .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Irving Glassberg .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Frank Kesson .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Nelson Laraby .... director of photography: additional photography (uncredited)
William Reinhold .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Al Roberts .... camera operator (uncredited)
William Schurr .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Harry L. Underwood .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Willard Van Enger .... camera operator (uncredited)
Sidney Wagner .... director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Scotty Welbourne .... still photographer (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Earl Luick .... wardrobe
 
Music Department
David Mendoza .... conductor: Vitaphone Orchestra
David Mendoza .... composer: title music (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Dillingham .... production assistant (uncredited)
W.L. Guthrie .... location manager (uncredited)
Newitt .... production assistant (uncredited)
Clem Peoples .... technical advisor (uncredited)
Rule .... production assistant (uncredited)
Whitmore .... production assistant (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Beer and Blood (USA) (working title)
Enemies of the Public (UK)
more
Runtime:
83 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Brunswick)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
At about half an hour into the film, there is a sign indicating a showing of the Duke Ellington film, Black and Tan (1929). 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). more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the scene were Tom and Mike are talking at the kitchen table Tom's hat brim goes from being up to down without Tom touching it. more
Quotes:
Tom Powers: So beer ain't good enough for you, huh?
Mike Powers: Do you think I care if there was just beer in that keg? I know what's in it. I know what you've been doing all this time, how you got those clothes and those new cars. You've been telling Ma that you've gone into politics, that you're on the city payroll. Pat Burke told me everything. You murderers! There's not only beer in that jug. There's beer and blood - blood of men!
[Mike throws the keg into the corner, smashing Mrs Powers' table and causing a racket]
Tom Powers: [Stands] You ain't changed a bit.
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Edited into Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) more
Soundtrack:
I Surrender Dear more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 7 people found the following comment useful.
Still riveting, over 70 years later!, 6 April 2004
9/10
Author: free101girl from Colorado Springs, CO

Most films made in the early 30s are entertaining only as period pieces that give us a glimpse into another era. Often they are so dated that they've become unintentionally funny.

The Public Enemy is a totally different thing. It is such a well-crafted and honest film that it still has the power to shock us. The violence in this film is every bit as brutal as anything in a modern "gangsta" flick, even though some of it takes place off-camera.

Based on the stills I had seen of the grapefruit scene, I thought it would be a light-hearted moment. In fact, it's anything but. In that encounter, Cagney's character exhibits a total disregard for others that is downright chilling.

The final scene is extremely disturbing. You won't forget it.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Public Enemy (1931)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Incorrect story facts reeno1547
Bad Acting WardenGordonBorden
My James Cagney Tribute Website Crusadia
Does anyone feel sorry for Putty Nose when Tom kills him? mlraymond
Remake? ratatatcat29
shooting the horse Davina-8
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