gangster,anti hero,tragedy,organized crime,best friend,juvenile delinquent,pre-code,grapefruit

The Public Enemy (1931)

Poster for The Public Enemy

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.

Cast & Crew

Director
William A. Wellman
  • Profile picture of James Cagney
    Tom Powers James Cagney
  • Profile picture of Jean Harlow
    Gwen Allen Jean Harlow
  • Profile picture of Edward Woods
    Matt Doyle Edward Woods
  • Profile picture of Joan Blondell
    Mamie Joan Blondell
  • Profile picture of Donald Cook
    Mike Powers Donald Cook
  • Profile picture of Leslie Fenton
    Samuel 'Nails' Nathan Leslie Fenton
  • Profile picture of Beryl Mercer
    Ma Powers Beryl Mercer
  • Profile picture of Robert Emmett O'Connor
    Paddy Ryan Robert Emmett O'Connor

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Keywords

  • gangster
  • anti hero
  • tragedy
  • organized crime
  • best friend
  • juvenile delinquent
  • pre-code
  • grapefruit