- Actors: James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Edward Woods, Joan Blondell, Donald Cook
- Directors: William A. Wellman
- Producers: Darryl F. Zanuck
- Format: PAL, Black & White, Full Screen, Mono
- Language English
- Subtitles: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.37:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- Run Time: 79 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000NL53BC
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 31,657 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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The Public Enemy showcases James Cagney's powerful 1931 breakthrough performance as streetwise tough guy Tom Powers.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Considering its age, this film has scrubbed up very nicely for this DVD re-issue, with sharp images and good sound.
The great James Cagney plays Tom Powers, a streetwise hood with no regard for man, woman or beast, in what was to be the first of a series of leading roles in which he portrayed a variety of tough guys and gangsters. His performance is brilliant in conveying the sort of charisma that enables this type of character to attract a following amongst other lowlifes and criminals without suggesting, however, that Tom Powers is anything other than a sordid, selfish little hoodlum.
Although one or two of the older supporting actors in the cast still adopt a rather stilted delivery of their lines, which must have been a remnant of earlier days in the theatre, most of the cast play their parts in a colloquial manner and this movie is as watchable today, and its message as relevant, as it must have been almost eighty years ago.
The disc extras include an interesting running commentary on the film by Robert Sklar,contemporary newsreels,and a featurette entitled Enemies of the Public.
Warmly recommended!
The great James Cagney plays Tom Powers, a streetwise hood with no regard for man, woman or beast, in what was to be the first of a series of leading roles in which he portrayed a variety of tough guys and gangsters. His performance is brilliant in conveying the sort of charisma that enables this type of character to attract a following amongst other lowlifes and criminals without suggesting, however, that Tom Powers is anything other than a sordid, selfish little hoodlum.
Although one or two of the older supporting actors in the cast still adopt a rather stilted delivery of their lines, which must have been a remnant of earlier days in the theatre, most of the cast play their parts in a colloquial manner and this movie is as watchable today, and its message as relevant, as it must have been almost eighty years ago.
The disc extras include an interesting running commentary on the film by Robert Sklar,contemporary newsreels,and a featurette entitled Enemies of the Public.
Warmly recommended!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Warner Bros. Pictures presents "THE PUBLIC ENEMY" (23 April 1931) (84 min/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Friends Tom and Matt go from small time to big time crime during prohibition --- Tom tires of his mistress Kitty (he pushes a grapefruit into her face) and falls for Gwen who resists his advances except when it looks as though he might dump her --- When Matt is killed, Tom goes after the murderers.
"The Public Enemy" was Cagney's breakout film, and really he makes a powerful and accurate job --- Strong acting is provided by the whole cast --- The director William A. Wellmann handles the movie with sound talent.
Mae Clarke was immortalized as the recipient of James Cagney's classic grapefruit-in-the-face.
Academy Award nominations for Best Writing & Best Original Story
Under the production staff of:
William A. Wellman [Director]
Kubec Glasmon [Screenplay]
John Bright [Screenplay]
Harvey F. Thew [Screen adaptation]
Darryl F. Zanuck [Producer]
Devereaux Jennings [Cinematographer]
Edward M. McDermott [Film Editor]
BIOS:
1. William A. Wellman [Director]
Date of Birth: 29 February 1896 - Brookline, Massachusetts
Date of Death: 9 December 1975 - Los Angeles, California
2. James Cagney [aka: James Francis Cagney]
Date of Birth: 17 July 1899 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 30 March 1986 - Stanfordville, New York
the cast includes:
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
Murray Kinnell - Putty Nose
Clark Burroughs - Dutch
Mae Clarke ... Kitty
Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]
Total Time: 84 min on DVD ~ Warner Bros. Pictures ~ (01/25/2005)
"The Public Enemy" was Cagney's breakout film, and really he makes a powerful and accurate job --- Strong acting is provided by the whole cast --- The director William A. Wellmann handles the movie with sound talent.
Mae Clarke was immortalized as the recipient of James Cagney's classic grapefruit-in-the-face.
Academy Award nominations for Best Writing & Best Original Story
Under the production staff of:
William A. Wellman [Director]
Kubec Glasmon [Screenplay]
John Bright [Screenplay]
Harvey F. Thew [Screen adaptation]
Darryl F. Zanuck [Producer]
Devereaux Jennings [Cinematographer]
Edward M. McDermott [Film Editor]
BIOS:
1. William A. Wellman [Director]
Date of Birth: 29 February 1896 - Brookline, Massachusetts
Date of Death: 9 December 1975 - Los Angeles, California
2. James Cagney [aka: James Francis Cagney]
Date of Birth: 17 July 1899 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 30 March 1986 - Stanfordville, New York
the cast includes:
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
Murray Kinnell - Putty Nose
Clark Burroughs - Dutch
Mae Clarke ... Kitty
Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]
Total Time: 84 min on DVD ~ Warner Bros. Pictures ~ (01/25/2005)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Public Enemy, 1931; WB 2005 release - Powerful stuff from James Cagney in his breakthrough film
8 Mar 2011
Format:DVD
A must see for all lovers of classic gangster films. Released at about the same time as Little Caesar, this is a tough, uncompromising look at the life of a bootlegger, through a formative childhood and into an adulthood full of danger and big rewards for the survivors. It also features a tough, uncompromising, charismatic and career defining performance from a young James Cagney in his breakthrough film.
It tells the story of Tom Powers, born into a poor but respectable family. Episodes from his childhood show him to be a tearaway, and inevitably he turns to a life of crime. Being an enforcer for a local bootlegger gives his psychotic side full reign, and soon he is a rich man. Then things start to go wrong and a gang war leaves a lot of his friends dead. Powers sets out on a mission of retribution that can only have one end.
Framed as a moral tale, suggesting that people like Powers are the enemy of law abiding decent folks but that their end is inevitable, it is an interesting film on many levels. First and foremost though it is an entertainment, we cannot help but be thrilled as Powers lurches from one escapade to the next, driven to disaster by his own self destructive egotistical streak. Cagney gives the performance his all, and imbues the character with a magnetic charm and a real feeling of glowering menace. We never know just when he will erupt into violence. It made his career, and rightly so.
Released in 1931 it is hard to believe that this was right at the start of the talkies. The dialogue is accomplished from both writers and actors. There is very little of the overdone facial acting that crops up in a lot of early talkies as a hangover from the days of silent cinema. It is a document of its times, and portrays them accurately, but in terms of the film style and the acting it does not seem to have dated and feels fresh and vibrant even 80 years on.
This release is very good, with a really clean and crisp picture transfer and soundtrack in excellent condition. It is the best quality release I have seen for this film. 5 stars all round.
It tells the story of Tom Powers, born into a poor but respectable family. Episodes from his childhood show him to be a tearaway, and inevitably he turns to a life of crime. Being an enforcer for a local bootlegger gives his psychotic side full reign, and soon he is a rich man. Then things start to go wrong and a gang war leaves a lot of his friends dead. Powers sets out on a mission of retribution that can only have one end.
Framed as a moral tale, suggesting that people like Powers are the enemy of law abiding decent folks but that their end is inevitable, it is an interesting film on many levels. First and foremost though it is an entertainment, we cannot help but be thrilled as Powers lurches from one escapade to the next, driven to disaster by his own self destructive egotistical streak. Cagney gives the performance his all, and imbues the character with a magnetic charm and a real feeling of glowering menace. We never know just when he will erupt into violence. It made his career, and rightly so.
Released in 1931 it is hard to believe that this was right at the start of the talkies. The dialogue is accomplished from both writers and actors. There is very little of the overdone facial acting that crops up in a lot of early talkies as a hangover from the days of silent cinema. It is a document of its times, and portrays them accurately, but in terms of the film style and the acting it does not seem to have dated and feels fresh and vibrant even 80 years on.
This release is very good, with a really clean and crisp picture transfer and soundtrack in excellent condition. It is the best quality release I have seen for this film. 5 stars all round.
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