The Public Enemy
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.
Critics Sentiment
Tom's tied corpse is propped against door and falls dead
Young Tom and Matt engage in petty theft in 1900s Chicago
The film reaches its peak with Tom's haunting walk in the rain before his final assault, then maintains high tension through the shocking delivery of his corpse.
Critics consistently praised James Cagney's electrifying breakout performance, with the film building from a somewhat jerky opening to increasingly powerful and brutal moments. The grapefruit scene and rain walk became iconic, while the shocking ending left audiences deeply disturbed. Despite some early pacing issues, reviewers celebrated this as a foundational gangster film that still holds tremendous power.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 35
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)
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)
Crew
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