| | Public Enemy DVD (3 Customer Reviews)
| Category | Dramas DVDs, Thriller Movies, Suspense Videos, Crime, Recommended, Vintage, Organized Crime, AFI Top 50 Villains | | Starring | James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Joan Blondell, Mae Clarke, Beryl Mercer, Leslie Fenton, Donald Cook, Edward Woods | | Director | William Wellman | | Cinematographer | Devereaux Jennings | | Composer | David Mendoza | | Editor | Ed McCormick | | Producer | Darryl F. Zanuck | | Production Designer | Max Parker | | Writer | Kubec Glasmon |
James Cagney gives a tour-de-force performance in his tough-guy portrayal of a petty hoodlum who rises to big-time gangster. Director: William Wellman. Actors: James Cagney. Tom Powers enjoys proving to others why he is the Prohibition era's public enemy number one. But things are about to change. In William Wellman's classic crime film THE PUBLIC ENEMY, James Cagney does a star turn as Tom Powers, a trouble-ridden individual who rises from the position of cheap thug to that of a powerful Prohibition gangster. When his best friend is murdered, Powers self-destructively seeks deadly retaliation. He picks fights. He slaps women around. He roughs up speakeasy owners and tells them whom they'll get their hooch from and how much they'll order. Fists, kisses, and guns are the only things Tom knows. He eventually gets promoted to become the muscleman of mobster Nails Nathan (Leslie Fenton). But Tom's violent acts are about to catch up with him. After Tom guns down a cop, he's on the run. Later, thugs dump him, beaten, on the doorstep of his estranged and horrified family. It's only then that Tom realizes his decision to live the gangster life has been an irrevocable and deadly choice. Known as the picture that launched Cagney into stardom, THE PUBLIC ENEMY doesn't hold back from exposing the violence and tedium underscoring this ostensibly sexy life of crime. The screenplay, based on a story entitled BEER AND BLOOD by John Bright and written by Harvey F. Thew, was nominated for an Academy Award. PUBLIC ENEMY was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1998.
This is the famed gangster tale in which Cagney pushes a grapefruit into Mae Clark's face.
In the second show of THE SOPRANOS third season, Tony Soprano watched THE PUBLIC ENEMY, taken with the relationship between the gangster and his mother. Public Enemy Quotes/Excerpts: "I ain't so tough."--Tom Powers (James Cagney) Public Enemy Reviews: "[S]eductively enthralling..."
-- Tim Purtell, Entertainment Weekly "[Cagney] became a sensation with his searing performance as the streetwise gangster Tom Powers in this William Wellman classic."-- Susan King, Los Angeles Times "...Cagney is magnificent, totally dominating the screen..." -- 4 out of 5 stars
-- Nev Pierce, Total Film Public Enemy | List Price | $19.97 (You save $5.48) | | Studio | Warner Home Video | | Orig Year | 1931 | | All Time Sales Rank |  8650  | | CD Universe Part number | 6805728 | | Catalog number | 66906 | | Discs | 1 | | Release Date | Jan 25, 2005 | | Rating | Not Rated | | Also Known As | Enemies of the Public | | Running Time | 82 Minutes | | Additional Info | Full Frame | | Movie Details | B&W; Full Frame |
Public Enemy Movie Review Average Rating: (3.7 out of 5 stars)   Great Performance
Cagney at his best.
Submitted by creb3000p (Philly) 
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A POWERHOUSE !!
This is one of my absolute favorite Cagney films. This is gripping, and its a masterful work. Its the big city, its violent and its over the top. You got to remember, this was in the early 30's, the film depicts the crimes of its day. Its a powerful film. The story I heard from WB, was that this is based on a true story. It was sold to a reporter. The surprise ending of this film is too weird to be scripted by a writer --- its disturbing to me this day. This happened in Chicago. Also, look for the scene where the bullets rip off the side of the building, Cagney almost got his face blown off, those were real bullets, he did his own stunts. I cant say enough good things about this movie, its entertainment, its a great morality story. My uncle showed this to me when I was 7 years old so I wouldnt go into a life of crime. Its been my favorite film ever since. Get this movie, its explosive.
Submitted by tcantu (walled lake, MI)
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Not a good movie.Dissapointing
Submitted by Richieeei (New York City)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 0 of 2 found this helpful.
One of Cagney's Best
I love this movie. The acting and directing are top notch, the characters breathe, and Cagney is as good as he's ever been. In these days of brainless entertainment it is wonderful to have to work at a movie. One of my favourites.
Submitted by a reviewer (New York City)
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Public Enemy DVD James Cagney gives a tour-de-force performance in his tough-guy portrayal of a petty hoodlum who rises to big-time gangster.
Source: Warner Home Video
Region [unknown]
Keep Case
Full Frame -
1.33
Audio:
Mono
1.0 English
Public Enemy Video Angels with Dirty Faces, Bugsy, Captains of the Clouds, Cotton Club, Dead End, Gangster No. 1, Heat, Hell's Angels, Pepe Le Moko, Public Enemies, Scarface, Sopranos - The Complete Fourth Season, Tough Guys of Hollywood Movies, White Heat Purchase Public Enemy Movie To buy, Click on price to add to cart | Aguirre, The Wrath Of God DVD (1973)
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