The Public Enemy poster
Director William A. Wellman
Writer John Bright, Kubec Glasmon

The Public Enemy

Tagline: All his life he took what he wanted...Why not women?

Release Date: 1931-04-23

Duration: 83 minutes

Synopsis

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.

Casting

  • James Cagney
    Tom Powers
  • Joan Blondell
    Mamie
  • Jean Harlow
    Gwen Allen
  • Joe Sawyer
    Pool Player (uncredited)
  • Mae Clarke
    Kitty (uncredited)
  • Frankie Darro
    Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
  • Robert Homans
    Officer Pat Burke (uncredited)
  • Beryl Mercer
    Ma Powers
  • Russ Powell
    Bartender (uncredited)
  • Purnell Pratt
    Officer Powers (uncredited)