The Public Enemy (1931) | |
| Director(s) | William A. Wellman |
| Producer(s) | Darryl F. Zanuck (uncredited) |
| Top Genres | Action, Crime, Drama |
| Top Topics | Alcohol, Book-Based, Brothers, Gangsters, Pre-Code Cinema, Prohibition, True Story (based on) |
Featured Cast:
The Public Enemy Overview:
The Public Enemy (1931) was a Action - Crime Film directed by William A. Wellman and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck.
The film was based on the novel Beer and Blood written by John Bright published in unpublished.
The Public Enemy was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1998.
Academy Awards 1930/31 --- Ceremony Number 4 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Writing | John Bright, Kubec Glasmon | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
Revisitando o “Inimigo P?blico” (1931) / Revisiting “The Public Enemy” (1931)
By L? on Dec 9, 2018 From Critica RetroRevisitando o “Inimigo P?blico” (1931) / Revisiting “The Public Enemy” (1931) ESTE ARTIGO TEM SPOILERS THIS ARTICLE HAS SPOILERS Assim como a maioria dos adolescentes, eu era rebelde e nem sempre me dava bem com a minha fam?lia. Ao contr?rio da maioria dos adolesc... Read full article
DOUBLE BILL #12: The Public Enemy (1931) and Angels With Dirty Faces (1938)
By Carol Martinheira on Mar 9, 2018 From The Old Hollywood GardenDOUBLE BILL #12: The Public Enemy (1931) and Angels With Dirty Faces (1938) On March 9, 2018 By CarolIn Uncategorized James Cagney once said about acting, ?Learn your lines, find your mark, look ?em in the eye and tell ?em the truth.? And he did. That was the thing abo... Read full article
Pre-Code Crazy: The Public Enemy (1931)
By shadowsandsatin on Feb 1, 2015 From Shadows and SatinI love gangster movies from the 1930s, but for reasons that are not quite clear to me, I usually don?t watch them over and over like I do with so many of my other favorites. (Hmm.) As a result, when I recently watched?The Public Enemy?(1931), my Pre-Code Crazy pick for this month, I felt almost as i... Read full article
The Public Enemy*: the Crime Flick with No Glamour?
By Judy on Jul 31, 2014 From Cary Grant Won't Eat YouHaving attacked James Cagney in a previous post, but seen few of his films, I thought I owed it to him to watch one of his hits. I found The Public Enemy on a streaming site and rec list (thanks, John!) and was instantly sucked into this understated gem. The hyperbolic title of the film suggests it... Read full article
The Public Enemy*: the Crime Flick with No Glamour?
By Judy on Jul 31, 2014 From Cary Grant Won't Eat YouHaving attacked James Cagney in a previous post, but seen few of his films, I thought I owed it to him to watch one of his hits. I found The Public Enemy on a streaming site and rec list (thanks, John!) and was instantly sucked into this understated gem. The hyperbolic title of the film suggests it... Read full article
See all The Public Enemy articles
Quotes from
Gwen Allen: You are different, Tommy. Very different. And I've discovered it isn't only a difference in manner and outward appearances. It's a difference in basic character. The men I know - and I've known dozens of them - oh, they're so nice, so polished, so considerate. Most women like that type. I guess they're afraid of the other kind. I thought I was too, but you're so strong. You don't give, you take. Oh, Tommy, I could love you to death.
[Tommy and Gwen embrace and kiss passionately]
Tom Powers: [Tom shuffles to the breakfast table in his pajamas. He's just finished a demanding call with Nails Nathan] Ain't you got a drink in the house?
Kitty: Well, not before breakfast, dear.
Tom Powers: [immediately annoyed] ... I didn't ask you for any lip. I asked you if you had a drink.
Kitty: [sheepishly] I know Tom, but I, I wish that...
Tom Powers: ...there you go with that wishin' stuff again. I wish you was a wishing well. So that I could tie a bucket to ya and sink ya.
Kitty: Well, maybe you've found someone you like better.
[Tom is enraged and disgusted by her implication. He grimaces and shoves a grapefruit in her face as he leaves the table]
read more quotes from The Public Enemy...
Facts about
At about half an hour into the film, there is a sign indicating a showing of the Duke Ellington film, Black and Tan. Since "The Public Enemy" has much to do with prohibition, this is a clever pun by the filmmakers, as a black and tan is also a common mixed drink (typically stout and ale, hence its name).
According to James Cagney's autobiography, Mae Clarke's ex-husband, Lew Brice, enjoyed the "grapefruit scene" so much that he went to the movie theater everyday just to watch that scene only and leave.
read more facts about The Public Enemy...
