The Public Enemy [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Belgium ]

The photo and cast listing are deceptive. This is Jimmy Cagney's movie, his first as a tough guy instead of a song and dance man. Harlow is in half a dozen scenes as a peripheral character, and it seems as if they wrote some stuff just so they could say she was in the movie.The film dates from 1931, while Harlow was still at Warner Brothers, and before she became MGM's greatest box office draw. Apparently, the suits at Warner realized having her in the movie would sell tickets, so they sort of stuffed in a part for her.That said, Cagney is good as a tough guy, and this is the one in which he pushes the grapefruit into Mae Clark's face, even tho she is not listed nor credited in the cast.I gave it four stars as a pretty good example of a pre-code film which is gritty and has a particularly gruesome ending.

The story of Tom Powers, a street hood who fears no man and respects no woman. Cagney is all boyish charm and bravado, but little by little you start to realize his own fearless nature is his tragic flaw. The thing that makes the picture so haunting is how many, many people love him and try to reach him before it's too late. But when the end comes, it's Cagney who falls flat on his face.

I have watched a lot of gangster flicks but wanted to go back to the old days of film and see what one would be like. It is interesting that a lot of movies make you feel bad for the bad guy in some small way but this movie was different. I had no problem with what happened. It was nice to see how they shot things back then and even then it was amazing what they could do.

Great debut by James Cagney as his iconic role as gangster Tom Powers, a brutal man who is looking to be a big man . This classic Warner picture along with Little Caesar made a few years earlier made Warner the bastion of the gangster flicks . With a few scenes with great thirties seductress, Jean Harlow on loan from MGM, the chemistry is hot !. One wonders what would have happened had she stayed at Warner. A great picture and brilliant start for one of the great actors of the cinema. Directed by William Wellman.

James Cagney "delivers the goods" with this movie. Cagney was not a big man by any means but his confidence and aura was just bigger than life. Even when he plays the bad guy he is still likable in this movie. The movie's setting takes place in the 1920's prohibition era in Chicago.The special features are also great as it comes with the Warner night at the movies and a featurette..

Movie arrived on time and in good condition. I didn't care much for the film. Just a bunch of scenes with James Cagney walking around acting like an ass to everyone. Probably gets what he deserved. Reminds me of Joe Pesci's character in Goodfellas. That was a brilliant performance....this was not. Remarkable quality for an older film.

***** 1931. Directed by William A. Wellman. The screenplay earned an Academy award nomination. During the prohibition, Tom Powers and Matt Doyle become part of the Paddy Ryan gang and enjoy the mobster life. For a while. Cagney, Harlow and Blondell are great in this film any movie lover should own. At least, two scenes of THE PUBLIC ENEMY are already part of history: the grapefruit squeezed over the face of James Cagney's girl-friend and the final apparition of Cagney more spectacular than any movie of THE MUMMY serie. Masterpiece.

If you were young person who has never watched a movie from the 1930s and a James Cagney movie in particular then you can't miss this movie. This is James Cagney at his best I was not disappointed by this purchase and for the price that you pay for this movie it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see a great store from yesteryear

As i have had a previous copy of the dvd basic which for its time ,was great! the blu ray certainly does this movie justice! its sharp and the detail excellent!! for the age ! also the sound is clear! i recommend to upgrading to blu ray ! you wont be dissapointed!

loved it

Acabo de ver el BD “el enemigo público”, que compré hace unos 4-5 meses. Error mío, pues debería ver los productos que compro al poco tiempo de adquirirlos, pero claro.... no es tiempo precisamente lo que nos sobra.. El caso es que me he puesto a verla y se paraba la imagen mientras la veía unas cuantas veces. Ya no puedo devolverla a Amazon, pero por lo menos si evito que alguien la compre... Es un bluray grabado, no prensado.Mala calidad. Además no vienen subtítulos en inglés...En fin, espero que haya sido útil mi valoración...

De las primeras películas de cine negro con buen guión y mejores actores.

Cagney is a compelling screen presence: his Tom Powers bristles with unpredictability, and anticipates so many modern gangster/criminal anti-heroes, from "Reservoir Dogs" to "Goodfellas" to "Breaking Bad." The blu-ray transfer is clean and nicely balanced.