William Wellman's landmark gangster movie traces the rise and fall of prohibition-era mobster Tom Powers. We are first shown various episodes of Tom's childhood with the corrupting influences of the beer hall, pool parlor, and false friends like minor-league fence Putty Nose. As young adults, Tom (James Cagney) and his pal, Matt Doyle (Edward Woods), are hired by ruthless but innately decent bootlegger Paddy Ryan (Robert Emmett O'Connor). The boys quickly rise to the top of the heap, with all the accoutrements of success: ...
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William Wellman's landmark gangster movie traces the rise and fall of prohibition-era mobster Tom Powers. We are first shown various episodes of Tom's childhood with the corrupting influences of the beer hall, pool parlor, and false friends like minor-league fence Putty Nose. As young adults, Tom (James Cagney) and his pal, Matt Doyle (Edward Woods), are hired by ruthless but innately decent bootlegger Paddy Ryan (Robert Emmett O'Connor). The boys quickly rise to the top of the heap, with all the accoutrements of success: custom-tailored tuxedoes, fancy cars, and gorgeous girls. All the while, Tom's loving (and somewhat addlepated) mother (Beryl Mercer) is kept in the dark, believing Tommy to be a good boy, a façade easily seen through by his older brother Mike (Donald Cook). Tommy's degeneration from brash kid to vicious lowlife is brought home in a famous scene in which he smashes a grapefruit in the face of his latest mistress (Mae Clarke). Some dated elements aside, The Public Enemy is as powerful as when it was first released, and it is far superior to the like-vintage Little Caesar. James Cagney is so dynamic in his first starring role that he practically bursts off the screen; he makes the audience pull for a character with no redeeming qualities. The film is blessed with a superior supporting cast: Joan Blondell is somewhat wasted as Matt's girl, Mamie; Jean Harlow is better served as Tom's main squeeze, Gwen (though some of her line readings are a bit awkward); and Murray Kinnell is slime personified as the deceitful Putty Nose, who "gets his" in unforgettable fashion. Despite a tacked-on opening disclaimer, most of the characters in The Public Enemy are based on actual people, a fact not lost on audiences of the period. Current prints are struck from the 1949 reissue, which was shortened from 92 to 83 minutes (among the deletions was the character of real-life hoodlum Bugs Moran). Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Add this copy of The Public Enemy to cart. $3.10, good condition, Sold by Seattle Goodwill rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Seattle, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by Warner Brothers.
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All our items include the original disc(s) in the original case. Any digital codes that may be included are not guaranteed to work. Your purchase funds free job training and education in the greater Seattle area. Thank you for supporting Goodwill's nonprofit mission!
Add this copy of The Public Enemy to cart. $4.15, good condition, Sold by Goodwill Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hillsboro, OR, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by Warner Brothers.
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Good. May have very light or no surface scratches. Case and artwork are included but may show minimal signs of wear. If applicable: Digital copy or ultraviolet codes may be expired or not included.
Add this copy of Public Enemy to cart. $4.50, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Carrollton, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by WARNER HOME VIDEO.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Public Enemy to cart. $5.00, good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Carrollton, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by WARNER HOME VIDEO.
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Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Public Enemy [Vhs] to cart. $5.66, good condition, Sold by Bank of Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Ventura, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1998 by MGM (Video & DVD).
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Clark Burroughs, Murray Kinnell, R. Good. 1931 Run time: 83. We have 1.5 million books to choose from--Ship within 24 hours--Satisfaction Guaranteed! We have 1.5 million books to choose from--Ship within 24 hours--Satisfaction Guaranteed!
Add this copy of Public Enemy to cart. $5.99, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Carrollton, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by WARNER HOME VIDEO.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of The Public Enemy to cart. $6.95, like new condition, Sold by George Lyon rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Alexandria, VA, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by Warner Home Video.
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James Cagney, Edward Woods, Donald Cook, Joan Blondell, Jean Harlow. Fine in fine packaging. Language: English. Run time: 85 mins. Aspect ratio: 1.33: 1. Originally released: 1931.
Add this copy of Public Enemy to cart. $7.19, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Carrollton, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by WARNER HOME VIDEO.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of The Public Enemy [Dvd][1931] to cart. $8.10, very good condition, Sold by WeBuyBooks rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Rawtenstall, LANCASHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published by Warner Home Video.Shipping outside the U.K.? see Shipping Alert details
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Robert Emmett O'Connor, Beryl Mercer, Leslie Fenton, Donald Cook, Joan Blondell, Edward Woods, Jean Harlow, James Cagney. Very good. 1931 Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day.
Add this copy of The Public Enemy [Dvd][1931] to cart. $8.10, good condition, Sold by WeBuyBooks rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Rawtenstall, LANCASHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published by Warner Home Video.Shipping outside the U.K.? see Shipping Alert details
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Robert Emmett O'Connor, Beryl Mercer, Leslie Fenton, Donald Cook, Joan Blondell, Edward Woods, Jean Harlow, James Cagney. Good. 1931 Minor surface scratches to the disc Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day.