The Public Enemy (1931)

A young hoodlum rises up through the ranks of the Chicago underworld, even as a gangster's accidental death threatens to spark a bloody mob war.

Director: William A. Wellman
Cast: James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Edward Woods, Joan Blondell, Donald Cook, Leslie Fenton, Beryl Mercer, Robert Emmett O'Connor, Murray Kinnell, Clark Burroughs, Mae Clarke, Frank Coghlan Jr., George Daly, Frankie Darro, Snitz Edwards, Rita Flynn, Dorothy Gee, Douglas Gerrard, Dorothy Gray, Ben Hendricks Jr., Robert Homans, Eddie Kane, Mia Marvin, Sam McDaniel, Helen Parrish, Lee Phelps, Russ Powell, Purnell Pratt, Nanci Price, Landers Stevens



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Warner Bros.
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Storyline

Tom Powers and Matt Doyle are best friends and fellow gangsters, their lives frowned upon by Tom's straight laced brother, Mike, and Matt's straight laced sister, Molly. From their teen-aged years into young adulthood, Tom and Matt have an increasingly lucrative life, bootlegging during the Prohibition era. But Tom in particular becomes more and more brazen in what he is willing to do, and becomes more obstinate and violent against those who either disagree with him or cross him. When one of their colleagues dies in a freak accident, a rival bootlegging faction senses weakness among Tom and Matt's gang, which is led by Paddy Ryan. A gang war ensues, resulting in Paddy suggesting that Tom and Matt lay low. But because of Tom's basic nature, he decides instead to take matters into his own hands.
~ Huggo

Extras:
- Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1931 with Newsrell, Comedy Short The Eyes Have It, Cartoon Smile, Darn Ya, Smile and Theatrical Trailers
- New Featurette Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public
- Commentary by Film Historian Robert Sklar
- 1954 Rerelease Foreward

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