The Public Enemy
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Summary
The release of this landmark film in 1931 accomplished two important things simultaneously: it solidified the "social problem" film – introduced with Little Caesar (1931) – as an important and profitable niche for Warner Brothers, and it made a first–class star of leading man James Cagney through his portrayal of the amoral but affable Tom Powers. A real–life tough guy and former vaudeville hoofer, Cagney was originally cast as Matt Doyle, best friend of Powers, with Edward Woods assigned to the starring role. Apparently, however, director William Wellman had seen Cagney in Doorway to Hell (1930) – Cagney's second picture, in which he played a smart–talking henchman to star Lew Ayres' Capone – like mob boss – and realized that a casting error had been made. Switching Cagney and Woods' roles, Wellman created a superstar who would come to be recognized as one of the finest actors of the twentieth century. The Public Enemy is a stellar example of the classical gangster narrative, incorporating both a "rise and fall" storyline and an emphasis on the main figure as a "tragic" hero. Along with Little Caesar (1931) and Scarface (1932), it cemented the framework that virtually all gangster films to come – including Bonnie and Clyde (1967), The Godfather Parts I (1972) and II (1974), Goodfellas (1990), and even The Sopranos (1999) – have adhered to. As Tom Powers, Cagney created a persona that was to have an indelible impact on the landscape of popular culture, an impact still felt to this day as actors worldwide adopt, consciously or not, mannerisms and beats from Cagney's immortal hoodlum.
Title
The Public Enemy – 1931
Studio
Warner Brothers
Image Size
4731 px x 7125 px
15.77" w x 23.75" h
300 DPI
Tiff
Note: Watermark will not appear on downloaded file
The release of this landmark film in 1931 accomplished two important things simultaneously: it solidified the "social problem" film – introduced with Little Caesar (1931) – as an important and profitable niche for Warner Brothers, and it made a first–class star of leading man James Cagney through his portrayal of the amoral but affable Tom Powers. A real–life tough guy and former vaudeville hoofer, Cagney was originally cast as Matt Doyle, best friend of Powers, with Edward Woods assigned to the starring role. Apparently, however, director William Wellman had seen Cagney in Doorway to Hell (1930) – Cagney's second picture, in which he played a smart–talking henchman to star Lew Ayres' Capone – like mob boss – and realized that a casting error had been made. Switching Cagney and Woods' roles, Wellman created a superstar who would come to be recognized as one of the finest actors of the twentieth century. The Public Enemy is a stellar example of the classical gangster narrative, incorporating both a "rise and fall" storyline and an emphasis on the main figure as a "tragic" hero. Along with Little Caesar (1931) and Scarface (1932), it cemented the framework that virtually all gangster films to come – including Bonnie and Clyde (1967), The Godfather Parts I (1972) and II (1974), Goodfellas (1990), and even The Sopranos (1999) – have adhered to. As Tom Powers, Cagney created a persona that was to have an indelible impact on the landscape of popular culture, an impact still felt to this day as actors worldwide adopt, consciously or not, mannerisms and beats from Cagney's immortal hoodlum.
Title
The Public Enemy – 1931
Studio
Warner Brothers
Image Size
4731 px x 7125 px
15.77" w x 23.75" h
300 DPI
Tiff
Note: Watermark will not appear on downloaded file
