Just put 2.5 stars because of the end, if not, it would be just 2. Only for James Cagney fans. It doesn´t say you anything different of other classic gangsters films.
This is the film that made James Cagney a star and also is the film with classic scene of him pushing a grapefruit in Mae Clarke's face. Cagney is outstanding. A powerful and great classic. The pace is excellent.
it was ok to many ? not answered didnt he die already in the forest and how come no one reconized him in the police headquarters
a defining moment in gangster cinema of the 20s and 30s. although the plot isn't as intense or involved as films like Little Caesar or Angels with Dirty Faces, the story is ripe with groundbreaking subject-matter, namely sex and violent death. James Cagney fits the typecast spl...( read more)
For me, P.E. is the film that brought censorship to Hollywood. It's savage and haunting.
A tough, influential gangster film founded on simplistic morals. This film is an ideal showcase for James Cagney's iconic performance and presence, and he commands every scene he's in. Although some may argue that this picture is dated in many regards, it is still an engaging pie...( read more)
Not bad, I particularly enjoyed that imagery at the end, although it was sort of predictable.
I'm always fascinated by how seamy some of the precode hollywood films were, in films like this it helps sell the violent world that the characters inhabit.
The most famous of the 1930s gangster movies and the film that put James Cagney on the map. I'm not sure that this deserves to be the best regarded of the genre, I probably prefer both "The Roaring Twenties" and the Howard Hawks "Scarface," still this is a pretty good movie and I...( read more)
I watched this in a media lesson and now love Cagney. His unpredictable swagger is what made this film great. grapefruit anyone?
even after writting essays on it i love it. A true great.
this a a pretty decent flick. not as engaging or profound as many of the early gangster films were, but cagney was great as always and the movie had its bright spot. worth the watch.
Oh James Cagney, you scare the hell out of me 90% of the time. And that is why you are soooo incredible. I love you.
watched it over, had quite an effect on me, the last shot with cagney is a work of art.
Watch Jimmy Cagney and Jean Harlow do something amazing with a grapefruit.
*snicker*
cagney embarks on a life of crime and his presence cannot be denied. his breakout performance here burns right through the screen. harlow still needs some work to reach her own iconic status. the film is a bit dated but after 75 years still amazing to watch
This film has James Cagney ramping up to top form. This is a good early gangster flick. This movie is worth seeing for the classic "grapefruit scene" alone. The ending is also a nice touch.
One of the best movies of all time. Its a classic but it never gets old. Notm uch i can say that hasnt already been said a bazillion times. A must see for classic movie fans and a fun gangster flick from the good old days. CAGNEY IS THE BEST!
the founded stone for james cagney's overnight success of his classic gangster status. this flick is adapted from a moralistic social stiric novel called "beer and blood" which is applied in the lines during the flick as well. one of the first movies tackles the mob tumult under ...( read more)
Here you can see Cagney's first lead role: he had made a few small routine pictures before this and Warners wisely had him play Tom Powers, thereby contradicting the original casting for Public Enemy. It was a very very right decision, as even an utter deadhead would have to adm...( read more)
Caney+Grapefruit=Legend
Jean Harlow is quite the looker too. Nice Gams on that one.
Cagney at his first and most FRESH era as a gangster that gets in over his head and ends with a bang. It is so good that I'm surprised that it isn't rated as one THE best gangster movies.
The classic barriers of good and evil are very evident in this film, but yet the charisma of James Cagney's evil Tom Powers makes this film as entertaining and thrilling as any other of it's quality. The ending is so blunt and poignant that it will really hit home.
I liked a lot of it, but the studio's moralizing at the beginning and end left a bad taste in my mouth.
