William Wellman's The Public Enemy is a landmark gangster film of the time period that alongside Mervyn Leroy's Little Caesar is credited as a major contributor to the shift in public opiinion as it relates to prohibition. The film traces the rise and fall of mobster Tom Powers, who along with his longtime pal, Matt Doyle, become the top enforcers for a prohibition-era mob boss who is controlling all alcohol sales in the region. While the film is very honest about not sugar coating the type of man that Tom was, The Public Enemy does make sure to trace this man from the very beginning, showing Tom and Matt from an early age. Even at this early age the two are not well natured, but that's not really the point, as Public Enemy exposes how censorship and restriction only breeds evil enterprises, something that is a very relevant to this day as it pertains to the drug war. Public Enemy showcases how there are now happy ending in this lifestyle, witth he early feeling of invincibility being a hollow shield. Credited as the film that launched James Cagney into the strastophere, The Public Enemy just allows this great actor to work. Cagney is so dynamic as Tom that it never matters that he isn't likeable, as his demise still sparks empathy in the viewer. The entire cast is fantastic but this is the James Cagney show, with William Wellman once again reminding me why hie is one of the greatest American filmmakers ever. For a film shot in 1931 Wellman brings it to life, with some tricky camerawork for the time period and great composition, especially as it pertains to duality of its characters. The Public Enemy is a well crafted film in every respect, being a film that tries to inflict change with its powerful tale.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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