Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Humbersi The first must-see film of the year.

Lucia Ayala It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Josephina Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

steffaneybenson Public enemy is one of the most iconic gangster film I've had watched. The only other gangster films I've scene was Scare face and that was the remake. Even though it is old for my age and time , I do recommend it to be watched. You can relate to their lives and understand why they traveled in the path that they did. I mean coming out of poverty to be the ones calling the shots and becoming wealthy even though they killed people and broke some laws along the way and then having the cops on your tale do not really have a happy ending, especially when you have other people wanting your head too .

DennisHinSF Just saw this today on TCM - the restoration of the movie is absolutely fantastic. It looks like it could have been filmed yesterday (except for the clothes, hair, cars, etc.) It is really wonderful to see a masterpiece like this in such pristine condition. Cagney is charisma personified, and this film has the total look and feel of Warner Bros. economic filming style. This is a perfect film - don't miss it.

mike48128 Jean Harlow ruined her health (and died young) because of her bleached out platinum blonde hair, and looks a bit chunky (the 1920's term was "scatback") but is the perfect foil for tough little James Cagney (was he short!) in the movie that "put him on the map." From a script entitled "Beer and Blood," his character starts out innocently enough stealing $1 pocket watches from "Woolworth's." Soon he is a whiskey runner and beer "distributor" as prohibition begins. Whiskey transported in a gasoline tanker? He is fast and loose with his women, and shoves a grapefruit in Mae Clark's face. He's hellfire with a gun. He shots a cop. He kills his old boss "Putty Nose" and a race horse. He steals two blue steel .38 revolvers from the gun store owner! His "goody-two shoes" brother Mike goes to war and comes back a hero. He finally gets what he deserves and is shot down in a hail of bullets, with a machine gun. Most violence is only "heard" off-screen,but it's still pretty effective. His mama continues to believe that he is a good boy. He is left on his doorstep, looking like a mummy wrapped in hospital bandages and plaster casts. He falls forward (quite dead) in a shocking finale. TCM does a great job of restoration. When I saw this many years ago on TV, it was nothing but a pile of splices and scratches with a terrible soundtrack. A must-see, but (for me) not enjoyable enough for repeated viewing. Curiously, Jean Harlow is shown in the lobby poster with fire-red hair!

Nobby Burden I'm going to guess talkies were still something of a novelty in 1931 because the dialogue seems to be pure radio, and stilted at that. Black and white still fascinates me, however, the shapes and patterns filling the screen, the way rich homes are bright and airy while poor folks live in dour and dingy walk-ups.Public Enemy remains a well of stolen scenes. For instance stealing a gun from a hock shop, dropping a corpse at mom's house, the girl calling the gunsel Powers' boyfriend. That's not too shabby for a budget movie. Cagney pretty much invented himself here, was better in White Heat, and best as a comedian in One Two Three.While on the Gordon Liddy show a few years back, he talked about growing up poor. He wanted to be a dancer and his brother a doctor. Both worked to achieve their goals. He then said, "that's what's bad about welfare, with one hand they give you a check and with the other they take your dream."We'll regrettably never see the likes of you again James. Memory eternal.