Guide Note

The Public Enemy is a 1931 film that tells the story of a young criminal's rise through the ranks of the underworld during the prohibition era in the United States. Directed by William A. Wellman and staring James Cagney, The Public Enemy was a "pre-code" film, a term that refers to movies made before the Motion Picture Production Code took effect. As a result, several version of the film, which was censored shortly after its release, exist today. The Public Enemy is credited with launching Cagney to stardom and for creating his famous "tough guy" image. The film was based on the novel Beer and Blood by John Bright and has been preserved in the National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Safety regulations during production of the movie were notoriously lax, allegedly leading to several small injuries and mishaps.

Fast Facts

1. Directed by William A. Wellman
2. Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck
3. Written by Kubec Glasmon, John Bright and Harvey F. Thew
4. Released on April 23, 1931
5. Starring James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Edward Woods, Joan Blondell and Mae Clarke