it is amazing that 1931 was so soon after the first talkie but the director had already grasped how to make a dramatic talking film

James Cagney was electrifying in this movie. He never played a supporting role again. The final scene of this movie is terrifying almost 80 years later.

Cagney was so cold! Orson Welles once said of Cagney "... maybe the greatest actor who ever appeared in front of a camera. " And so much more. He sued Warner Brothers for breach of contract and won. He was instrumental in forming the Screen Actors Guild. And boy, could he dance! Oscar for Yankee Doodle Dandy.

"Ding dings in a street caah!" Love that accent.

Guess I'll call up Gwen she ought be home by now....

Love these old classics I never get bored watching them, and James Gagney,,,,, what can I say of him that hasn't been said,,, what an actor I love it when he does that move with his shoulder,,,,, tough guy

When movies were movies......thanks JC

0:39-0:46 "Sure, Putty! You taught us how to cheat, steal and kill. Then you ran away from us!"

_"I learned to speak English from guys like James Cagney"_ *Tony Montana*

Cagney played others roles throughout his illustrious career. He didn't want to be typecast as a gangster. I don't blame him, at all.

29, 30, 31... these are the years of the most enjoyable movies.

“Tommy, Matt… whutcha gonna do?” “I’m gonna shove grapefruits in your face!”

Black cat

If Putty hadn't started singing he might have survived.

That was so dark holy shit.

I love the expressions on Matt's face.

Always found this scene interesting in The Public Enemy. Nervous former gang leader plays a familiar tune on the piano before getting "plugged," as the term from the Prohibition Era was used. One of my favorites. Thanks for uploading.

Just a masterclass, in every way.

one of my favorite movies ! 🙂 🤗

Cagney had made his debut the year before in "Sinners Holiday" (1930), the film version of the stage hit "Penny Arcade". Jimmy's pal Joan Blondell also debuted in that movie; she plays Mamie in "The Public Enemy".

This is my favorite scene in all Gangster movies-:past and present.

The best gangster Movie of all time Even today

I like to imagine that right after the shots were fired, the last keys you hear, were made by the victim continuing trying to play with two bullets embedded in his skull. Collapsing right after. Sort of like a Looney Tunes cartoon.

Cold blooded scene

This reminds me of the scene in Scarface when Tony kills Frank

1:14 "Why, you dirty double crossing motherf-..!"

Didn't he know? The pianist ALWAYS gets it!

The black cat tells all that is about to happen....

Dude begging like Frank in Scarface

Who on Earth could have thought that this first gangster movie would be the best, better than Godfather sequels, and much better than other raft of these kind movies

Such a great scene

C'mon make that coffee to go, let's go.....d'fuck you doin it's a joke a joke put d'fuckin pot down

Pianos can be so expressive sometimes.

Whacked Playing the Piano. That's was Gangster.

“Back in the club back in back in the club. Oh you kids used to laugh at that song”

Saw this as a 9 or something year old boy in the '70s on the telly, think it was BBC1 or 2?

the only Jane in there was Palmela and her 5 sisters 🖐🥒💦😭😭

Tony Soprano loved this movie

Tom Powers should be a judge on America's Got Talent!

Guess he plugged him because he didn't like the way he played the piano......LOL!!!!

He's got a Jane in there.....not!

Hahah putty nose looked scared as shit. Great film. It makes me think of my grandfather. R.i.p. Pa Pa

Yanes Cagney.. teach me to talk..

Angels with dirty faces #1

Ain't you got ah heart Mattie boy

He sings Hesitation Blues

trying to figure out how Norm Macdonald time traveled to the 30's to play Matt!

Wasn’t “”Putty•Nose”” in the film the *The Secret Six*?

This movie cray

"You'll be on the edge of your seats when you see *THE PUBLIC ENEMA* - lol

His father knew people I knew.🎉 WGNJMN

First the black cat... lol now peep game and close attention to detail of cagneys facial expressions @piano part”tell me how long do i have to wait or can i have it nowwwew...”Cagneys face says”ur not gonna wait long...!” Hahahahaha peep game beeothches

Myeeaahhh see?

There's hardly a movie where Jimmy Cagney doesn't have a gun

Although he arguably brought it on himself, I could not help but feel a bit sorry for Putty Nose. Why was he called that anyway?

Putty Nose's song sounds like a variant of "Hesitation Blues".

Putty Nose

Heavy. (on a side note TCM only shows two Cagney movies over and over and over.....Anyone know which two?)

Tell putty nose how long he has to waiiiiiit....

HAND!!!!!!!

I guess that was before fingerprints.

(0:02) A black cat 😱

Boys don't you remember the songs I played you????

Why did the man playing the piano who got shot say afterward..... "Haaaaaaa..." like he was trying to get a word out but couldn't? Lol!

2:22 Paid in full sample

1:25

Compare this & The Godfather….HUGE difference between when a regular WASP directs & acts in a movie vs when an Italian directs a cast of mostly Italian Americans in a movie…..both movies are great however just different.

Why did Tommy kill him?

Stop the music Stop the music

Here is the thing. First the sound production of the time made the actors delivery , their acting appear less real, authentic. Of course being 1930 .many of them came from theatre and Vaudville. They brought that style of acting to the screen . Which translated as stiff and fake. "Overacting " Not Cagney . Even here you can see and hear how real he was. The actor who played Puddy and the guy who played Matt, were in stark contrast to Cagneys way of acting . The way Of saying his lines. Brando himself said James Cagney was incredible . At the same time he had no admiration for Cooper, Gable, John Want ..etc. coming from Marlon , one of the greatest if not THE greatest actor who ever lived ..that says it all.