There are many films about the mafia, The Godfather films, Goodfellas and Casino, to name a few. There aren’t as many about the Irish mob. The Public Enemy is a good example of one. James Cagney plays Tom Powers. He is an irredeemable man. Powers comes from poverty, and takes the easy, but dangerous way out. He goes from petty theft in his youth to crime boss. Even beatings from his father, and the love of his mother, (Beryl Mercer), can’t stop his evil ambitions. Tom Powers is helped along his criminal path, by his best friend, Matt Doyle, (Edward Woods). Together, they rise to the top of the crime world. Nothing ever stops these sociopaths. The one thing that stands out, is Tom Power’s love for his mother. He takes care of her, and looks in on her. She returns his love. This is something his brother, Mike, (Donald Cook), doesn’t understand. He has a deep resentment, for his mother’s love of his brother. Mike has chosen to walk the straight and narrow path in life. Ma Powers love runs deep for her wayward son. She senses that her Tom has gone on the wrong path, and still loves him deeply.
Tom Powers continues his rise to the top. He doesn’t make friends, mainly enemies. This he does by getting rid of the competition. He is swept up in a war for control of the streets, which he wins. This victory is fleeting. His best friend, Matt is a casualty of the war, gunned downed in the street. This is witnessed by Cagney’s character. Naturally, Tom Powers seeks revenge. He guns down those responsible. It is a good scene by William Wellman. You see Cagney filled with rage. He enters the building where the killers are. You hear gunfire exchanged. The next scene is Cagney coming out, staggering. He has been critically injured in the gunfire exchange. He collapses in the street. He survives, and ends up in the hospital. The doctors prognosis is not good. The rival gang doesn’t want to wait for Tom Powers demise. They kidnap him from the hospital, and speed up the grim reapers’ work. There is a knock on the door of the Powers’ residence. Mike Powers opens the door. The body of his brother falls, and he is shocked and grief stricken at the same time.
The Public Enemy starts James Cagney’s career. His portrayal of Tom Powers got him many tough guy roles. It also gave the gangster movie, its place in film history. It carries a message with it, in the beginning and the end. The first is clearly, crime doesn’t pay. The second is the screen message; that society needs to do more, to end the problem of criminals like Tom Powers. This was heeded by J. Edgar Hoover’s F. B. I., and other law enforcement agencies. This movie also helped usher in The Hayes Code. This was a strict censorship of sex and violence depicted in movies. This lasted for over thirty years, until the movie rating system.
It must be noted, that William Wellman, did a great job with this movie. He had first hand experience; he was a juvenile delinquent. He also was known for being harsh with his actors. A person would like to think that James Cagney wouldn’t stand for this. Wellman lived a life that seems tailored for a Hollywood film. He became a flyer in World War I. After the war, he became a silent film star. He left that to become a legendary director, making Wings: the first film to win an Oscar. He also directed The Ox Bow Incident and The Story of GI Joe; the story of war time correspondent Ernie Pyle. Wellman’s legacy is special. A big part of it is making a star of James Cagney.
The Public Enemy is a hard film to watch. It isn’t like The Godfather, which despite its violence, still has a loving and loved patriarch. The Public Enemy doesn’t have this. It is a violent film, with a bad man, as its lead character. It is worth watching for the acting and the look and message of the film.