The pretty Margaret Lindsay is the estranged wife of convicted killer Cesar Romero who is bent on keeping an eye on his spouse by making sure that she goes to prison along with him. But thanks to federal agent Pat O'Brien, she avoids a prison sentence and when Romero escapes from prison, O'Brien sets up a phony wedding between himself and Lindsay to entrap Romero. Lindsay ends up being kidnapped by the nasty Romero and hides out in a country dive bar where Romero's gang holds up, leading to a shoot-out when O'Brien locates her. There are some great lines and a few decent character performances, but this seems rushed together too quickly to be fully believable. Lindsay is far too much of a lady to be truly believable as a gangster's moll, although Romero sneers nicely and makes quite a few determined threats to steal the film as the main villain. With that Warner Brothers directness that made them the main studio in the creation of the gangster film, there are many elements that will keep you interested, but when you compare it to "Little Caesar", the original "Public Enemy" and "I Was a Fugitive From a Chain Gang" (and more recently "G-Men"), it seems too implausible in its story telling. Robert Armstrong and Dick Foran add some macho support to the film which, under the direction of Nick Grinde, ends up being only somewhat satisfactory as a bottom of the bill feature that wastes its talented female lead in a role that is truly beneath her.

I noticed a long time ago that almost all of Pat O'Brien's films were pretty silly and he was an odd choice as a "macho" leading man. Because of this it's really difficult to find any of his films that can be labeled "great", though at the same time these hokey movies are a lot of fun to watch provided you aren't expecting Shakespeare! The idea of this dumpy, somewhat balding man with a propensity to yell his lines being an action hero or great lover is pretty silly but in Warner Brothers fashion, the films are entertaining.THE PUBLIC ENEMY'S WIFE is exactly the sort of film I think of when I think of O'Brien. Naturally he's the hero and naturally he's destined to get the girl in the end--even if it seems next to impossible. But despite this, the film is awfully good to watch--with a wonderful performance by Cesar Romero as a mobster. And the plot is different enough to make it worth your time. Great? Of course not--but for fans of Hollywood's Golden Age, it's still a dandy flick.FYI--There were a few errors in the film. No matter what the Justice of the Peace said, the marriage between Lindsay and O'Brien was NOT legal and would not have been recognized since O'Brien married her while assuming another's identity. Also, the fish O'Brien and Armstrong carried with them were not native Florida fish--and there are no mountains in Southern Florida!

Cesar Romero, (Gene Moroc) is a con serving time in prison and also has a wife named Margaret Lindsay, (Judith Maroc), who served time for her husband by not revealing any information to the police. Judith was released from prison after serving her time. However, her husband told her when he gets out he is going to kill her and does not want her to marry anyone. Pat O'Brien, (Lee Laird) and Robert Armstrong,(Gene Ferguson) are FBI Agents who are interested in getting information from Judith. However, Judith changes her name and appearance and she becomes a Public Enemy's Wife, she has met another man and plans to marry him. Great story with some laughs and truly a great 1936 Film Classic with all great actors.

I hope no one tuned into watching this film with the idea that James Cagney married someone in Public Enemy and that Public Enemy's Wife is about his widow. This film has nothing whatsoever to do with the film that made James Cagney a star.Instead it stars Cagney's friend and Irish Mafia member in good standing, Pat O'Brien. O'Brien is an FBI man who is on the trail of Cesar Romero, the number one public enemy at that time. Romero is an insanely jealous type and left enough incriminating evidence so that his wife, Margaret Lindsay, is implicated in his crimes.She's served her sentence and tells Romero in no uncertain terms that she's divorcing him immediately. In his best melodramatic fashion, Romero tells her she's his forever and jail won't keep them apart.Lindsay makes a life of her own as a mysterious socialite as she was careful to sock her money away in legitimate investments. She's got playboy Dick Foran panting at the bit to add her to his list of wives.But Romero escapes and the FBI is brought in. The plan is for O'Brien to marry her and draw Romero out. Of course since the Code just came in it is abundantly clear this will be platonic and annulled the nano- second after Romero's capture.If you're thinking this sounds like melodramatic claptrap you'd be right. Still somehow the able cast puts it over and it's somewhat enjoyable.