Breathtaking opening with amazing street scenes and all the more surprising on Blu-ray in that the images are so clear. Unreal, almost and I dreaded the inevitable cut to some cardboard studio set but the transitions are almost seamless and there is a fair amount of location shooting throughout. Tale itself fairly basic but revolutionary for the times and if some of the dialogue appears stilted improbably because there was still some debate as to what speed word should be spoken following the silent era. Some opted for the theatrical model, some for more clear pronunciation but Cagney seemed to be having none of it and surely set the tone for ever more. His main scene with Harlow is interesting in that he is talking ten to the dozen while she seems to struggle with 'doing what is right'. Film stands up surprisingly well and although the pace is not hectic is a giant leap from the silent days. We would like to see more of Blondell and Harlow but perhaps inevitably it is the upstart Cagney who steals every scene he is in.

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 .

History has it that "The Public Enemy" is what made Cagney a star, and I can see why. He's got charisma, a real mean streak, and he's easy to envision as an iconic gangster. This is your straightforward rise-and-fall movie, a street rat's quest for the American dream (he's not all that far from Tony Montana); and it still has some heft, even if we've seen this story time and again.There's a saddening twist that comes in the final moments. And you can see it coming, but the execution - just one particular shot - has a startling impact.There are pacing issues, but those final scenes are entirely worth it. And I love that the movie is bookended by anti-crime PSAs. 7/10

Very entertaining, even when compared to modern gangster movies. Good, solid plot, though overly moralistic and preachy, especially with the opening and closing frames including messages from the producers about how the public should be preventing hoodlums from flourishing.Good direction and editing, the movie flows along at a good, constant pace and doesn't drift. The movie is made by the acting of James Cagney, however. He turns in a superb performance: gripping, edgy, gritty, believable and dark. A pity that some of the other acting in the movie was pretty poor. Only the moralistic tone and supporting performances prevent this from being a classic.