The Public Enemy

Directed by William A. Wellman

1930

                 Film Facts

This role made Cagney a  star originally cast as the second lead, director Wellman realized the mistake while watching dailies. Before the film opened Cagney wrote a letter to his mother , to warn her about his role. The famous grapefruit scene was taken from a real incident , in which a gangster named Hymie Weiss hit his girlfriend in the face with an omelette. Before the use of fake bullets Warners employed a former machine gunner in world war 1 to handle all the scenes involving guns. Jean Harlow was borrowed from MGM to co-star.

"It seem to me that Mr. Cagney is a rising young talking-picture actor to keep an eye on. He photographs well,  his voice records effectively, he has an undeniable flair for getting inside a character and remaining there. Up to now, his characters have been what even he might call standardized and I trust he will do everything he can to keep from being forced into a gangster mold, anyway he's worth watching".

                   

N.Y. World -Telegram

Eddie Woods

Lee Phelps