Why Public Enemy is considered a classic

 

 

Public Enemy is a famous gangster movie created in 1931. This was one of three famous gangster movies created around this time- the others were Scarface and Little Caesar. I think this movie is a classic for several reasons. For one, it was mirroring a lot of what was going on in the United States at the time. The government was having problems stopping gangsters from smuggling in weapons and other things.

One of most famous and well known scenes in Public Enemy is when Tom Powers is having breakfast with his wife and shoves a grapefruit in her face. It was interesting to see a little bit of comedy in such a serious movie like Public Enemy. That combination must have been innovative for its time.

I think one of the most impactful scenes in this movie was when Tommy shoots the horse that killed Nails Nathan. He showed absolutely no remorse- he heard that a horse, a completely defenseless creature, killed his friend and mentor and he just went up and shot the horse. He even went so far to ask which particular horse was at fault. It’s a classic scene that shows just how ruthless Tommy Powers actually was.

The relationship between Tommy and his family was very interesting. His mother was completely oblvious to what was going on, even when Tommy and his brother Mike kept fighting each other. It also created an interesting dynamic.

Finally, the ending is upsetting but it’s clear the viewer saw it coming. When Tommy returns home dead, and Mike has to show their mother, it was a very sad but realistic ending. Tommy wanted to live the gangster life, and that is what he got for doing that.