the public enemy be one of the start point of the great season of gangster movie and a very interesting work . it be not the story of the rise and fall of some big bos of crime . tom power ( james cagney ) and matt doyle ( edward wood ) be just small time crook and and so they remain throughout the movie . only and they make the big money that the circumstance of prohibition offer to any criminal . tom be just a semi illiterate and naturally violent thug . he be not even professional . he kill just out of stupidity or desire of a pointless revenge and that ultimately will severely damage himself . further evidence of his cheap personality be show when he instantly fall for the vulgar and tasteless girl gwen ( jean harlow ) . by the way and harlow look remarkably unattractive ( to our modern eye and at least ) . be it a choice of director wellmann . matt be slightly good than tom and but clearly he have not the gut to cross his mate . in my opinion a major credit of the film be that it systematically avoid cliché . neither tom nor matt be outcome of poverty and social injustice . they come from simple but honest and decent and loving family . but they be both bad ( that the word ) and they use the freedom and opportunity of their democratic country to make evil . in the public enemy we find probably the first instance of the beautiful stylish cinematography and clever camera work that will become the trade mark of late gangster and noir movie . some scene be unforgettable and like the final one and or that under the rain and or that of cagney abuse the girl . the brief scene of the killing of the horse be pure cinematic genius . in the film there be also some naiveness and clumsiness and though . the way tom undergo the personality of his good brother be far fetch . it be not clear why a gangster in a hospital and wound in a gun fight and be not under strict police control . the behavior of tom bos in the end be illogical . moreover and the part where tom and matt be kid be too long ( we audience be all eager to see cagney . ) and and action be a bit scarce for a gangster movie . the public enemy be cagney breakout film and and really he make a powerful and accurate job . actually and a strong acting be provide by the whole cast . the director william a. wellmann handle the movie with sound talent . the public enemy be a beautiful and historically important movie . i recommend it to any cinema lover .