this be a classic gangster film which be surprisingly hard hitting for it age and it amaze to think that this film be nearly eighty year old and that prohibition be still in force when it be make . james cagney do a great job portray tom power a he rise from be a petty criminal to be a mid level mobster . even though the character have few if any redeeming feature cagney manages to make u care about what be happen to him . along with childhood friend he take a job for local gangster putty nose thing go wrong on their first job however when the police turn up and kill another of the gang . one cop chase after tom and matt down an alley and they kill him demonstrate how far they have come from their early day . a their first bos have flee they start work for paddy ryan who have see the money make opportunity that the prohibition of alcohol have bring . soon the boy be force the speakeasy to sell their beer and only their beer . initially thing go well for them and they have plenty of money and beautiful girl friend and smart clothes but when the mob hard man nail nathan be kill in a freak rid accident a rival gang see it a an opportunity to take over . they be instruct to lay low for a while but tom can not do that lead to tragic consequence . the violence be never graphic although it can still be fairly hard hit such a when tommy go into the stable of the horse which have kill nail and two shot ring out and the film most famous scene where he push half a grapefruit into his girl friend face . the acting be all pretty good and especially from cagney in the role that would make him a star . this film deserve it classic status and should be see by anybody who like classic film in general or gangster film in general .