public enemy bring two thing to the screen represent the little tough guy and fast talk and unscrupulous gangster characterization by james cagney which be to follow him throughout his entire screen career and and the grapefruit scene though public enemy create the cagney image and he have already appear in two other gangster film for warner and a a murderer prepare to let someone else pay for his crime in sinner holiday and and a a double crossing hoodlum in doorway to hell . public enemy and however and be a big budget production and direct by william wellman and and it contain all the element of success it be the story of two brother who become chicago booze baron in the twenty . one be cagney and the other edward wood it be sometimes claim that the story of public enemy be base on that of little hymie weiss and leader of the north side chicago gang after the murder of dion obanion by the capone in 1924 what be more likely be that the cagney characterization be base on little hymie while the plot itself be pure fiction when cagney and in his striped pajama and sit opposite mae clarke at breakfast and decide he have have enough of this boring broad and he waste no time he pick up half a grapefruit and plant it full into clarke face it be a piece of screen action which have last down the year a the ultimate in violence from the gangster to his moll of course and it isn not it just seem that way since then gir1s have be slap and kick and beat up and run over and shot and stabbed and rap and all in the tradition of mobster violence but at the time this scene be dare and and the more daring because it be totally unexpected we remember mae clarke in public enemy and yet forget that jean harlow be in it and too there may have be good reason the new york time and review the film in 1934 and comment represent the act throughout be interesting and with the exception of jean harlow and who essay the role of a gangster mistress . cagney make violence and a life of crime magically seductive and and public enemy make him warner number 2 gangster and second only to edward g. robinson .