# The Public Enemy

> 1931 film by William A. Wellman

**Wikidata**: [Q1199902](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1199902)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Public_Enemy)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-public-enemy

## Summary

The Public Enemy is a 1931 American crime film directed by William A. Wellman, widely considered one of the seminal gangster films in cinema history. Produced by Warner Bros. Entertainment, the film stars Jean Harlow and is recognized for its influential portrayal of urban crime and moral ambiguity in early sound cinema. It has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

## Key Facts

- **Title:** The Public Enemy
- **Publication Year:** 1931
- **Director:** William A. Wellman
- **Production Company:** Warner Bros. Entertainment (founded April 4, 1923)
- **Country of Origin:** United States
- **Screenwriters:** John Bright (1908–1989), Kubec Glasmon (1897–1938)
- **Lead Actress:** Jean Harlow (1911–1937)
- **Genres:** Drama film, crime film, film noir, action film, gangster film, thriller film, mystery film
- **Preservation Status:** Selected for the National Film Registry (inception: 1988)
- **Sitelink Count:** 38

## FAQs

**What genre does The Public Enemy belong to?**

The Public Enemy spans multiple genres including drama, crime, film noir, action, gangster, thriller, and mystery films. It is particularly recognized as a foundational gangster film that helped establish conventions for the crime genre in American cinema.

**Who were the screenwriters of The Public Enemy?**

The film was written by John Bright and Kubec Glasmon. John Bright was an American screenwriter and Kubec Glasmon was an American pharmacist who turned to screenwriting, both holding American citizenship.

**Who starred in The Public Enemy?**

The film starred Jean Harlow, the iconic American film actress who worked during the early 1930s. Harlow was an American citizen who became one of the most famous actresses of her era before her tragic death in 1937.

**Which studio produced The Public Enemy?**

The film was produced by Warner Bros. Entertainment, an American entertainment company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Burbank, California. The studio was known for producing influential crime and gangster films during the early 1930s.

**Is The Public Enemy preserved in any film archive?**

Yes, The Public Enemy has been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry, which is maintained by the United States Library of Congress. The registry was established in 1988 to preserve films of cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance.

**What makes The Public Enemy historically significant?**

The Public Enemy is considered one of the most influential gangster films ever made, helping to establish the genre as a serious form of cinematic storytelling in the early sound era.

## Why It Matters

The Public Enemy holds a pivotal place in cinematic history as one of the defining works of the early gangster film genre. Released during the pre-Code era of Hollywood, the film helped establish many of the conventions that would characterize crime cinema for decades to come. Its unflinching portrayal of urban crime, moral corruption, and the rise and fall of a criminal protagonist set new standards for what American cinema could address.

The film's significance extends beyond its genre contributions. As a 1931 release, it represents a crucial moment in the transition from silent to sound cinema, demonstrating how the new audio technology could be leveraged for dramatic effect in crime narratives. The collaboration between director William A. Wellman and screenwriters John Bright and Kubec Glasmon produced a work that balanced sensationalism with social commentary, reflecting the anxieties of Depression-era America.

The film's inclusion in the National Film Registry underscores its enduring cultural importance. This preservation recognizes The Public Enemy not merely as entertainment but as a significant artistic and historical document that illuminates aspects of American society and the evolution of film as an art form. Its influence can be seen in subsequent generations of crime films, from the film noir classics of the 1940s to modern gangster narratives.

## Notable For

- Being one of the earliest and most influential gangster films in cinema history
- Starring Jean Harlow in one of her early major film roles before becoming Hollywood's biggest star
- Representing Warner Bros.'s entry into the gangster film genre that would define much of their early 1930s output
- Featuring screenwriting collaboration between John Bright and Kubec Glasmon, the latter being a pharmacist-turned-screenwriter
- Achieving lasting cultural significance sufficient for preservation in the National Film Registry
- Demonstrating the power of sound film to enhance dramatic storytelling in crime narratives

## Body

### Production and Studio Context

The Public Enemy was produced by Warner Bros. Entertainment, one of the major Hollywood studios that rose to prominence during the early 1930s. Warner Bros., founded on April 4, 1923, headquartered in Burbank, California, and operating primarily in the entertainment, film, and television industries, had established itself as a producer of socially conscious films. The studio's investment in sound film technology and its willingness to address contemporary social issues positioned it ideally to capitalize on the gangster film craze that emerged in the early 1930s.

The film's production occurred during a specific window in American cinema—the pre-Code era, before the Motion Picture Production Code (Hays Code) began enforcing strict moral guidelines in 1934. This period allowed filmmakers considerable creative freedom to explore themes of violence, crime, and moral ambiguity that would later be restricted.

### Creative Team

The director, William A. Wellman, was responsible for shaping the film's distinctive visual style and narrative approach. Wellman would go on to direct numerous notable films throughout his career, but The Public Enemy remains one of his most influential early works.

The screenplay was developed by John Bright and Kubec Glasmon, a notably unconventional writing partnership. John Bright (1908–1989) was an American screenwriter who contributed to several significant films of the era. Kubec Glasmon (1897–1938) was particularly unusual in that he began his career as a pharmacist before transitioning to screenwriting—a background that exemplifies the diverse talents drawn to Hollywood during this period of rapid industry expansion. Both writers held American citizenship, with Glasmon also maintaining citizenship in Czechoslovakia, reflecting the international nature of Hollywood's talent pool during this era.

### Cast and Performance

Jean Harlow starred in The Public Enemy, playing a role that helped establish her as one of the leading actresses of her generation. Born in 1911 and dying tragically in 1937 at age 26, Harlow became an iconic figure in American cinema. Her performance in The Public Enemy came during the early phase of her career, before she became known as the "Blonde Bombshell" and one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood. The film thus represents an important moment in documenting her emergence as a major star.

### Genre Classification and Significance

The Public Enemy occupies a unique position within multiple film genres, simultaneously functioning as a drama film, crime film, film noir, action film, gangster film, thriller film, and mystery film. This multi-genre classification reflects the film's complex narrative structure and its ability to incorporate elements from various storytelling traditions.

As a gangster film, The Public Enemy helped establish many of the genre's foundational tropes: the rise of a criminal from humble origins, the exploration of criminal psychology, the depiction of urban crime networks, and the ultimate consequences of a life of crime. The film presented its protagonist not as a simple villain but as a complex figure whose actions were motivated by comprehensible human desires—a characterization approach that would become standard in the genre.

The film's classification as film noir, while partially retrospective, reflects its incorporation of dark themes, moral ambiguity, and visual styles that would later be associated with that movement. The thriller and mystery elements add additional dimensions to the narrative, creating a viewing experience that transcends simple crime storytelling.

### Historical Context and Reception

Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, The Public Enemy resonated with audiences who could identify with themes of economic struggle, social mobility through unconventional means, and the breakdown of traditional moral boundaries. The film's unflinching depiction of violence and its refusal to provide easy moral resolutions marked it as a mature work that addressed adult concerns.

The film's success helped establish the gangster genre as a commercially viable and culturally significant form in American cinema. It contributed to a wave of similar films that explored crime and punishment, social order and disorder, and the dark underbelly of the American Dream.

### Preservation and Legacy

The Public Enemy's historical importance was formally recognized through its selection for the National Film Registry. Established in 1988, the National Film Registry is maintained by the Library of Congress and recognizes films that are deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Selection to the registry ensures that the film will be preserved for future generations, recognizing its enduring value as an artistic and historical document.

The film's preservation status places it among the most important works in American cinema, acknowledging its contributions to film art, its historical significance, and its ongoing relevance to contemporary audiences. This recognition reflects the consensus among film historians that The Public Enemy represents a landmark achievement in cinematic storytelling.

### Related Cultural Connections

The film's production in the United States reflects the particular conditions of American cinema during the early 1930s—a period of rapid technological change (the transition to sound), economic upheaval (the Great Depression), and social transformation. The United States, which declared independence in 1776 and achieved recognition of that independence through the Treaty of Paris in 1783, provided the cultural and industrial context necessary for the emergence of such a significant work.

The collaboration between American talent—directors, screenwriters, actors, and studio infrastructure—produced a film that not only reflected American concerns but helped shape American popular culture. The Public Enemy stands as an example of how cinema could both mirror and influence societal attitudes toward crime, morality, and the nature of success in American society.

## References

1. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022286/)
2. [Source](http://www.nytimes.com/reviews/movies)
3. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022286/fullcredits)
4. The Movie Database
5. [Source](https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/)
6. The Public Enemy. Rotten Tomatoes
7. IMDb
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. Kinopoisk
10. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
11. Bechdel Test Movie List
12. mymovies.it
13. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/F36D-30D7-47B7-E7D0-00C1-B)
14. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/84524)
15. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
16. Trakt.tv
17. FilmVandaag.nl