Classic Movie Screening: The Public Enemy

Starring James Cagney and Jean Harlow and directed by William A. Wellman, this 1931 drama attempted to de-glamorize the lives of gangsters by relating a more realistic story, showing the socio-economic and psychological factors that give rise to a life of crime. 

Now in the public domain, it broke from other films in the genre by objectively depicting the pressures and choices people make that entangle them in the folly of criminality. Join us to see why it has a 100% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes!

Introduced by classic movie enthusiast and fellow ACPL librarian, Amanda Grinstead.