I'm going to guess talkies were still something of a novelty in 1931 because the dialogue seems to be pure radio, and stilted at that. Black and white still fascinates me, however, the shapes and patterns filling the screen, the way rich homes are bright and airy while poor folks live in dour and dingy walk-ups.
Public Enemy remains a well of stolen scenes. For instance stealing a gun from a hock shop, dropping a corpse at mom's house, the girl calling the gunsel Powers' boyfriend. That's not too shabby for a budget movie. Cagney pretty much invented himself here, was better in White Heat, and best as a comedian in One Two Three.
While on the Gordon Liddy show a few years back, he talked about growing up poor. He wanted to be a dancer and his brother a doctor. Both worked to achieve their goals. He then said, "that's what's bad about welfare, with one hand they give you a check and with the other they take your dream."
We'll regrettably never see the likes of you again James. Memory eternal.
Public Enemy remains a well of stolen scenes. For instance stealing a gun from a hock shop, dropping a corpse at mom's house, the girl calling the gunsel Powers' boyfriend. That's not too shabby for a budget movie. Cagney pretty much invented himself here, was better in White Heat, and best as a comedian in One Two Three.
While on the Gordon Liddy show a few years back, he talked about growing up poor. He wanted to be a dancer and his brother a doctor. Both worked to achieve their goals. He then said, "that's what's bad about welfare, with one hand they give you a check and with the other they take your dream."
We'll regrettably never see the likes of you again James. Memory eternal.