"The Public Enemy" and "On the Waterfront"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how "The Public Enemy" (1931) and "On the Waterfront" (1954) are perhaps, two of the most well known films from the early to mid 20th century. It looks at how these films portray illegal activity and gangster infiltration into the mainstream during two different decades. James Cagney plays Tom Powers, a magnetic, cocky, completely amoral, emotionally brutal, ruthless, and terribly lethal individual in "The Public Enemy", while Marlon Brando stars as Terry Malloy, an inarticulate, struggling, brutish hero and small-time ex-boxer in "On The Waterfront". The paper attempts to show how both characters are involved in criminal activity even though their differences in attitude and personality are completely opposite.

From the Paper:

"The opening scene of The Public Enemy pans across views of pre-Prohibition Chicago. Exposed to this scene of life on the South Side of Chicago, are two poor Irish boys: Tom Powers and his neighborhood friend Matt Doyle. We are first introduced to Tom as he stands outside of a bar, and swigs beer from a bucket. Shortly thereafter, he is causing trouble in a department store, which draws the attention of a police officer. Tom also enjoys playing a trick on Matt's sister, by putting a stick in her path while she is roller-skating. She states of his well-known reputation: "You're the meanest boy in town... Jail, that's where you'll be some day, Tom Powers!" This scene sums up Tom's character: relentless, self-centered, and destructive, and also displays his lack of respect towards women. "

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