The Public Enemy (1931)
Directed by William Wellman
Written by Kubec Glasmon, John Bright and Harvey Thew
James Cagney controls the screen (and literally dodges machine gun bullets) in this pre-Hay’s Code gangster film. Cagney plays Tom Powers a good for nothing kid who becomes a good for nothing bootlegger. Tom is juxtaposed by his brother Mike (played by Donald Cook), who is an upstanding citizen with a normal job and who has just enlisted in the marines.
The film is violent but not gratuitous (although it was considered shocking in its day). Cagney plunges head first into the role and sets a model every gangster flick hat followed. His rise and fall is generic now but at the time it was new and exciting. If nothing else you should see this film just to watch Cagney chew through his scenes like they were grapefruit.
Offsetting Cagney is Jean Harlow, fresh off her performance in Howard Hughes’ ‘Hell’s Angels’. She shows a depth and understanding of her character as well as some suitable acting chops. though her role as Tom’s main girl is small, her performance is anything but. Other notable actors are Leslie Fenton as Nails Nathan, the ring leader of the mob that Tom employs and Murray Kinnell as Putty Nose, Tom’s first criminal mentor.
Public Enemy also features one of the greatest finales in all of cinema history. Tom’s mother excited by the news that he is coming home from the hospital begins to prepare a room for him. There is a knock on the door and Mike answers it. Standing limp is Tom’s dead body which quickly drops to the floor. Killed by his enemies Tom leaves the film and leaves Mike to tell his mother. It is a powerful scene and should not be missed.
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Directed by Stuart Rosenberg
Written by Donn Pearce (From his novel)
Starring Paul Newman, George Kennedy, Strother Martin, Harry Dean Stanton
Rivaling Stanley Kowalski (A Streetcar Named Desire), Luke is in the forefront of the greatest anti-hero competition. Here is a man who would not conform and is thus set free. Cool Hand Luke is a film filled with religious and existential imagery and themes. It is also one of the best films ever made.
Newman plays Luke, sent to a Florida prison for cutting the heads off of parking meters. Once there he begins escape attempts and any other tomfoolery he can muster. The other inmates, including Dragline (played by George Kennedy who won a best supporting Oscar), begin looking up to him. They see his escape as their own. If he can get out, that’s just as good as them escaping themselves.
Cool Hand Luke is bursting at the seams with great scenes and moments. The infamous car wash scene being one of my favorites (hey, I’m a man and Joy Harmon is one of the sexiest women that ever existed). There is also the Egg sequence (most recently spoofed in the TV show Jackass).
Newman’s performance is one of restrained chaos. To me Luke hates conformity but he also hates the pain that not conforming brings him. Newman had been building up to a character like this in previous roles and here he tears a hole right through the screen and delivers a performance that needs to be seen. You should definitely check this flick out, if nothing else than for that “old Luke smile. Old Luke, he was come boy. Cool Hand Luke. Hell, he’s a natural-born world-shaker.”
