Public Enemies

Video
1996
R
1h 35m

IMDb RATING

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Eric Roberts, Theresa Russell, and James Marsden in Public Enemies (1996)

Glorified, glamorized fact-based tale of Ma Barker and her boys, who robbed banks and generally terrorized the Midwest in the 1930s and were eventually gunned down by G-man Melvin Purvis.Glorified, glamorized fact-based tale of Ma Barker and her boys, who robbed banks and generally terrorized the Midwest in the 1930s and were eventually gunned down by G-man Melvin Purvis.Glorified, glamorized fact-based tale of Ma Barker and her boys, who robbed banks and generally terrorized the Midwest in the 1930s and were eventually gunned down by G-man Melvin Purvis.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

4.5/10

1.2K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Trivia
On two different occasions, the film utilizes stock footage of exteriors for establishing shots. The first: When Arthur Dunlop (Eric Roberts) is drinking in the bar and spills info on the kidnapping, the exterior shows it to be the "Pitty Pat Club" which was featured in the movie "Harlem Nights". Second: When Melvin Purvis finds Arthur "Dock" Barker (James Marsden) and arrests him, the exterior shot shows a street corner building beneath some elevated tracks with a curved corner. This exterior is from "The Untouchables" (1987). It was in the scene where the little girl goes into the saloon before it blows up.

Goofs
The final shootout between Ma Barker and Melvin Purvis is captioned to have occurred in Lake "Wier" when in fact the location is near Lake Weir.

Quotes
Kate "Ma" Barker: You said, "Dead by Christmas." Is that the kind of chance you're talking about?
Melvin Purvis: You can't believe everything you read in the papers. I'm the F.B.I., not a bounty hunter.
Herman Barker: No difference.

Alternate versions
In the suicide scene, it was originally written that Herman Barker's whole head would explode, but director, Mark L. Lester, decided it was too gory for just one scene, and changed it to the back of his neck exploding instead.

Connections
Edited from The Untouchables (1987)

User reviews18

Review

Featured review

1/10

Jaw Droppingly Awful

Some people may remember Ms. Russell from films such as "Black Widow", which had some appeal and critical acclaim. Boy, she must have really needed a rent check when she signed on to do this dog.

Yes, there will be those who like the gratuitous violence and nudity. But one must sit back and wonder, in retrospect, what possessed anyone to spend money and time to make this in the first place. I just saw this movie on one of the "HBO's", and I can't believe they picked it up.

In 1996 Ms. Russel didn't have the physical attractiveness she did earlier in her career. But, come on! Having her play Ma Barker??? Her "sons" all look like they could be her brothers. It's also creepy in that you think there are going to be incestuous relationships occurring (thank goodness there aren't, hope that doesn't count as a spoiler). With Eric Roberts and Alyssa Milano added into the cast, this one is B-movie 'straight to video' all the way.

The scenes between Purvis and Ma Barker, either in person or on the phone, are a primer in terrible, terrible acting. Oh, wait, I forgot terrible, terrible writing as well. Chalk this one up to experience. A bad experience.