“The Public Enemy”

James Cagney broke through to stardom in the lead role of tough guy Tom Powers in the 1931 drama. Jean Harlow provided what we now call eye candy as Cagney’s girl friend. The film has become famous for including an iconic scene of Cagney mashing a grapefruit into the face of actress Mae Clarke, in an uncredited role. The players insisted that the scene was improvised as a joke on the film crew, but the director liked it so much it made the final cut.