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One Sheet (27" x 41"); Style B, Stone Litho
Fine on Linen
Warner Bros., 1931

As such, it should be no surprise that collectors acidly seek original release posters from this historic genre classic. Sadly, little has turned up in the way of posters from The Public Enemy, save for the odd lobby card or window card. Style B, shown here, is a marvelous portrait of a vicious criminal set against a seething tide of common humanity. Powerful and rich, the colors virtually leap from the poster, grabbing the eye with its chiaroscuro-like juxtaposition of light and dark. This is one of only two copies of this poster that are known to exist, and the image is taken from the dust cover of the book.

This very rare poster has been restored on linen and has a missing right border and slight missing paper beginning at the mid-horizontal fold and up to the upper border. One inch of the upper border was also missing. There are a couple of chips from the lower border, two of which extend just into the artwork, and some fold-wear touch-ups. There was a small chip within the artwork lower right into the Continental Litho box. The colors on this poster are as brilliant as they day it was printed.

In the early 1930s, America was engulfed in chaos. During the Great Depression's darkest days, audiences had scant patience for affluent, virtuous heroes disconnected from the harsh realities of breadlines, poverty, Hoovervilles, and joblessness. Characters like Tom Powers (James Cagney), who believed that those abiding by the law were fools, captivated viewers who felt increasingly impotent against a careless government and suppressive law enforcement. Unable to take justice into their own hands, they vicariously experienced such defiance through the anti-hero and other cinematic gangsters. Cagney's authentic street smarts infused his roles with a raw energy that resonated with Depression-era audiences. This contributed to creating one of the most significant and unforgettable films of the 1930s.

Estimate: $50,000 - 100,000
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