The Silver Screen Oasis

Jimmy Cagney in " Public Enemy " is a Chicago Irish ( Heaven Forbid ) mobster with the effervescent Joan Blondell in a smallish role. The ending is one you will never forget. William Wellman Directs.

Whenever I hear that tune I think of that final scene in the movie. Cagney's Ma humming and fluffing the pillows awaiting his return as his brother goes to open the door...
Another great Warner Brothers gangster movie.

Mae Clark (the grapefruit) was famous for this film and she's (uncredited) One the Warner Bros. best.
Cagney as Tom Powers: I wish you was a wishin' well. So I could tie a bucket to ya and sink ya.

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Cagney is a momma's boy here, or so the commentary by Robert Sklar keeps telling us. Cagney's best momma's boy was as Cody Jarrett. in White Heat, directed by Raoul Walsh.

I also connect the movie and the song. Whenever I hear it, I also hear the "thump" as Cagney's body falls to the floor.

By the way, in Mae Clarke's memoirs she says that Cagney ad libbed that "wishing well" line, which was left in the scene.