Public Enemies (1996 film)
| Public Enemies | |
|---|---|
 VHS cover of Public Enemies | |
| Directed by | Mark L. Lester |
| Produced by |
Mark L. Lester Dana Dubovsky |
| Written by | C. Courtney Joyner |
| Starring |
Theresa Russell Eric Roberts Alyssa Milano |
| Distributed by | Trimark Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 95 min. |
| Language | English |
Public Enemies is a 1996 film directed by Mark L. Lester. The movie, which centers on the 1930s figure Ma Barker and her criminal sons,[1] was filmed in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Plot
Sexually abused by her brothers, Kate Barker runs away to become involved in bootlegging. She marries decent George Barker and gives birth to four sons, Herman, Arthur ("Doc"), Lloyd and Freddie. However, when George's law-abiding ways fail to provide for the family, "Ma" encourages her sons to commit crimes. Soon they become notorious criminals. FBI leader, J Edgar Hoover puts agent Melvin Purvis on the case. Meanwhile Alvin Karpis joins the gang. An attempted robbery leaves one Barker son, Herman, dead, and another Freddie, captured. Arthur Dunlop, a corrupt prison guard, helps Freddie escape and becomes Ma's lover. Dunlop plans a kidnapping that will net them $100,000, but it nearly goes wrong because of his incompetence. The gang kill him. They also kill another incompetent associate, a mob-doctor who messes up an attempt at plastic surgery. By this time Purvis is onto them. Lloyd and Arthur are arrested in Chicago, and Ma and Freddie are killed in a shootout in Florida.
Cast
- Theresa Russell - Ma Barker
- Eric Roberts - Arthur Dunlop
- Alyssa Milano - Amaryllis
- James Marsden - Doc Barker
- Richard Eden - George Barker
- Joe Dain - Lloyd Barker
- Gavin Harrison - Freddie Barker
- Joseph Lindsey - Herman Barker
- Brian Peck - J. Edgar Hoover
- Dan Cortese - Melvin Purvis
- Grant Cramer - Samuel P. Cowley
- Frank Stallone - Alvin Karpis
- Rex Linn - Al Spencer
- Leah Best - Young Ma Barker