The first true crime wave to hit the United States occurred in the 1930’s, in the midst of the Great Depression. It involved such criminal figures as John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd. The FBI came to existence during this crime wave under the direction and leadership of J. Edgar Hoover. The agent assigned to hunting down and either capturing or killing Dillinger is Melvin Purvis.

The movie “Public Enemies” was released in early July and has been a hit ever since. The movie is based on the non-fiction book written by Bryan Burroughs titled Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34.

If you are interested in the crime wave that took Americans hostage and killed hundreds of police officers and FBI agents across the country then this movie is for you. The movie has plenty of action scenes including car chases, gun fights, bank robberies, jailbreaks and stakeouts.

The movie features Johnny Depp as Dillinger, Christian Bale as Purvis, Channing Tatum as Floyd, Billy Crudup as Hoover and Marion Cotillard as Dillinger’s girlfriend Billie Frechette. The movie is directed by Michael Mann and produced by Mann and Kevin  Misher. The movie has become so popular that it has already amassed over $114 million dollars in revenue after taking $80 million to make the movie.

There are a couple of historical inaccuracies in the movie including the following:

Dillinger died before Nelson and Floyd.

Purvis did not shoot Floyd but he did order his execution after he had been wounded.

Purvis did not shoot Nelson nor was he present when he was killed.