Trivia / Public Enemies

• Ability over Appearance:
  • Melvin Purvis was known as "Little Mel" due to his 5'4 height, while Christian Bale is 6'0 tall.
  • George Nelson's famous nickname "Baby Face" was due to his youthful appearance and similar short stature, and he was 25 years old when he died, while Stephen Graham was ten years older during filming and is more stout than the real Nelson (real name Lester Gillis).
• Cast the Expert: The three reporters peppering Dillinger with questions during a press conference in the Crown Point jail were actual working newspaper reporters from two major newspapers in Northwestern Indiana.
• Dawson Casting:
  • Dillinger was only 31 when he was killed, while Johnny Depp was 45 during filming.
  • Baby Face Nelson was only 25 when he died. Stephen Graham was 36 during filming.
• Fake Nationality:
  • Menominee-French American Billie Frechette is played by Marion Cotillard, a French actress of English descent.
  • Australians Jason Clarke, David Wenham, and Emilie de Ravin portray Red Hamilton (Canadian), Henry Pierpont, Barbara Patzke (both American) respectively.
  • Romanian Anna Sage is played by Serbian actress Branka Katić.
  • English actor Stephen Graham portrays Chicago-born gangster Baby Face Nelson.
• Font Anachronism: As John Dillinger and his associates leave the red train car, the car number seen on the outside of the car is in the Helvetica font, which was not created until 1957. The film takes place in 1933, a couple decades too early for Helvetica.
• Saved from Development Hell: Leonardo DiCaprio was initially attached to star in a leading role when this project was put into development in 2004.
• What Could Have Been: Bryan Burrough originally started writing Public Enemies as a script for a TV miniseries, but didn't feel comfortable writing fiction and retooled it into a nonfiction book. Making it, almost, a Recursive Adaptation when adapted to film.

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