You Only Live Once (1937)

Really Surprised!

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

This film is a bit heavy handed with social criticism; it seems as if the central message goes from being a warning to young people to stay away from the life of crime, to a critique of how harsh the system and many people in society can be to convicts who got some "bad breaks." It is a bit over the top when Eddie explains to his new wife how he got sent to reform school for beating up a kid who was torturing frogs. He gets punished for doing the good deed of fighting for the defenseless creatures, something that would get the sympathy of any audience, and establishes him as a "good guy." The authorities and straight society (including his sister-in-law) are all portrayed as a grim, loveless sort, but not quite as villains. The message here seems to be a critique of the conservative approach to dealing with criminals. The highest critique of the police is when the police put him in the gun-sight of a high powered rifle to shoot him in the back as he is trying to carry his dying wife to freedom across the boarder. Society is also critiqued as gas station attendants who are robbed of only gasoline then decide to rob the till and report the loss cash as being from the robbers (they are so nice they only rob what they need). But the film is balanced enough so that it is not just a critique of the heartless conservative society. It also shows how bad real criminals are in the prison, and the other message is that once you go down that road, you are in a sense "making your own bad luck" in the future ("that's what they all say" when Eddie proclaims his innocence). Once you make those kinds of friends and acquaintances, you are setting yourself up for other problems (like being used as a patsy and getting framed for a crime you didn't commit) and not being able to find employment, other embarrassing situations, like being kicked out of a hotel on your honeymoon, when the proprietor recognizes you from a crime magazine. Even though some of the situations and portrayals are way over the top by today's standards, this film is still worth viewing! I wouldn't say that it is an entirely accurate reflection of exactly "how things used to be," but you can extrapolate a lot about 1930s society by seeing what they were presenting as realistic fiction of that era.

Fritz Lang is a director with an immensely big reputation, which has everything to do with his movies "Metropolis" and "M" but in all truth and honesty, most of his other movies were were merely average ones. This one included. It's a good movie but nothing about this movie makes it a special one or a must-see really.It has a decent enough story but definitely not a solid or credible one. The movie is being a bit melodramatic and forced with all of its events and emotions but then again, this really wasn't that uncommon for an 1930's movie. I liked some of the places the movie was taken its story but then the movie would do something stupid and silly again, which took me out of the movie and prevented me from connecting to its characters and everything that is going on with them.The movie ultimately tries to present itself as a love story, with only one big crime and dramatic twist to it. The combination of all these elements does work out well enough and also original. It still makes "You Only Live Once" definitely a good watch and for its time it also really isn't a bad attempt. The story works sort of renewing and original and also the twists and turns in it make this far from the typical genre attempt, from about that same time period this movie got made in.It takes some good approach with its directing and cinematography, which at times make you forget you are watching an '30's movie here. The movie can feel quite modern and raw at times, also because it's not a movie that is constantly busy with trying to wrap things up needly and create an happy ending for all of its main characters.The movie features a young Henry Fonda, with still lots of hair. It's one of his earliest movie roles and funny thing about him is that he never really played secondary characters but always had been the main lead, ever since the start of his acting career. And why not. He definitely had the right required skills and also looks for it and he also was quite good in this movie. Even though the story gets melodramatic at times, the actors still aren't overacting and keep things as real as possible. It's the reason why "You Only Live Once" still works out good and effectively, for most part.A good movie to watch but at the same time also one you could easily do without ever seeing.7/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

You Only Live Once (1937) *** (out of 4) Social drama has Henry Fonda playing Eddie Taylor, a three time loser who manages to get out of prison thanks to his girlfriend (Sylvia Sidney) who works for the public defender. Once out he plans on going straight but he can't catch a break and soon he's arrested and sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. Soon he's able to break out and goes on the run with his girl but the police are always one step behind. As you continue to read this you're going to hear mostly negative things so you might wonder why on Earth I gave this thing three stars. That there is pretty simple because if you're a fan of this type of drama then you're probably going to enjoy this one. If you're a fan of director Lang then you're going to enjoy all his great touches that he puts on the film. This film was made way before the term noir came about but I think it would be fair to put it in that genre and the visual look here will certainly remind people of countless noir titles the director would go onto make. The way Lang uses all the shadows and fog made for a great, dark atmosphere. Another thing that makes this film worth watching are the performances by Fonda and Sidney. Both are extremely good in their roles with Fonda really sticking out great in this early performance. He manages to be quite menacing when he needs to but he's also very sympathetic in the early scenes. That terrific voice really captures the character's spirit of wanting to do right only to have one bad thing happen after another. Now, what really kills this film and keeps it from being better is the downright horrid and embarrassing screenplay. I'm in no way a professional writer but I think this screenplay here is without question one of the worst I've seen from a professional. The thing plays everything out in such a simple manor that you can't help but roll your eyes and be well aware of what's going to happen at every turn. The way Fonda gets out is too simple. The way he gets back into trouble is too simple. The twist once he's in prison is too simple. The breaking point of the Sidney character is too simple. I won't give away the ending but the twists that come in the final twenty-minutes are just way too simple and laughable. The screenplay doesn't do either character any justice either because by the end of the film you hate the Fonda character and you can't stand the Sidney character and both of these are emotions the film certainly didn't want you to have. YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE is worth watching if you're fans of the director or cast but be sure you're in a light mood because this horrid screenplay will have you wondering how on Earth it got pass anyone with a green light.

In 1937 they knew how to make good movies, with story, characterization, et cetera. Indeed, 1937 was the start of Hollywood's true Golden Era, circa 1937-1941. In 2007, most movies don't bother much with silly ideas like plots and story. And in 2007 we ain't got no directors like FRITZ LANG.Henry Fonda knew the secret to getting and keeping a pretty girl: Get thrown in the slammer and when you get out take her to a few good bank robberies. She will love you forever. One of the best parts of this crime drama is the absolute lack of liberal political spin about how "society" supposedly mistreats criminals -- the typical spin of 1970 thru 1980. False, stupid and silly, such pictures "justified" crime and contributed to its increase.This picture was produced by Walter Wanger --- one of Hollywood's greatest independent film producers in the 1930's and 1940's. His studio went belly-up following the personal scandal that wrecked the box office of his big budget JOAN OF ARC. His film library was the very first A-list library to be sold to television. The current DVD has his company eradicated from the credits -- suddenly it's Castle Hill Productions --- but they missed his trademark marble eagle, coming on at the very end.Fritz Lang made better pictures, but this one holds up well after 70 years.