Review of You Only Live Once (1937) by Hec T — 19 Jun 2018

First and best of its kind as a lovers' getaway movie.

Fritz Lang effectively teams up Henry Fonda and Sylvia Sidney to create an unmissable film that brings life to Eddie Taylor, a man who wishes to go straight after a three-year siting in jail, and Joan Graham, his faithful lover who represents fatality through the continuously growing romantic idea which the film embraces. The narrative is developed in a loathing environment of criticism, prejudice and discrimination from society which is, altogether, the greatest antagonist of the film and the reason the starring couple is isolated and pushed to embark on a seemingly endless journey.

In "YOLO", Lang brings for the second time his austrian-german style to Hollywood while successfully merging it into Americana, as a late historic criticism of the depression era. With the help of his characteristic and remarkable expressionist touches, he makes the film a thrilling experience, by making the audience emphasize with whats dealt by the characters. By all of its elements, "YOLO" results in an astonishing directing work, notable cinematic moments are found in death scenes which are always surrounded by stifling atmospheres, first in a well-crafted bank robbery scene and later in a murder scene of an innocent bystander which ends up being the tragic point of breakthrough in the plot.

A gorgeous poetic idea works from beginning to end, tragedy seems the only resolution, not because it's already written, but because fatality works as a form of destiny. Eddie and Joan might never find happiness, but in the end good triumphs over evil, and if somehow the audience deviates from this thought, Lang assures we are guided back to that point of view of poetic justice with the very last quote of the film.

"YOLO" tells a thrilling love story worth of portraying in the history of cinema. It will be an input and reference for the upcoming films with similar nature that later would become a genre within a genre which will bring installments that goes from Gun Crazy (1950), passing through the well-known Bonnie & Clyde (1967) and up to the nowadays critical acclaimed The End of the F****** World (2018) TV show, all of them with the same exciting and delightful idea of two lovers which are at the same time partners in crime.