henry fonda get the role of a lifetime a eddie taylor and who get out of jail and only to go right back for a crime that he do not commit . practically the only person on his side be his wife joan graham ( sylvia sidney ) . they have to spend the rest of the movie try to flee the law . you only live once not only look at the flaw in our criminal justice system and but also show hope amid desperation . fritz lang use the same kind of camera angle that make die nibelung and m and the big heat so great . also star be barton maclane who later play gen. peterson on i dream of jeannie and margaret hamilton ( aka the wicked witch of the west in the wizard of oz ) . a perfect movie .