Take Aim at the Police Van
1960 1h 19m movie Film Japan

Take Aim at the Police Van

13号待避線より その護送車を狙え

Synopsis

13号待避線より その護送車を狙え

A sharpshooter kills two prisoners in a police van at night. The guard on the van is suspended for six months; he's Tamon, an upright, modest man. He begins his own investigation into the murders. Who were the victims, who are their relatives and girlfriends, who else was on the van that night? As he doggedly investigates, others die, coincidences occur, and several leads take him to the Hamaju Agency, which may be supplying call girls. Its owner is in jail, his daughter, the enigmatic Yuko, keeps turning up where Tamon goes. Tamon believes he can awaken good in people, but has he met his match? Will he solve the murders or be the next victim? And who is Akiba?

Other Titles From Nikkatsu Corporation

Action + Crime in Japan

188 Japan titles in our catalog blend the Action and Crime genres. Below: the top-rated of them (excluding Take Aim at the Police Van itself).

The 1959–1961 Japan Window

In the crowded 1959-1961 Japan release window, Take Aim at the Police Van sits at #32 of 36. The leaderboard below contextualises its neighbours.

  1. Hero of the Red Light District
    #1

    Hero of the Red Light District

    ★ 8.6 · 1960
  2. The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
    #2

    The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer

    ★ 8.4 · 1961
  3. The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
    #3

    The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity

    ★ 8.2 · 1959
  4. Yojimbo
    #4

    Yojimbo

    ★ 8.1 · 1961
  5. The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
    #5

    The Human Condition I: No Greater Love

    ★ 8.0 · 1959
  6. When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
    #6

    When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

    ★ 8.0 · 1960
  7. Hiroshima Mon Amour
    #7

    Hiroshima Mon Amour

    ★ 7.8 · 1959
  8. Good Morning
    #8

    Good Morning

    ★ 7.7 · 1959

The 1960s Japan Landscape

Catalog density by release year across the 1960s in Japan, 202 titles in total. Highlighted year (yellow) is when Take Aim at the Police Van premiered alongside 15 others.

'6016'6110'6219'6315'6424'6522'6628'6721'6821'6926

Position in Catalog

Released alongside 15 other Japan films in 1960.

The 127th Japan title from Japan we index (earliest catalogued entry: 1899).

Our Japan catalog contains 4,579 titles in total (2,908 films).

Audience Engagement

22
Reviews
39th
Review-volume percentile
16th
Popularity percentile

22 audience reviews — more than 39% of Japan films in our index.

Popularity sits at the 16th percentile among Japan films.

Reception Benchmarks

6.0
TMDB Rating
22
Audience Reviews
Well Received
Critical Tier

Ranked #3,839 of 4,579 Japan films indexed here (16th percentile by TMDB audience score).

Rating is -0.9 points below the Japan average of 6.9/10.

Among Japan Action productions specifically: #1,485 of 1,714 (top 87%).

Production Details

Primary CountryJapan
Original LanguageJapanese
Production CompaniesNikkatsu Corporation
Runtime1h 19m
Release DateJanuary 27, 1960
IMDbtt0054325
Official Sitewww.nikkatsu.com