The whole thing just screams 'studio job' from a director whose work I've come to appreciate as more than that. It's not bad, though. I'd consider it higher with a better actor to replace Nobuo Kaneko (he ranges on terrible at times, but mostly just exaggerated) and a more fleshed out finale.

Riveting noir. The running time is a quick 65 minutes, but nothing's missing here. It's a wonderfully constructed story, loaded with surprises and tightly wound tension. Nishimura is fantastic as the clerk, torn between the obligations his social standing demands and his resentment. Kaneko is slimy and devious but not cartoonishly so. The photography is spot on, especially during the gripping robbery scene. The ending is a nice touch, although it may be the weak point as it defies explanation.

Occasionally overstylized moments, as is unfortunately typical of Japanese films. Didn't really understand the cop showing up at the very end.