Take Aim at the Police Van (1960): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1960, Take Aim at the Police Van is an action, crime and mystery film directed by Seijun Suzuki, running about 79 minutes.

What it’s about. 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?

Who’s in it. Take Aim at the Police Van stars Michitarō Mizushima as Daijirô Tamon, Mari Shiraki as Tsunako Andô, Misako Watanabe as Yûko Hamajima and Shinsuke Ashida as Jûbei Hamajima, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, Take Aim at the Police Van has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Take Aim at the Police Van page.

If you liked it. Fans of Take Aim at the Police Van tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.