Kurosawa's postwar policier unites elements of Italian neo-realism and the American semi-documentary vogue of the time, making it a valuable historical record (the delightful baseball footage goes on longer than strictly necessary to set the scene) as well as a compelling thriller. The young Toshiro Mifune plays a rookie cop who, to his shame and guilt, loses his gun to a felon, and must track it down in a drenching heatwave with the help of his wise old partner, Takashi Shimura. (1949) — Duncan Shepherd
This movie is not currently in theaters.