I saw this at the Shin-bungeiza cinema in Tokyo. At this cinema, they don't kick you out after your film ends, so you are allowed to stay and watch the next film (which is always different) for free.
I had watched the previous film, and I had nothing to do. I knew nothing about this film, so I had been intending to stay and sleep through it. But it was so exciting that I stayed awake the whole time, my eyes glued to the screen.
The villain of the piece is a rich company president who wants to build a new railway line out of Tokyo and develop the land around it. This is the early 1960s, when Japan was building new roads, railways, and buildings all over the place.
The company president cares nothing about other people. He is a deeply loathsome character, really one of the most despicable characters I have ever seen in a film.
There are many characters and story lines. Overall it is a most enjoyable and well-made film. Despite my pessimistic expectations, it is not melodramatic, sentimental, low-budget, or dated.
