I wasn’t immediately impressed with this film. The setup felt familiar, bringing to mind an episode of "Columbo," especially because of its somewhat artificial studio setting which seemed restrictive. However, after things get underway, it becomes one of the finest crime thrillers I've encountered in quite some time. The story revolves around the abduction of a young boy for whom the easily angered, wealthy shoemaker “Gondo” (played powerfully by Toshirô Mifune) is expected to pay a ransom of ¥30 million – an enormous amount of money. It’s revealed that the kidnapped child isn't Gondo's own son, but rather the offspring of his chauffeur. The question then becomes: why should he pay? Should he proceed with his planned corporate acquisition or risk financial ruin for the boy named "Shinichi"? The film is structured in three distinct parts. The initial section focuses on the deliberation process concerning whether or not to pay and the reasoning behind it. Subsequently, the police attempt to locate and arrest the perpetrator. Kurosawa chose to show us a good deal of this investigative work, rather than glossing over it quickly. This approach makes the detective aspect considerably more engaging, allowing for some development in the police officers' characters and injecting moments of dark humor into the story. Finally, we arrive at the resolution, which possesses its own peculiar and somewhat inexplicable purpose. It prompts reflection on personal choices, offers a glimpse into a less-seen, darker facet of Japanese culture (involving heroin use), and presents a surprisingly impactful portrayal of humanity as the narrative explores aspects of human nature, upbringing, and straightforward avarice in a compelling way. The film is adapted from an Ed McBain novel (which I haven't read), but the entire project has been skillfully integrated into its new cultural context to create a captivating and detailed mystery that moves at a brisk pace.

Source on TMDB