Rififi in Tokyo Reviews

This is one of several pictures that attempted to cash in on the success of RIFIFI. It's another caper plot with not enough time taken to let us know who the people are. RIFIFI IN TOKYO has Vanel coming to the Japanese capital to steal a huge jewel that is protected by an impregnable security system in the largest bank vault in town. But Vanel, like all the crooks one sees in this kind of movie, has a plan. Vanel's assistant, Okada (an Asian with an occidental name) is killed by a local crime boss who also wants the diamond. Upon hearing of Okada's murder, Boehm joins Vanel. Okada and Boehm had been service buddies, and now Boehm wants to exact revenge. Boehm falls for Lass, who is married to Vitold, the electrical whiz who will knock out the security system. The crime is committed, and Vanel gets the gem. Just as Vanel is about to follow Boehm and the others out, a barred door slides down and traps Vanel inside with no hope of escape. Vanel knows that it's all over for him since the cops are probably on their way by now, so he puts his hand through the bars to give the gem to Boehm. But Boehm, knowing that he might be caught and that if he's caught with the jewel, that's evidence, says "no" and races out just before the authorities descend. As he's fleeing, Boehm hears the unmistakable sound of a gunshot. Vanel has killed himself rather than face arrest. Nice location photography in and around the wrong side of the Ginza in Tokyo and some good acting, but it was eight years after the original and many others had been made since, so we are left with the uncomfortable feeling of deja vu upon seeing this.