From Shintoho Cinema Nostalgia, 'Victory of the Condemned / Defeat the Wolf Boss' and 'Pursuit at Dawn' Released on DVD for the First Time!

Key facts

  • From Shintoho Cinema Nostalgia, 'Victory of the Condemned / Defeat the Wolf Boss' and 'Pursuit at Dawn' Released on DVD for the First Time!
  • Kokusai Hoei Co., Ltd. and Firecracker Co., Ltd. will release Toshio Shimura's 'Victory of the Condemned / Defeat the Wolf Boss' and Kon Ichikawa's 'Pursuit at Dawn' on DVD for the first time on September 2, 2026, under the Shintoho Cinema Nostalgia label. These masterpieces of post-war Japanese crime and suspense films are revived, priced at 4,400 yen and 3,300 yen (tax included) respectively.
  • Source: PR Times
  • Date: May 29, 2026

Direct answer

Kokusai Hoei Co., Ltd. and Firecracker Co., Ltd. will release Toshio Shimura's 'Victory of the Condemned / Defeat the Wolf Boss' and Kon Ichikawa's 'Pursuit at Dawn' on DVD for the first time on September 2, 2026, under the Shintoho Cinema Nostalgia label. These masterpieces of post-war Japanese crime and suspense films are revived, priced at 4,400 yen and 3,300 yen (tax included) respectively.

Citation
From Shintoho Cinema Nostalgia, 'Victory of the Condemned / Defeat the Wolf Boss' and 'Pursuit at Dawn' Released on DVD for the First Time! (May 29, 2026), PR Times
Source
PR Times
Date
May 29, 2026
Kokusai Hoei Co., Ltd. and Firecracker Co., Ltd. will release Toshio Shimura's 'Victory of the Condemned / Defeat the Wolf Boss' and Kon Ichikawa's 'Pursuit at Dawn' on DVD for the first time on September 2, 2026, under the Shintoho Cinema Nostalgia label. These masterpieces of post-war Japanese crime and suspense films are revived, priced at 4,400 yen and 3,300 yen (tax included) respectively.
cultureNQ 45/100出典：PR Times

📋 Article Processing Timeline

  • 📰 Published: May 29, 2026 at 12:00
  • 🔍 Collected: June 1, 2026 at 03:01 (63h 1m after Published)
  • 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 2, 2026 at 06:50 (27h 49m after Collected)
Victory of the Condemned / Defeat the Wolf Boss Who is the traitor! A man cornered on the cliff of death! Bullets and roars of mad revenge! You'll get it someday! Citizen's justice or gang violence! Two unreleased-on-DVD works by artisan director Toshio Shimura, highly popular among fans for his solid directing skills, are coupled and released on DVD for the first time! - A masterpiece action film where a man falsely accused as a death row inmate due to an organization's conspiracy challenges revenge, released on DVD for the first time. - Set in a cabaret, false accusations, betrayal, past romance, and the conspiracy of an international crime syndicate intersect. You can enjoy the true thrill of post-war crime films typical of Shintoho. - Ryutaro Amagi passionately plays Hayama, who escapes bearing a false charge. He intensely portrayed the frustration of being chased and the tenacity to pursue the truth. - Michiko Maeda plays the dancer Maya, adding a bewitching shadow in a decadent atmosphere. - Jun Tazaki passionately plays Detective Kawai, who pursues the truth of the incident. His presence added depth to the story. - Asao Matsumoto, Arata Shibata, Shigeru Ogura, and others support the tension of the underworld and the power of the ensemble drama, creating a dense world unique to post-war crime films. - Toshio Shimura's directorial debut. A representative work depicting the process of an ordinary family getting involved in violence and fear set in a post-war black market, released on DVD for the first time. - The original story is by translator and novelist Yoshiro Hida. Ryuichiro Yagi and Toshio Shimura handled the adaptation, turning the anxiety of post-war society into a dense suspense. - Shin Saburi brilliantly expresses the inner wavering of the protagonist whose daily life collapses after witnessing a murder scene. - Susumu Fujita played the younger brother, a demobilized soldier, making viewers feel the strength of those living in the post-war era, in contrast to his older brother. - Shadow-rich cinematography and music vividly visualize the darkness under the overpass, the bustle of the black market, and the tense atmosphere. - This footage is a re-release of 'Pack of Wolves' released in 1948 as an abridged version with a new title in 1958, and is the only existing main feature footage. [Cast] Ryutaro Amagi, Michiko Maeda, Jun Tazaki, Arata Shibata, Asao Matsumoto, Sozaburo Kikuchi, Kyoji Kokonoe, Shigeru Ogura, Shinji Arima, Sakutaro Yamakawa, Takeshi Kobayashi, Tatsuhiro Oka, Keiko Mori, Kiyoko Tsuji, Hiroaki Kurahashi, Akio Shirakawa, Junichi Minamisawa, Hironao Takenaka, Isamu Sawamura, Ryuji Kinoshita, Ten Kokusou, Mikio Namino, Yasuhiko Todo, Hiroshi Izumida, Harold Conway, Janny Hariura Susumu Fujita, Kuniko Miyake, Den Obinata, Chizuko Nogami, Yuji Hori, Shin Saburi, Tsunemi Hirose, Shunji Kubo, Tetsu Tsuboi, Saburo Sawai, Ko Yamamuro, Yoji Misaki, Kyozo Fuyuki, Yoyo Kojima, Wataru Emi, Hiroshi Ayukawa, Tomohiko Otani, Yoshiko Kato, Satoko Date, Motoji Imashimizu, Shinji Arima, Sozaburo Kikuchi, Rei Ishikawa, Masao Takamatsu, Arata Takemura, Kazuhiko Matsumoto [Staff] Director: Toshio Shimura, Original Story: From Genichiro Miyashita's 'Kill the Spy', Adaptation: Junichi Nakamura, Planning: Motohiko Ito, Cinematography: Rokuro Nishigaki, Music: Tasuku Sano, Assistant Director: Yusuke Watanabe 'Woman's Song' Lyrics: Genichiro Miyashita, Composition: Tasuku Sano, Vocals: Michiko Maeda Director: Toshio Shimura, Original Story: Yoshiro Hida, Adaptation: Ryuichiro Yagi, Toshio Shimura, Executive Producer: Ryo Takei, Producer: Tsuneo Hazumi, Cinematography: Hiroshi Suzuki, Art Direction: Juichi Ito, Music: Seiichi Suzuki, Assistant Director: Kengo Yoshizawa [Story] On a night of heavy rain, a death row inmate escapes from prison. The man's name is Daisuke Hayama. He was sentenced to death as the culprit of the murder of a bartender at the cabaret 'Monaco', but in fact, he was falsely accused by the conspiracy of an international crime syndicate. Matsuo, who was bribed by the manager Gonda and gave false testimony at the time of the incident, is shaken by the news of the jailbreak but cannot abandon his past friendship and hides Hayama with his common-law wife, Reiko. Then Hayama, while hiding, begins to search for the real culprit who framed him. Meanwhile, Detective Kawai, who is in charge of the case, also notices the unnaturalness remaining in the verdict and continues his own investigation. Maya, a dancer who once had a deep relationship with Hayama, has become Gonda's mistress. Her appearance, having lost her former self, evokes complex feelings in Hayama. Eventually, Hayama and Reiko gradually connect their hearts amidst the tension of escape and pursuit. However, Gonda's gang, sensing Matsuo's movements, confines Matsuo. Seeking the only clue to prove his innocence, Hayama heads to 'Monaco' again, knowing the danger. Shunichi Sugitani, a bank branch manager, was living a peaceful family life surrounded by his wife and young son. His only flaw is that he loves alcohol and comes home late. His younger brother Yuji, who has been demobilized, opens a tonkatsu restaurant in the black market while staying at his brother's house, and Shunichi also visited frequently. In the city where the confusion of the post-war period still remains strong, Miyajima's gang controls the area and often showed up at Yuji's shop. One night, Shunichi buys a tricycle that his son had been begging for, and heads home drunk, imagining his child's happy face for the first time in a while. But on the way, the angry roars of men echo in the darkness under the overpass, and a blade flashes. The next moment, two men fall on the spot. Shunichi freezes at the gruesome sight. The men at the scene threaten him to 'forget it' and follow him all the way to his home. Since then, Shunichi speaks less and becomes depressed both at home and at work. Eventually, he is called by the police, and Chief Investigator Tsunekawa asks for his testimony while showing the tricycle left at the scene. However, fearing retaliation from the gang, Shunichi answers that he saw nothing. Yuji, who learned the truth from his brother's unusual behavior, fiercely criticizes his cowardly attitude. Thus, the events of one night eventually shake the Sugitani family greatly. [Label's Previously Released Related Works] (List of related works omitted for brevity but fully translated in spirit: various works by Toshio Shimura, Michiko Maeda, Susumu Fujita, Ryutaro Amagi, Shin Saburi, Kuniko Miyake, etc.) Pursuit at Dawn A dark, evil smile filled with flirtation! A machine gun barrage that strikes the reality of the Tokyo Casbah! - A work by Kon Ichikawa x Kaneto Shindo, rough but showing their later auteurship, is released on HD remaster DVD! - Running through the streets of post-war Shimbashi before dawn. A pursuit suspense of a young patrolman depicted by Kon Ichikawa. - An early representative work of Kon Ichikawa where the buds of his unique composition, rhythmic editing, and character direction, which he would establish later, can be felt amidst thrilling developments. - Kaneto Shindo's script brings out the raw realism of the black market and former military society, human karma, and the sins of war within the framework of a genre film. - It can also be enjoyed as an ensemble drama set in a police box, depicting post-war society with a documentary touch. - Ryo Ikebe gives a fine performance as a young patrolman who steps into the vortex of an incident triggered by a blunder. - Jun Tazaki plays a senior patrolman who knows the field, demonstrating a profound presence and giving the story a solid depth. - Chizuko Nogami impressively played Funaki's younger sister, combining core strength and fragility. - Yoko Sugi is cast as Ryo Ikebe's lover, unexpectedly becoming the 'Blue Mountains' duo. She adds a casual brilliance to the serious development. - A profound presence and tense confrontational composition released by veteran and unique actors. - First released in 1950. [Cast] Ryo Ikebe, Jun Tazaki, Michitaro Mizushima, Chizuko Nogami, Yoko Sugi, Tanie Kitabayashi, Jun Mihara, Wataru Emi, Yunosuke Ito, Kan Sugi, Shoji Kiyokawa, Shunji Kubo, Ichiro Sugai, Tatsuya Ishiguro, Gen Shimizu, Kan Yanagiya, Kamatari Fujiwara, Nakajiro Tomita, Zeho Nakamura, Fujio Nagahama, Tomosaburo Shimada, Chuzaburo Wakamiya, Keizaburo Nishikawa, Kokuten Kodo, Ko Yamamuro, Teruo Wakatsuki, Fumio Hara, Hiroshi Ayukawa, Shonosuke Sawamura, Fumio Okura, Sakutaro Yamakawa, Motoji Imashimizu, Noboru Takagi, Toru Chiba, Hiroshi Kono, Rikie Sanjo, Shimbashi Umeka [Staff] Director: Kon Ichikawa, Script: Kaneto Shindo, Producer: Tomoyuki Tanaka, Planning: Jun Nakagawa, Cinematography: Minoru Yokoyama, Art Direction: Satoshi Chuko, Music: Nobuo Iida, Police Guidance: Katsuo Takanezawa, Special Effects: Shintoho Special Effects, Assistant Director: Makiji Katsumata, Support: National Rural Police Headquarters, Assistance: Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Dentsu [Story] Shimbashi, where the scars of war damage still remain. A young patrolman, Ishikawa, working at the police box in front of the station, felt himself still immature as a police officer while being chased by small incidents that occur every day. One day, while interrogating a suspicious man, Funaki, who was brought to the police box, Ishikawa allows him to escape due to a moment of carelessness. After a desperate pursuit, the cornered Funaki takes his own life right in front of Ishikawa. Ishikawa stands still at the sudden event. Only the weight of the blunder remained in his heart. However, as the investigation progresses, it becomes clear that Funaki was not just a suspicious person, but a person who played a part in a drug syndicate operating in the dark taking advantage of the post-war confusion. Learning that an even greater darkness lurks behind the incident, Ishikawa begins a legwork investigation in the city with senior patrolmen Yamaguchi, Hinoki, and Date to regain his lost face. Amidst the buzz of bars, the darkness of back alleys, and the bustle of the night, Ishikawa and the others grasp that the smuggling network is deeply rooted everywhere in the city. The investigation line, which started with Funaki's death, eventually leads to a major crime beyond a mere drug incident. As footsteps echo in the city before dawn, a large-scale simultaneous investigation begins. [Label's Previously Released Related Works] (List of related works by Kon Ichikawa, Kaneto Shindo, Nobuo Iida, Ryo Ikebe, Jun Tazaki, etc.) Product Information [Release Date] (Common to both works): September 2, 2026 (Wednesday) [Price] Victory of the Condemned / Defeat the Wolf Boss: 4,400 yen (tax included) Pursuit at Dawn: 3,300 yen (tax included) * Product specifications are subject to change. © Kokusai Hoei Publisher: Kokusai Hoei Co., Ltd. / Firecracker Co., Ltd. Distributor: Firecracker Co., Ltd. Sales Cooperation: Happinet Media Marketing Co., Ltd. The latest information on products and bonus items will be updated on official SNS at any time. Official Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ShinTohoCN.label/ Official Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@shintoho_official

FAQ

Can these DVDs be purchased from Taiwan?

They can be purchased using Japanese online shops or proxy shopping services.

What are the key facts in this article?

Kokusai Hoei Co., Ltd. and Firecracker Co., Ltd. will release Toshio Shimura's 'Victory of the Condemned / Defeat the Wolf Boss' and Kon Ichikawa's 'Pursuit at Dawn' on DVD for the first time on September 2, 2026, under the Shintoho Cinema Nostalgia label. These masterpieces of post-war Japanese crime and suspense films are revived, priced at 4,400 yen and 3,300 yen (tax included) respectively.

What is the direct answer?

Kokusai Hoei Co., Ltd. and Firecracker Co., Ltd. will release Toshio Shimura's 'Victory of the Condemned / Defeat the Wolf Boss' and Kon Ichikawa's 'Pursuit at Dawn' on DVD for the first time on September 2, 2026, under the Shintoho Cinema Nostalgia label. These masterpieces of post-war Japanese crime and suspense films are revived, priced at 4,400 yen and 3,300 yen (tax included) respectively.

Back to Newsroom (630)