Cruel Gun Story (1964) Joji Togawa (Joe Shishido) got an early release from prison by mob lawyer Ito. But it's not without strings: Joji must rob an armored car which carries 127 million yen. The armored car is ticket sales from the Japan derby. Joji hooks up with his old partner Shirai, but he also is forced to work with Japanese yakuza cronies to pull off his heist whom he doesn't entirely trust, such as Teramoto, Takizawa, and Yasuji Okada, a past it boxing champion.
Joji had served time in prison for breaking the legs of a truck driver because this truck driver ran over his sister, Rie. Rie can't walk as a result of his tragic injury, and is permanently disabled in a wheelchair. The doctor's prognosis is bleak: even with the surgery, the chances of Rie ever walking again is bleak.
Joji's a sympathetic portrait. While he's a gangster, he's doing it for his sister and his hands are tied. He must pull off this heist job or face the wrath of the yakuza.