1. An image processing apparatus comprising: correlation value computing means for computing a correlation value between a noted image and each of reference images preceding and following the noted image, among successively inputted images; break determining means for determining whether or not the noted image corresponds to a break in a predetermined number of successive identical images, on the basis of the correlation value; successive occurrence counting means for cumulatively counting successive occurrences of identical images as a successive occurrence count, if it is not determined that the noted image corresponds to a break; pattern determining means for determining whether or not a successive occurrence count up to an immediately preceding image matches a set count indicating a successive occurrence count corresponding to a predetermined pull-down pattern, if it is determined that the noted image corresponds to a break; matching counting means for counting a number of times matching with the predetermined pull-down pattern occurs as a matching count, if it is determined that the noted image corresponds to a break, and it is determined that the successive occurrence count up to the immediately preceding image matches the set count; and pull-down pattern detecting means for detecting the predetermined pull-down pattern corresponding to the set count as a pull-down pattern of the successively inputted images, if it is determined that the noted image corresponds to a break, and it is determined that the successive occurrence count up to the immediately preceding image matches the set count and that the matching count is larger than a predetermined count.