Inspector Palmu
Encyclopedia
Inspector Frans J. Palmu, depicted as "a gruff detective of the Helsinki
police department", is one of the most popular characters created by Finnish
writer Mika Waltari
(who is, however, better known outside Finland for his historical novels).
The character starred in three mystery novels, all of which were filmed. The second book was filmed first while Kaasua, Komisario Palmu is based on the first novel. The film's Swedish title is the same as that of the original story. A fourth film was made without Waltari's involvement. The script was written by Georg Korkman and Matti Kassila, who also directed all four films. In addition Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu was written by Waltari knowingly so that it could be filmed.
The first movie was produced by Suomi-Filmi
and the latter three by Fennada. Joel Rinne
plays Palmu in all four films and is accompanied by his jack-of-all-trades assistant (later restaurant owner) Väinö Kokki played by Leo Jokela and Toivo Virta the university-educated officer (who eventually outranks Palmu) played by Matti Ranin
.
One of Palmu's most notorious techniques for solving crimes is baiting the murderer to reveal his/herself. For instance, he had Virta reveal that a suspect had spent the night at the mansion of the deceased victim in order to smoke out the murderer whose identity he had already deduced, but needed to catch red-handed in order to have arrested. This, and Palmu's bluntness, often lead to arguments between him and Virta whom Palmu would constantly keep in the dark and talk down to. However, Palmu shows his respect to Virta's abilities though he has a tendency to take credit for his ideas, he also turns to him whenever he has trouble remembering sophisticated terminology. Virta eventually rises to outrank Palmu by the time of Tähdet kertovat. Despite their differences he has a level of respect for Palmu and even takes a bullet for him in the first movie.
Palmu's age is a constant source for jokes in the films, such as his tendency to take naps in his office. Palmu is also extremely meditative adding to the illusion that he's too old for his job, while in reality he always thinks of the most likely solution to the crime first.
Palmu is unmarried in the novels and the first three films, but apparently marries after his retirement from the police force, as seen in the fourth film.
, to keep them in the loop on a politically sensitive murder. This film focuses considerably more on the media (though their role is also explored somewhat in the third film as well) and on Finland's relations with the Soviet Union
.
Generally the first three films are the best received. The fourth movie is best known for its tongue-in-cheek and action movie inspired finale scene, in which the murderer is chased by the police and secret agents.
's adaption of Tuntematon Sotilas.
In addition four more prominent main actors reappear in different roles within the films:
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
police department", is one of the most popular characters created by Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
writer Mika Waltari
Mika Waltari
Mika Toimi Waltari was a Finnish writer, best known for his best-selling novel The Egyptian .- Early life :...
(who is, however, better known outside Finland for his historical novels).
The character starred in three mystery novels, all of which were filmed. The second book was filmed first while Kaasua, Komisario Palmu is based on the first novel. The film's Swedish title is the same as that of the original story. A fourth film was made without Waltari's involvement. The script was written by Georg Korkman and Matti Kassila, who also directed all four films. In addition Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu was written by Waltari knowingly so that it could be filmed.
The first movie was produced by Suomi-Filmi
Suomi-Filmi
Suomi-Filmi, lit. Finland-Film, is a Finnish film production and distribution company established in 1919 by Erkki Karu. Suomi-Filmi produced around 160 feature length films and for most of its history was one of the two most important film companies in the country, along with Suomen Filmiteollisuus...
and the latter three by Fennada. Joel Rinne
Joel Rinne
Toivo Joel Rinne was a prolific Finnish actor of stage and screen. Among his most memorable film parts was the title role in the Inspector Palmu movie series, which started in 1960's Komisario Palmun erehdys, and continued in three sequels.-External links:...
plays Palmu in all four films and is accompanied by his jack-of-all-trades assistant (later restaurant owner) Väinö Kokki played by Leo Jokela and Toivo Virta the university-educated officer (who eventually outranks Palmu) played by Matti Ranin
Matti Ranin
Matti Helge Ranin is a famous actor in Finland. His parents were actor Helge Ranin and actor Saara Ranin .He has had an extensive career both in film and television...
.
The Character
Inspector Palmu is depicted as an extremely forward elder officer who is only interested in facts. He also has a keen sense for when someone is lying, and is often frustrated by the bureaucracy of the police department. Though Palmu can be forward and even openly rude he is shown being extremely sensitive around women, though he was irritated by a sexually promiscuous lady in Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu. Palmu can also sometimes act more jovially, and will make jokes to irritate suspects to take action, and reveal their motives. On occasion Palmu also has a stroke of luck, such as finding a cyanide bottle in a vase, when he looked into it out of sheer curiosity in Komisario Palmun Erehdys.One of Palmu's most notorious techniques for solving crimes is baiting the murderer to reveal his/herself. For instance, he had Virta reveal that a suspect had spent the night at the mansion of the deceased victim in order to smoke out the murderer whose identity he had already deduced, but needed to catch red-handed in order to have arrested. This, and Palmu's bluntness, often lead to arguments between him and Virta whom Palmu would constantly keep in the dark and talk down to. However, Palmu shows his respect to Virta's abilities though he has a tendency to take credit for his ideas, he also turns to him whenever he has trouble remembering sophisticated terminology. Virta eventually rises to outrank Palmu by the time of Tähdet kertovat. Despite their differences he has a level of respect for Palmu and even takes a bullet for him in the first movie.
Palmu's age is a constant source for jokes in the films, such as his tendency to take naps in his office. Palmu is also extremely meditative adding to the illusion that he's too old for his job, while in reality he always thinks of the most likely solution to the crime first.
Palmu is unmarried in the novels and the first three films, but apparently marries after his retirement from the police force, as seen in the fourth film.
Style
Each of the Palmu films depicts police work in very meticulous detail, while containing elements of more traditional murder mystery fiction. Vodkaa, komisario Palmu takes place after Palmu has retired from the police-force, and is hired by the Finnish Broadcasting Company, YleisradioYleisradio
The Finnish Broadcasting Company , abbreviated to YLE , is Finland's national broadcasting company, founded in 1926. YLE is a public-broadcasting organization which shares many of its characteristics with its British counterpart, the BBC, on which it was largely modelled...
, to keep them in the loop on a politically sensitive murder. This film focuses considerably more on the media (though their role is also explored somewhat in the third film as well) and on Finland's relations with the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Generally the first three films are the best received. The fourth movie is best known for its tongue-in-cheek and action movie inspired finale scene, in which the murderer is chased by the police and secret agents.
Actor Notes
Four actors from the Palmu series also starred in Edvin LaineEdvin Laine
Edvin Laine was a Finnish film director. Laine was born Bovellán.Laine directed Aaltoska orkaniseeraa, a comedy, in 1949....
's adaption of Tuntematon Sotilas.
- Matti RaninMatti RaninMatti Helge Ranin is a famous actor in Finland. His parents were actor Helge Ranin and actor Saara Ranin .He has had an extensive career both in film and television...
portrayed the idealistic lieutenant Kariluoto. - Leo RiuttuLeo RiuttuLeo Riuttu was a Finnish actor. He appeared in 81 films and television shows between 1946 and 1978...
who portrays author K.V. Laihonen played the joking sergeant Vanhala - Jussi Jurkka who plays Bruno Rygseck, the victim of the first film, played the extremely authoritarian captain Lammio
- Most notably Pentti SiimesPentti SiimesPentti Siimes is a Finnish actor. He has appeared in 86 films and television shows since 1946. He starred in the film Miriam, which was entered into the 8th Berlin International Film Festival.-Selected filmography:...
, who portrayed private Määttä, plays a completely different role in each of the first three Palmu movies: the university student Aimo Rykämö in the first film, artist Kurt Kuurna in the second and journalist Nopsanen in the third.
In addition four more prominent main actors reappear in different roles within the films:
- Aino Mantsas plays three different roles in the first three films: Alli Rygseck the second victim in the first film, Iiri Salmia the Russian club singer and Annika Vadenblick in the third.
- Esko SalminenEsko SalminenEsko Salminen is a Finnish actor with notable careers on television, the stage and on the silver screen.He has had three marriages: Rose-Marie Precht ; Heidi Krohn ; and Aino Seppo . He had two children with Krohn, his second marriage, one of whom is actor Kristo Salminen...
played cadet Leppä in the second film and a more prominent role, the greaser Ville Valkonen, in the third film. He also had an uncredited bit role in the first film as one of the guests in Bruno Rygseck's pool party. - Elina SaloElina SaloElina Salo is a Finnish film, theatre and television actress who has also done work in radio as a voice actor in children’s programming. In her career that began in 1956, Salo has appeared in over 50 films and television shows but she is best known for her work in Aki Kaurismäki’s films. She has...
, who portrayed Airi Rykämö in the first movie also played Kirsti Scrof in the second. - Toivo Mäkelä who appears in a bit role as the pianist in the first movie, returned in a more prominent role as judge Lanne in the second.
Novels featuring Inspector Palmu
- Kuka murhasi Rouva Skrofin? (1939)
- Komisario Palmun erehdysKomisario Palmun erehdysKomisario Palmun erehdys is a Finnish crime film directed by Matti Kassila, and based on the second Inspector Palmu novel by the same name by Mika Waltari....
(1940) - Tähdet kertovat, komisario PalmuTähdet kertovat, komisario PalmuTähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu is a Finnish crime movie directed by Matti Kassila. It is the third film in the Inspector Palmu series and the second one produced by Fennada. The novel was written by Waltari through the explicit request by director Kassila. It is also the last film in the series...
(1962)
Films featuring Inspector Palmu
- Komisario Palmun erehdysKomisario Palmun erehdysKomisario Palmun erehdys is a Finnish crime film directed by Matti Kassila, and based on the second Inspector Palmu novel by the same name by Mika Waltari....
(1960) - Kaasua, komisario Palmu!Kaasua, komisario Palmu!Kaasua, komisario Palmu! is a Finnish crime movie directed by Matti Kassila. The main cast of actors is the same as that of the first though some actors such as Elina Salo, Pentti Siimes and Aino Mantsas play different characters,It's based on the first Inspector Palmu novel Kuka murhasi rouva...
(1961) - Tähdet kertovat, komisario PalmuTähdet kertovat, komisario PalmuTähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu is a Finnish crime movie directed by Matti Kassila. It is the third film in the Inspector Palmu series and the second one produced by Fennada. The novel was written by Waltari through the explicit request by director Kassila. It is also the last film in the series...
(1962) - Vodkaa, komisario PalmuVodkaa, komisario PalmuVodkaa, komisario Palmu is a 1969 movie, the fourth and final part of the Inspector Palmu series. The only part of the series to be filmed in color, the film is also the only one not to be based a novel by Mika Waltari....
(1969)