Frans J. Palmu
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Inspector Frans J. Palmu (), depicted as "a gruff detective of the
Helsinki Police Department The Helsinki Police Department (HPD) ( Finnish: Helsingin poliisilaitos) is the department of the Police of Finland in charge of the Finnish capital of Helsinki. Its responsibilities include enforcing the law and providing security for the city. ...
", is one of the most popular characters created by Finnish writer
Mika Waltari Mika Toimi Waltari (; 19 September 1908 – 26 August 1979) was a Finnish writer, best known for his best-selling novel ''The Egyptian'' (). He was extremely productive. Besides his novels he also wrote poetry, short stories, crime novels, plays, ...
(who is, however, better known outside Finland for his historical novels). The character starred in three mystery novels, all of which were filmed. His first appearance was in the 1939 novel '' Who Murdered Mrs. Skrof?'' (''Kuka murhasi Rouva Skrofin?'').Panu Rajala: ''Unio mystica: Mika Waltarin elämä ja teokset.'' Helsinki: WSOY, 2008. . (in Finnish) The second book, ''
Inspector Palmu's Mistake ''Komisario Palmun erehdys'' (Swedish title: ''Mysteriet Rygseck''; international titles: ''Inspector Palmu's Mistake'' or ''Inspector Palmu's Error''; US DVD title: ''The Rygseck Mystery'') is a 1960 Finland, Finnish crime comedy film directed b ...
'' (''Komisario Palmun erehdys''), was filmed first in 1960, while the second film, ''
Gas, Inspector Palmu! Gas, Inspector Palmu! (original Finnish title: ''Kaasua, komisario Palmu!'') is a 1961 Finnish crime movie directed by Matti Kassila. It is a sequel to Inspector Palmu's Mistake and is followed by The Stars Will Tell, Inspector Palmu. The main c ...
'' (''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 ''
The Stars Will Tell, Inspector Palmu ''The Stars Will Tell, Inspector Palmu'' (Finnish: ''Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu'') is a 1962 Finnish comedy-crime film directed by Matti Kassila. It is the third film in the ''Inspector Palmu'' series and the second one produced by Fennad ...
'' (''Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu'') was written by Waltari knowingly so that it could be filmed. The first movie, ''
Inspector Palmu's Mistake ''Komisario Palmun erehdys'' (Swedish title: ''Mysteriet Rygseck''; international titles: ''Inspector Palmu's Mistake'' or ''Inspector Palmu's Error''; US DVD title: ''The Rygseck Mystery'') is a 1960 Finland, Finnish crime comedy film directed b ...
'', was produced by
Suomen Filmiteollisuus Suomen Filmiteollisuus (SF), lit. ''Finland's Film Industry'', is a Finland, Finnish film production company founded by Erkki Karu in 1933 after financial problems with Suomi-Filmi. The CEO, director, producer and writer Toivo Särkkä, T.J. Sär ...
and the latter three by Fennada.
Joel Rinne Toivo Joel Rinne (6 June 1897, Asikkala – 3 December 1981) was a prolific Finnish actor of stage and screen. Among his most memorable film parts is the title role in the Inspector Palmu movie series, which started in 1960's ''Komisario Palmun ...
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 Leo Paavali Jokela (24 January 1927 – 11 May 1975) was a Finnish actor. He is best remembered for his role as a detective Kokki in Matti Kassila's '' Komisario Palmu'' films and as a parrot G. Pula-aho in Spede Pasanen's radio programs. Caree ...
and ''Toivo Virta'' the university-educated officer (who eventually outranks Palmu) played by
Matti Ranin Matti Helge Ranin (21 November 1926 – 24 November 2013) was a Finnish actor. Ranin had an extensive career in film. He was in his prime as film-actor in the 1950s and 60s, most famously playing Captain Kariluoto in an Edvin Laine film '' The ...
. The fourth and final film, ''
Vodkaa, komisario Palmu ''Vodkaa, komisario Palmu'' (''Vodka, Inspector Palmu'') is a 1969 film directed by Matti Kassila. It is the fourth and final part of the Inspector Palmu series and the only part of the series to be filmed in color. The film is also the only on ...
'', was released in 1969. On January 19, 2021, it was announced that
Renny Harlin Renny Harlin (born Renny Lauri Mauritz Harjola; 15 March 1959) is a Finnish film director, Film producer, producer, and screenwriter who has worked in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood, Europe, and Cinema of China, China. His best-known film ...
will direct the new ''Inspector Palmu'' film. Although the film is shot in Finland, unlike the previous Finnish-language ''Palmu'' films, Harlin's film is becoming an international English-language production, where an actor is also being sought internationally for the title role. Filming of the new ''Inspector Palmu'' should begin at the end of 2024.


Character

Inspector Palmu is depicted as an older 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 is irritated by a sexually promiscuous lady in ''The Stars Will Tell, Inspector Palmu''. Palmu can also sometimes act more jovially, and makes 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 looks into it out of sheer curiosity in ''Inspector Palmu's Mistake''. One of Palmu's most notorious techniques for solving crimes is baiting the murderer to reveal him/herself. For instance, he has Virta reveal that a suspect spent the night at the mansion of the deceased victim in order to smoke out the murderer whose identity he has already deduced, but he needs to catch him red-handed in order to have him arrested. This, and Palmu's bluntness, often lead to arguments between him and Virta, whom Palmu constantly keeps in the dark and talks down to. Nevertheless, Palmu shows respect for Virta's abilities. Palmu has a tendency to take credit for Virta's ideas, but he also turns to him whenever he has trouble remembering sophisticated terminology. Virta eventually rises to outrank Palmu by the time of ''The Stars Will Tell, Inspector Palmu''. Despite their differences, Virta 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 is too old for his job, while in reality he always thinks of the most likely solution to the crime first. Palmu's home address has never mentioned in Waltari's books, but in the 1961 film ''Gas, Inspector Palmu!'' the stairwell of Palmu's home, which was recognized by film enthusiasts as Rauhankatu 11 in
Kruununhaka Kruununhaka (; ) is a Subdivisions of Helsinki#Neighbourhoods, neighbourhood of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Kruununhaka became the area next to the harbour and the center, when Helsinki was moved from the earlier location in the mid-1660s ...
,
Helsinki Helsinki () is the Capital city, capital and most populous List of cities and towns in Finland, city in Finland. It is on the shore of the Gulf of Finland and is the seat of southern Finland's Uusimaa region. About people live in the municipali ...
, is seen. 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, ''Vodka, Inspector Palmu''.


Style

Each of the Palmu films depicts police work in very meticulous detail, while containing elements of more traditional murder mystery fiction. Also, one of the recurring themes is that the victim of the murder is a person who, before own death, has a questionable reputation or this collapses fatally into obscure acts. ''Vodka, Inspector Palmu'' takes place after Palmu has retired from the police-force, and is hired by the Finnish Broadcasting Company,
Yleisradio Yleisradio Oy (; ), abbreviated as Yle () (formerly styled in all uppercase until 2012), translated into English as the Finnish Broadcasting Company, is Finland's national public broadcasting company, founded in 1926. It is a joint-stock comp ...
, 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 The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
. 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.


Canceled film

The fourth ''Inspector Palmu'' film was close to being realized in 1963, as Waltari's screenplay ''Lepäisit jo rauhassa, komisario Palmu'' (lit. "Just Relax Already, Inspector Palmu") was completed, but the realization of the film project failed in the . In the story of the script, Inspector Palmu is investigating the murder of during the premiere of
Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...
's ''
Macbeth ''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...
''. The venue of the murder is the stage of the Old Student House in Helsinki. Hannu Salmi compares the idea to
George Cukor George Dewey Cukor ( ; July 7, 1899 – January 24, 1983) was an American film director and film producer, producer. He mainly concentrated on comedies and literary adaptations. His career flourished at RKO Pictures, RKO when David O. Selzn ...
's 1947 film noir '' A Double Life'', where the crime takes place in the middle of ''
Othello ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'', often shortened to ''Othello'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around 1603. Set in Venice and Cyprus, the play depicts the Moorish military commander Othello as he is manipulat ...
''. The subject of the story is real estate fraud."Mika Waltari", Authors Calendar
/ref> Matti Kassila, who directed the previous films, also found it difficult to adapt the script into a film, because he thought it contained a lot of dialogue and few events. Among other things, the manuscript copy is in the possession of Panu Rajala, the author of the Waltari's biography, who considers it a success.Kirja-arvio: Panu Rajala, Unio mystico? Mika Waltarin elämä ja teokset
(in Finnish)


Actor notes

*
Pentti Siimes Pentti Kalevi Siimes (10 September 1929 – 27 October 2016) was a Finnish actor. He appeared in more than 80 films and television shows between 1946 and 2008. Siimes starred in the film ''Miriam'', which was entered into the 8th Berlin In ...
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. *
Aino Mantsas Aino Mantsas (29 November 1922, Helsinki – 24 January 1979) was a Finnish actress. She worked for various theatres and appeared in films. She was married to director Matti Kassila from 1948 until her death, and was cast in many of his films, suc ...
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 Salminen Esko Salminen (born 12 October 1940) is a Finnish actor with careers on television, the stage and on the silver screen. Personal life Born in Helsinki, Salminen's parents were actor and actress . He is of partial Russian descent through his b ...
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 Salo Aino Elina Salo (born 9 March 1936 in Sipoo, Finland) 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 fi ...
, who portrayed Airi Rykämö in the first movie and also played Kirsti Skrof in the second. *
Risto Mäkelä Risto () is a masculine given name, found in Finnish, Estonian and South Slavic. In South Slavic, it is a hypocorism derived from '' Hristofor'' or ''Hristivoje''. It may refer to: Estonia * Risto Järv (born 1971), folklorist *Risto Joost (b ...
, who portrayed Police chief Hagert in the first movie also played Reverend P. Mustapää in the second. *
Toivo Mäkelä Toivo Mäkelä (26 September 1909 – 20 April 1979) was a Finnish film actor, appearing in more than 50 films between 1951 and 1979. He won a Jussi Award for Best Actor in 1978 and was awarded a Pro Finlandia medal in 1960. Partial filmogr ...
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

* '' Who Murdered Mrs. Skrof?'' (''Kuka murhasi Rouva Skrofin?'', 1939) * ''
Inspector Palmu's Mistake ''Komisario Palmun erehdys'' (Swedish title: ''Mysteriet Rygseck''; international titles: ''Inspector Palmu's Mistake'' or ''Inspector Palmu's Error''; US DVD title: ''The Rygseck Mystery'') is a 1960 Finland, Finnish crime comedy film directed b ...
'' (''Komisario Palmun erehdys'', 1940) * '' It is Written in the Stars, Inspector Palmu!'' (''Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu'', 1962)


Films featuring Inspector Palmu

* ''
Inspector Palmu's Mistake ''Komisario Palmun erehdys'' (Swedish title: ''Mysteriet Rygseck''; international titles: ''Inspector Palmu's Mistake'' or ''Inspector Palmu's Error''; US DVD title: ''The Rygseck Mystery'') is a 1960 Finland, Finnish crime comedy film directed b ...
'' (1960) * ''
Gas, Inspector Palmu! Gas, Inspector Palmu! (original Finnish title: ''Kaasua, komisario Palmu!'') is a 1961 Finnish crime movie directed by Matti Kassila. It is a sequel to Inspector Palmu's Mistake and is followed by The Stars Will Tell, Inspector Palmu. The main c ...
'' (1961) * ''
The Stars Will Tell, Inspector Palmu ''The Stars Will Tell, Inspector Palmu'' (Finnish: ''Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu'') is a 1962 Finnish comedy-crime film directed by Matti Kassila. It is the third film in the ''Inspector Palmu'' series and the second one produced by Fennad ...
'' (1962) * ''
Vodka, Inspector Palmu ''Vodkaa, komisario Palmu'' (''Vodka, Inspector Palmu'') is a 1969 film directed by Matti Kassila. It is the fourth and final part of the Inspector Palmu series and the only part of the series to be filmed in color. The film is also the only one ...
'' (1969)


See also

*
Nordic noir Nordic noir, also known as Scandinavian noir, is a literary genre, genre of crime fiction usually written from a police point of view and set in Scandinavia or the Nordic countries. Nordic noir often employs plain language, avoiding metaphor, and ...


Notes


Sources


Literature

* Juha Järvelä & Marjo Vallittu: ''Komisario Palmun jäljillä.'' Helsinki: Avain, 2014. .


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Palmu, Inspector Characters of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction Fictional police detectives Fictional Finnish detectives Fictional Finnish people Mika Waltari Male characters in literature