Kaasua, komisario Palmu! (1961)

Director:

Matti Kassila

Writers:

Matti Kassila (writer)
Kaarlo Nuorvala (writer)

Release Date:

15 September 1961 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Homosexuality | Sequel | Murder | Morphine | Based On Novel

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Joel Rinne	...	Inspector Palmu
Matti Ranin	...	Detective Toivo Virta
Leo Jokela	...	Detective Väinö Kokki
Elina Salo	...	Kirsti Skrof
Pentti Siimes	...	Kurt Kuurna
Saulo Haarla	...	Kaarle Lankela
Risto Mäkelä	...	Preacher Mustapää
Henny Valjus	...	Mrs. Alma Skrof
Aino Mantsas	...	Iiri Salmia
Toivo Mäkelä	...	Judge Lanne
Pehr-Olof Sirén	...	Doctor (as Per-Olof Sirén)
Pia Hattara	...	Ms. Hallamaa
Rauha Rentola	...	Sister Anna
Kullervo Kalske	...	Police Officer Ara
Esko Mannermaa	...	Deputy Chief Hakanen

Also Known As:

Gas, Inspector Palmu! (International: English title) (informal literal title)
Kuka murhasi rouva Skrofin? (Finland) (working title)
Vem mördade fru Skrof? (Finland: Swedish title)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Certification:

Finland:K-12

Filming Locations:

Helsinki, Finland

Company:

Fennada-Filmi

Trivia:

The prequel, Komisario Palmun erehdys (1960), was a huge success, but its producer T.J. Särkkä forgot to reserve the filming rights of Mika Waltari's other Palmu-novel "Kuka murhasi rouva Skrofin". Mauno Mäkelä bought the rights and Kaasua, komisario Palmu (1961) was filmed under Fennada-Filmi.

Quotes:

Frans J. Palmu: By the way, where were you yesterday-evening from eleven o'clock to twelve o'clock?
Judge Lanne: Well... I was at my club. I left there after twelve o'clock.
Frans J. Palmu: What is the name of your club?
Judge Lanne: The club of the quiet pole jumpers.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Palmujen Siimes (2001)

One Murder. One Murderer. One Mistake.

Kaasua, Komisario Palmu (1962) is based loosely on the short novel written by the critically acclaimed Finnish author, Mika Waltari. This black and white thriller, shot on location in Helsinki, Finland, still continues to stand even today as one of the most celebrated and memorable landmarks in the short and relatively unnoticeable history of Finnish cinematography.

The canvas on which this movie is painted is a familiar one. A wealthy old religious patron raises a disobedient and mentally disturbed niece - until she all of a sudden drops dead as the result of a murder made to look like an accident. A grouchy, elderly superintendent (Joel Rinne) and his young and overly enthusiastic assistant are called in to investigate. And there certainly is a lot to look into, since the deceased had few friends, but many enemies. Almost everyone seems to have not only a motive but also something to hide; the question is, who acted on their motive and took matters into their own hands?

The typical modern murder mystery emphasizes the victim's unjust fate, and in the end pursues to punish the perpetrator. This thriller on the other hand tends to play with your mind. Not only does it drop clues here and there, some more noticeable than others, but the actors put on such a convincing and exciting show, that the corpse at the morgue is quickly forgotten. If anyone ends up gaining the viewer's sympathy, it is the murderer, or the long line of possible suspects, and not so much the actual victim. And once it is all said and done, the question is, who in fact was the real victim?

If you have the opportunity to see this old thriller, take it. You'll be glad you did.