Komisario Palmun erehdys
Encyclopedia
Komisario Palmun erehdys (1960) (Swedish: Rygseck Mysteriet, International title: ″Inspector Palmu's Error″) is a Finnish crime film directed by Matti Kassila
, and based on the second Inspector Palmu
novel by the same name by Mika Waltari
.
The film was produced by Toivo Särkkä and Suomi-Filmi
. Särkkä didn't want to produce a film based on the first novel "Kuka murhasi rouva Skrofin?". The rights to the first book were purchased by Mauno Mäkelä and filmed as Kaasua, komisario Palmu!
, produced by Fennada. Director Matti Kassila and the central cast from the first film reprised their roles.
The case is reopened when Alli Rygseck, Bruno's soon-to-have-been-divorced wife, is killed suddenly by means of Prussic acid in a glass of absinthe
.
, with Prussic acid. She later killed Alli Rygseck who tried to inherit Bruno's mansion. She was aware of Amalia's guilt and tried to blackmail her.
She is found out when Palmu lets the various suspects know that Irma Vanne had spent the night at Bruno's mansion. At this point he's already deduced she is the murderer but now needs to catch her in the act (using Vanne as bait). Amalia is affraid that Vanne knows she is the killer and calls her over to the mansion in order to kill her. Her pretence is that two would look for clues relating to "Butler" (Veijonen) who at this time has disappeared due to being the most likely suspect for the murder.
She tries to shoot Vanne in the dark mansion with a gun she received from detective Virta, who at the time didn't know she was the killer. Palmu realises that when visiting Vanne's appartment he merely talked to author Laihonen, who was staying with her, but didn't talk to Vanne in person. Laihonen tells him Vanne went to the mansion and Palmu rushes to the scene. The police corner Amalia who is trying to break into the room where Vanne has hidden. She tries to shoot Palmu but Virta steps in the way with the bullet hitting him in the shoulder.
Matti Kassila
Matti Kassila is a Finnish film director who achieved fame as one of the most prominent Finnish filmmakers in the 1950s and 60s. He is most famous for the series of four Inspector Palmu movies, based on the character created by Mika Waltari...
, and based on the second Inspector Palmu
Inspector Palmu
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 ....
novel by the same name by Mika Waltari
Mika Waltari
Mika Toimi Waltari was a Finnish writer, best known for his best-selling novel The Egyptian .- Early life :...
.
The film was produced by Toivo Särkkä and 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...
. Särkkä didn't want to produce a film based on the first novel "Kuka murhasi rouva Skrofin?". The rights to the first book were purchased by Mauno Mäkelä and filmed as 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...
, produced by Fennada. Director Matti Kassila and the central cast from the first film reprised their roles.
Plot
Bruno Rygseck, a rich, hated and lecherous playboy living in Helsinki, is found dead in his swimming pool, supposedly dead by accidental causes, after hosting a crime-themed party. After hearing the account of the events from Veijonen, the dead Rygseck's butler, Inspector Palmu becomes convinced that a murder has been committed. The investigation is eventually shut down when Palmu annoys Eerik Vaara, an engineer working for Rygseck's uncle.The case is reopened when Alli Rygseck, Bruno's soon-to-have-been-divorced wife, is killed suddenly by means of Prussic acid in a glass of absinthe
Absinthe
Absinthe is historically described as a distilled, highly alcoholic beverage. It is an anise-flavoured spirit derived from herbs, including the flowers and leaves of the herb Artemisia absinthium, commonly referred to as "grande wormwood", together with green anise and sweet fennel...
.
Characters
- Inspector Palmu - Investigates the death and becomes convinced Bruno was murdered. (Played by Joel RinneJoel RinneToivo 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:...
) - Detective Toivo Virta - Palmu's intellectual assistant detective. (Played by 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...
) - Detective Väinö Kokki - A jack-of-all-trades detective with many useful contacts. (Played by Leo Jokela)
- Writer K V Laihonen - An author whose manuscript is stolen by Irma Vanne as a part of a crime-themed scavenger hunt. (Played by Leo RiuttuLeo RiuttuLeo Riuttu was a Finnish actor. He appeared in 81 films and television shows between 1946 and 1978...
) - Irma Vanne - Daughter of a wealthy business man who steals Laihonen's manuscript. She later tries to return it and falls in love with him. (Played by Elina Pohjanpää)
- Airi Rykämö - A secretary working for Vaara as well as his love-interest. She agrees to help Bruno win the scavenger hunt in order to have him forgive the forged bank-notes used by her brother to pay for his gambling debts. (Played by 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...
) - Eerik Vaara - An engineer working for Gunnar Rygseck, the head of the family concortium. He serves as judge for the crime-themed scavenger hunt. He is also in love with Airi Rykämö. (Played by Matti Oravisto)
- Aimo Rykämö - Airi's brother, a university student who is constantly drinking and in need of money. He steals Amalia Rygseck's cat as a part of the scavenger hunt. (Played by 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:...
) - Amalia Rygseck - Bruno's aunt who was planning to have Bruno admitted to a mental institution. (Played by Saara Ranin)
- Butler Veijonen - Bruno's man-servant whom his master and his friends refer to with the English title "Butler" rather than the Finnish equivalent hovimestari. (Played by Leevi Kuuranne)
- Bruno Rygseck - Found dead in his swimming pool, apparent having stepped on some soap and hit his head. Bruno lead an unsavory life of gambling, drinking, partying and taking nude photographs of his female guests. (Played by Jussi Jurkka)
- Alli Rygseck - Bruno's wife who was in the process of divorcing her husband. (Played by Aino Mantsas)
- Gunnar Rygseck - Leader of the Rygseck concortium, brother of Amalia, uncle of Bruno and Vaara's boss (Played by Arvo Lehesmaa)
The Murderer
The murderer turns out to be Bruno's mentally ill aunt, Amalia Rygseck. Amalia is driven to kill Bruno after he poisons her cat, stolen by Aimo Rykämö as a part of a criminal-natured scavenger huntScavenger hunt
A scavenger hunt is a game in which the organizers prepare a list defining specific items, using which the participants — individuals or teams — seek to gather all items on the list — usually without purchasing them — or perform tasks or take photographs of the items, as specified...
, with Prussic acid. She later killed Alli Rygseck who tried to inherit Bruno's mansion. She was aware of Amalia's guilt and tried to blackmail her.
She is found out when Palmu lets the various suspects know that Irma Vanne had spent the night at Bruno's mansion. At this point he's already deduced she is the murderer but now needs to catch her in the act (using Vanne as bait). Amalia is affraid that Vanne knows she is the killer and calls her over to the mansion in order to kill her. Her pretence is that two would look for clues relating to "Butler" (Veijonen) who at this time has disappeared due to being the most likely suspect for the murder.
She tries to shoot Vanne in the dark mansion with a gun she received from detective Virta, who at the time didn't know she was the killer. Palmu realises that when visiting Vanne's appartment he merely talked to author Laihonen, who was staying with her, but didn't talk to Vanne in person. Laihonen tells him Vanne went to the mansion and Palmu rushes to the scene. The police corner Amalia who is trying to break into the room where Vanne has hidden. She tries to shoot Palmu but Virta steps in the way with the bullet hitting him in the shoulder.