Leikkikalugangsteri
Encyclopedia
Leikkikalugangsteri is a 1969 comedy directed by Ere Kokkonen
, written and starring Spede Pasanen
. It was released the same year as Spede's Näköradiomiehen ihmeelliset siekailut
and Pohjan tähteet. Though the film is principally in black and white, the last 20 minutes are filmed in colour.
Kari Sohlberg won the 1970 Jussi Award nomination for Best Cinematography jointly for the film along with Jörn Donner
's Sixtynine 69 and Pohjan tähteet.
) from whom he keeps snatching important toy contracts. As a result, Krakström's company is nearing bankruptcy, which causes friction when King starts dating Krakström's daughter Sylvi (Tamara Lund).
However, King's company can't make a profit since the taxes they must pay increase exponentially as the company becomes bigger. As a way of keeping his company in business, King tries to get his company a tax break by hiring the country's best gangster, Nitti (Risto Aaltonen), to break into his safe which isn't ensured. However, his dutiful Treasurer (Vesa-Matti Loiri
) has the safe ensured just as the crime is to be committed, thus undoing his scheme.
When the theft is reported in the papers, Krakström gets the idea of collecting the insurance of a painting in his office, and by sheer coincidence hires the same gangster to commit the crime. However, the painting ends up returned to Krakström against his will by the well-meaning Jim. Krakström also attempts to fake his own daughter's kidnapping to get his hands on King's money, but King gets it back by copying the scheme.
While this is going on, King's Treasurer suddenly comes into possession of a large amount of excess money even though all of the company's cash has been deposited in the bank. Not realising that he has actually turned in the cash-boxes which contain his sandwich-making materials, the Treasurer begins to spend the money on driving lessons, a new car, hygiene products and in putting an ad in the paper to find himself a woman.
In a final desperate effort, Krakström hires Nitti to rob a bank and involuntarily involves King, who is trying to help Sylvi who has discovered that the bank is missing 500,000 marks. The money is obviously that found by King's Treasurer. While King attempts to return the money to the bank, Nitti then decides to do as Krakström originally instructed and rob the bank clean. King manages to defuse the situation with some laughing gas and when the police take Nitti, Krakström, King and his associates to the station, Nitti's bag is revealed only to contain the cash-boxes with the Treasurer's sandwich equipment.
In the end, Jim and Sylvi get married and in a show of good-will, King writes Krakström a check to save his company.
Ere Kokkonen appears in an uncredited cameo as an American toy investor at the beginning of the film. Marja Korhonen, who played Vesa-Matti Loiri's wife in the Uuno Turhapuro
films, plays the role of the Treasurer's anonymous girlfriend.
The switch technically makes Leikkikalugangsteri Pasanen's first colour feature. Pohjantähteet, released the same year, was the first feature by Spede and Ere Kokkonen to be filmed fully in colour.
Ere Kokkonen
Erkki Olavi "Ere" Kokkonen , born in Savonlinna, was a Finnish film director.He worked closely with Spede Pasanen all the way from the 1960s until Spede's death, as a director and also a writer....
, written and starring Spede Pasanen
Spede Pasanen
Pertti Olavi "Spede" Pasanen was a Finnish film director and producer, comedian, humorist, inventor, TV personality and practitioner of gags....
. It was released the same year as Spede's Näköradiomiehen ihmeelliset siekailut
Näköradiomiehen ihmeelliset siekailut
Näköradiomiehen ihmeelliset siekailut is a 1969 Finnish comedy by Spede Pasanen. It features one of the most famous appearances by Vesa-Matti Loiri outside his Uuno Turhapuro persona also created by Pasanen. The film also features a famous cameo of the Finnish pop-star Danny.The film is often...
and Pohjan tähteet. Though the film is principally in black and white, the last 20 minutes are filmed in colour.
Kari Sohlberg won the 1970 Jussi Award nomination for Best Cinematography jointly for the film along with Jörn Donner
Jörn Donner
Jörn Johan Donner is a Finnish writer, film director, actor, producer, politician, member of the Donner family and founder of Finnish Film Archive. He has been associated with several different political parties, and has at different times been a member both of the Finnish parliament and the...
's Sixtynine 69 and Pohjan tähteet.
Plot
Jim King (Spede Pasanen) is the rich owner of a toy company and a constant pain for his closest competitor Krakström (Juhani KumpulainenJuhani Kumpulainen
Juhani "Juhku" Kumpulainen was a Finnish actor. His first film role was in year 1950 in the film Maija löytää sävelen . Kumpulainen became to known in 1950s in the Pekka ja Pätkä movies, , where he acted minor roles...
) from whom he keeps snatching important toy contracts. As a result, Krakström's company is nearing bankruptcy, which causes friction when King starts dating Krakström's daughter Sylvi (Tamara Lund).
However, King's company can't make a profit since the taxes they must pay increase exponentially as the company becomes bigger. As a way of keeping his company in business, King tries to get his company a tax break by hiring the country's best gangster, Nitti (Risto Aaltonen), to break into his safe which isn't ensured. However, his dutiful Treasurer (Vesa-Matti Loiri
Vesa-Matti Loiri
Vesa-Matti "Vesku" Loiri is a Finnish actor, musician and comedian, best known for his role as Uuno Turhapuro, whom he portrayed in a total of 20 movies between the years 1973 and 2004....
) has the safe ensured just as the crime is to be committed, thus undoing his scheme.
When the theft is reported in the papers, Krakström gets the idea of collecting the insurance of a painting in his office, and by sheer coincidence hires the same gangster to commit the crime. However, the painting ends up returned to Krakström against his will by the well-meaning Jim. Krakström also attempts to fake his own daughter's kidnapping to get his hands on King's money, but King gets it back by copying the scheme.
While this is going on, King's Treasurer suddenly comes into possession of a large amount of excess money even though all of the company's cash has been deposited in the bank. Not realising that he has actually turned in the cash-boxes which contain his sandwich-making materials, the Treasurer begins to spend the money on driving lessons, a new car, hygiene products and in putting an ad in the paper to find himself a woman.
In a final desperate effort, Krakström hires Nitti to rob a bank and involuntarily involves King, who is trying to help Sylvi who has discovered that the bank is missing 500,000 marks. The money is obviously that found by King's Treasurer. While King attempts to return the money to the bank, Nitti then decides to do as Krakström originally instructed and rob the bank clean. King manages to defuse the situation with some laughing gas and when the police take Nitti, Krakström, King and his associates to the station, Nitti's bag is revealed only to contain the cash-boxes with the Treasurer's sandwich equipment.
In the end, Jim and Sylvi get married and in a show of good-will, King writes Krakström a check to save his company.
Cast
- Spede PasanenSpede PasanenPertti Olavi "Spede" Pasanen was a Finnish film director and producer, comedian, humorist, inventor, TV personality and practitioner of gags....
– Jim King, the toy-company millionaire. - Vesa-Matti LoiriVesa-Matti LoiriVesa-Matti "Vesku" Loiri is a Finnish actor, musician and comedian, best known for his role as Uuno Turhapuro, whom he portrayed in a total of 20 movies between the years 1973 and 2004....
– Treasurer, King's treasurer who accidentally deposits the cash-boxes containing his sandwich making materials, instead of the company's 500'000 marks. - Simo SalminenSimo SalminenSimo Salminen is a Finnish comic-actor best known for his many performances in movies and television shows by Spede Pasanen. He, Vesa-Matti Loiri and Pasanen himself are the three important players in almost all of Spede's productions...
– Designer Sulo Rantavaara, the mastermind behind King's successful toys. - Juhani KumpulainenJuhani KumpulainenJuhani "Juhku" Kumpulainen was a Finnish actor. His first film role was in year 1950 in the film Maija löytää sävelen . Kumpulainen became to known in 1950s in the Pekka ja Pätkä movies, , where he acted minor roles...
– Krakström, King's rival in the toy industry. - Tamara Lund – Sylvi Krakström, Krakström's daughter who works as a bank-teller and takes a liking to King.
- Jukka SipiläJukka SipiläJukka Sipilä was a prolific Finnish actor and television director.He began acting in film in the 1960s and took up TV directing shortly in the arly 1970s before concentrating on acting again...
– Krakström's servant; referred to by many names by Krakström, he performs the duties of a secretary, a driver and a general underling doing his dirty work. Due to Krakström's financial difficulties, he is the last person working at his company. - Risto Aaltonen – Nitti, a gangster hired by both King and Krakström at various points in the film.
- Pirkko Mannola – Nitti's girlfriend, who catches King and Rantavaara when they break into Krakström's office for the second time to return the paintings stolen by Nitti and forces them to help with the bank robbery.
- Leo Jokela – Detective Sirpaleaho, the detective who is called to investigate the crimes committed by Nitti.
Ere Kokkonen appears in an uncredited cameo as an American toy investor at the beginning of the film. Marja Korhonen, who played Vesa-Matti Loiri's wife in the Uuno Turhapuro
Uuno Turhapuro
Uuno Turhapuro is a Finnish comedy character created by Spede Pasanen and played by Vesa-Matti Loiri. Originally appeared in Spede Show during 1971–1973, the character gained popularity through the Uuno Turhapuro films....
films, plays the role of the Treasurer's anonymous girlfriend.
Black and white to colour switch
The film features a rarely seen switch from black and white into colour. The gangster Nitti, upon waking up on the morning of the bank robbery, doesn't get his usual morning drink. As he sobers up, the film turns to colour and remains so for much of the finale, except for a brief moment in Jim and Sylvi's wedding when Nitti starts drinking again.The switch technically makes Leikkikalugangsteri Pasanen's first colour feature. Pohjantähteet, released the same year, was the first feature by Spede and Ere Kokkonen to be filmed fully in colour.