Radio tekee murron (1951) is a Finnish crime comedy directed by Matti Kassila

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 starring Hannes Häyrinen. The idea for the movie came from an actual radio program done by sensationalist reporter Usko Santavuori

Usko Santavuori

Usko Volmar Abel Santavuori was a Finnish sensationalist radio reporter. He achieved fame by groundbreaking programs where he took himself and the microphone to participate in various extraordinary events, such as diving and parachuting, instead of remaining a passive observer.Santavuori's most...

, in which he committed a fake burglary of which local police forces had not been made aware, with the exception of the commander.

Plot

Toivo Teräsvuori (Häyrinen) is a young radio journalist who's looking for new, interesting topics on which to report. After covering a skydive on a live broadcast, he gets the idea to stage a fake burglary for his next daring stunt. He shares this idea with his friend and fellow radio employee Laakso, whom he persuades to go along with the plan without notifying either their superiors in the radio station, nor the police.

Unfortunately, Teräsvuori and Lahti happen to discuss the details for their fake crime, a burglary into the Helsinki Art Museum, in a cafe within earshot of some actual burglars, who plan their own heist to coincide with Teräsvuori's. Both crimes, real and fake, go forward as planned, and Teräsvuori is captured inside the museum, only to learn to his great surprise that an actual theft took place and that he's being blamed for it. Unable to convince the police of his story, he instead escapes and tries to prove his innocence.

Cast

• Hannes Häyrinen as Toivo Teräsvuori
• Ritva Arvelo as Eila Ritolampi
• Kullervo Kalske as Inspector Tammisalo
• Kunto Karapää, Mr. Knickerbocker a.k.a. Robins
• Kauko Käyhkö, Durando a.k.a. Lindström
• Kaarlo Halttunen
  Kaarlo Halttunen
  Kaarlo Halttunen was a Finnish actor. He appeared in 87 films and television shows between 1933 and 1970...
  
   as Leo Laakso, sound engineer

Reception

In the 1951 Jussi Awards, Radio tekee murron received three awards. Director Matti Kassila won the award for Best Director, and shared the award for Best Screenplay with co-writer Aarne Tarkas. In addition, Hannes Häyrinen won a Jussi for Best Lead Actor.