Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu
Encyclopedia
Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu ("The Stars Will Tell, Inspector Palmu") (1962) is a Finnish crime movie directed by Matti Kassila
. It is the third film in the Inspector Palmu
series and the second one produced by Fennada. The novel was written by Waltari through the explicit request by director Kassila. It is also the last film in the series to be shot in black and white. The fourth film was made without Waltari's involvement.
While Virta tries to keep the press at bay, Palmu discovers that Nordberg's niece Saara lived with him and that Nordberg financially supported her and her boyfriend Ville. Ville is a greaser
and later found to be in the possession of Nordberg's telescope, which the police first suspect has been stolen. Though Ville is arrested, it soon becomes evident that Nordberg's fortune came from black-mail and that he was killed because he witnessed a murder while using his telescope on Tähtitorninmäki.
He tries to escape the mansion grounds firing his rifle at Virta and Kokki. He is stopped surprisingly enough by journalist Nopsanen who shoots him in the leg from a tree branch where he has been spying on Palmu and his crew, despite their warning not to follow up on the murder investigation. Vadenblick's guilt is made almost immediately evident by his harsh manner, his strong views on why Finland lost in the Continuation War
and the extremely demeaning tone in which he speaks to his wife. In addition his appearance is clearly modelled after Adolf Hitler which even leads Nopsanen to write him up in his notes as "a crazy nazi".
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...
. It is the third film in the 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 ....
series and the second one produced by Fennada. The novel was written by Waltari through the explicit request by director Kassila. It is also the last film in the series to be shot in black and white. The fourth film was made without Waltari's involvement.
Plot
A body is found in the park near Tähtitorninmäki. The police are called in, believing him to be a dead vagrant. However, journalist Nopsanen happens by the scene, leading to the death being publisized in the papers that same afternoon. The victim is eventually identified as astrologist Fredrik NordbergWhile Virta tries to keep the press at bay, Palmu discovers that Nordberg's niece Saara lived with him and that Nordberg financially supported her and her boyfriend Ville. Ville is a greaser
Greaser
Greasers can refer to:* Greaser , a derogatory term for a Mexican on drugs.* Greaser , a subculture that developed in the United States in the 1950s....
and later found to be in the possession of Nordberg's telescope, which the police first suspect has been stolen. Though Ville is arrested, it soon becomes evident that Nordberg's fortune came from black-mail and that he was killed because he witnessed a murder while using his telescope on Tähtitorninmäki.
Characters
- Inspector Palmu - Still an inspector but now outranked by Virta, he now has to follow his lead. (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:...
) - Inspector Toivo Virta - Previously Palmu's intellectual assistant detective, he now outranks Palmu in the department and therefore leads the investigation (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. In this movie he answers to both Palmu and Virta who leads the investigation. (Played by Leo Jokela)
- Fredrik Nordberg - The victim, an astrologist, supporting his niece and her boyfriend. Unlike the other victims in Palmu movies his face is never seen and no actor is credited for his role.
- Saara Pohjanvuori - Nordberg's niece who lived with him and whose uncle was very supportive of her and Ville. Palmu deduces that she is pregnant to Ville. (Played by Maija-Leena Soinne)
- Ville Valkonen - Saara's boyfriend who becomes the prime suspect when he takes Nordberg's telescope from Tähtitorninmäki. He belongs into a greaser gang. (Played by Esko SalminenEsko SalminenEsko Salminen is a Finnish actor with notable careers on television, the stage and on the silver screen.He has had three marriages: Rose-Marie Precht ; Heidi Krohn ; and Aino Seppo . He had two children with Krohn, his second marriage, one of whom is actor Kristo Salminen...
) - Pimu - One of Ville's greaser friends who was with him during the night of the murder. She is sexually promiscious which irritates the otherwise woman-friendly Palmu. She also has a liking to Ville and later Toivo Virta. (Played by Sointu Angervo)
- Arska - One of Ville's greaser friends who is arrested for questioning. (Played by Orma Aunio)
- Major Carl Gustaf Vadenblick - Becomes the prime suspect of the murder case after Palmu becomes suspicious of the details surrounding the suicide of his mentally ill wife. He lives in a countryside mansion due to his current wife's nervousness. An ex-major with strong right wing view of the world. His appearance and mannerisms are clearly modelled after Adolf HitlerAdolf HitlerAdolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. (Played by Helge Herala) - Mrs. Annika Vadenblick - Vadenblick's current wife with whom he has a son. Vandenblick allegedly moved to the countryside so that her wife could rest her nerves. (Played by Aino Mantsas)
- Journalist Nopsanen - The journalist who happens upon the murder scene first. He causes much head-ache for Palmu and his associates when his pictures of the dead Nordberg are printed in the newspapers. (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:...
)
The Murderer
The murderer turns out to be Major Vadenblick. He murdered Fredrik Nordberg when he began black-mailing Vadenblick, having accidentally witnessed him push his wife off the balcony of their luxurious apartment. It was thought Vadenblick's wife committed suicide. Virta and Kokki witness Vadenblick almost push her current wife off the lake-side cliff when a shot from his son's air-rifle distracts him. When Palmu, Virta and Kokki make it clear they know he murdered Nordberg, Vadenblick tries to shoot them but misses and instead hits his own son who was listening through the door crack.He tries to escape the mansion grounds firing his rifle at Virta and Kokki. He is stopped surprisingly enough by journalist Nopsanen who shoots him in the leg from a tree branch where he has been spying on Palmu and his crew, despite their warning not to follow up on the murder investigation. Vadenblick's guilt is made almost immediately evident by his harsh manner, his strong views on why Finland lost in the Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
and the extremely demeaning tone in which he speaks to his wife. In addition his appearance is clearly modelled after Adolf Hitler which even leads Nopsanen to write him up in his notes as "a crazy nazi".