Komisario 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.
The character starred in three mystery novels, all of which were filmed. The second book was filmed first while Kaasua, Komisario Palmu is based on the first novel. The film's Swedish title is the same as that of the original story. A fourth film was made without Waltari's involvement. The script was written by Georg Korkman and Matti Kassila, who also directed all four films. In addition Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu was written by Waltari knowingly so that it could be filmed.
The first movie was produced by Suomen Filmiteollisuus and the latter three by Fennada. Joel Rinne plays Palmu in all four films and is accompanied by his jack-of-all-trades assistant Väinö Kokki played by Leo Jokela and Toivo Virta the university-educated officer played by Matti Ranin.

Character

Inspector Palmu is depicted as an older officer who is only interested in facts. He also has a keen sense for when someone is lying, and is often frustrated by the bureaucracy of the police department. Though Palmu can be forward and even openly rude, he is shown being extremely sensitive around women, though he is irritated by a sexually promiscuous lady in Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu. Palmu can also sometimes act more jovially, and makes jokes to irritate suspects to take action, and reveal their motives. On occasion Palmu also has a stroke of luck, such as finding a cyanide bottle in a vase when he looks into it out of sheer curiosity in Komisario Palmun Erehdys.
One of Palmu's most notorious techniques for solving crimes is baiting the murderer to reveal his/herself. For instance, he has Virta reveal that a suspect spent the night at the mansion of the deceased victim in order to smoke out the murderer whose identity he has already deduced, but he needs to catch him red-handed in order to have him arrested. This, and Palmu's bluntness, often lead to arguments between him and Virta, whom Palmu constantly keeps in the dark and talks down to. Nevertheless, Palmu shows respect for Virta's abilities. Palmu has a tendency to take credit for Virta's ideas, but he also turns to him whenever he has trouble remembering sophisticated terminology. Virta eventually rises to outrank Palmu by the time of Tähdet kertovat. Despite their differences, Virta has a level of respect for Palmu and even takes a bullet for him in the first movie.
Palmu's age is a constant source for jokes in the films, such as his tendency to take naps in his office. Palmu is also extremely meditative, adding to the illusion that he is too old for his job, while in reality he always thinks of the most likely solution to the crime first.
Palmu is unmarried in the novels and the first three films, but apparently marries after his retirement from the police force, as seen in the fourth film.

Style

Each of the Palmu films depicts police work in very meticulous detail, while containing elements of more traditional murder mystery fiction. Vodkaa, komisario Palmu takes place after Palmu has retired from the police-force, and is hired by the Finnish Broadcasting Company, Yleisradio, to keep them in the loop on a politically sensitive murder. This film focuses considerably more on the media and on Finland's relations with the Soviet Union.
Generally the first three films are the best received. The fourth movie is best known for its tongue-in-cheek and action movie inspired finale scene, in which the murderer is chased by the police and secret agents.

Actor notes