Inspector Palmu's Error (1960) User Reviews

Who killed the cat killer?

[brogmiller · 8/10 · 12 December 2023]

By all accounts prolific Finnish writer Mika Waltari suffered from manic depression and should he have seen the Hollywood version of his great historical novel 'The Egyptian' his condition could only have been exacerbated. By way of contrast his contribution to the crime genre, the Inspector Kalmu Trilogy, has been brought to the screen with tremendous flair and imagination by fellow Finn Matti Kassila and features one of his country's most respected artistes Joel Rinne as the bluff detective, made up to bear a remarkable resemblance to Joseph Stalin which may or may not have been coincidental.

The second in the trilogy, it is the first to be filmed and the modus operandi of the 'murder mystery' is on full display here with its twists and turns, red herrings galore and an ensemble of deliciously diverse characters, some of whom verge on the caricature. Kassila has choreographed his players well, the pacing is spot on and Osmo Lindeman's score suitably bizarre.

It has been voted by Finnish critics and journalists as Finland's greatest film but this viewer is not sufficiently well up on that country's cinema to judge whether this status be justified.

This inventive, darkly humorous pastiche is eminently watchable however and has the advantage of being sub-titled. How best to describe it? The phrase 'Agatha Christie on steroids' springs to mind.

Cinema Omnivore - Inspector Palmu's Mistake (1960) 7.1/10

[lasttimeisaw · 7/10 · 12 March 2021]

"Director and scenarist Matti Kassila is well versed in the modus operandi of a whodunit, every suspect has something to hide, which can be traced by their individual temperaments. It is a smorgasbord of one-note performers, a buffoonish lush Aimo (Siimes) and his seemingly innocuous sister Airi (Salo), whose finance Erik (Oravisto, showing horrible teeth) is a humorless square. There is Bruno's harpy aunt Amalia (Saara Ranin, a hairy mole near her mouth almost steals her thunder) and his estranged wife Alli (Mantsas) who has a proclivity of hysteria. Also obliviously join the fold is a meet-cute between an appealing socialite Irma (Pohjanpää) and a name writer Laihonen (Riuttu). Ergo, it requests some quality time to suss the whole ensemble, plus subtitle-reading does not help."

read my full review on my blog: cinema omnivore, thanks

Pure pleasure

[talking_tree · 10/10 · 11 January 2003]

This is an absolutely delightful movie, one of my all time favourites. It is a mixture of comedy, exitement, dark humor etc. The actors work terrificly as in every Komisario Palmu movie. This movie has great turns and it always succees to scare me deliciously on the end. You can´t get tired of this movie, I can assure you that!

Classic crime!

[pantteri · 10/10 · 1 October 1999]

Absolutely one of the best black & white films made in Finland, but for sure the best Mika Waltari novel that has been filmed into a motion picture. Even beats The Egyptian(Sinuhe)(laugh). Murderer makes always one mistake and you make a mistake too if you don´t watch this one. Film includes old Helsinki scenes and fabulous actors, very scary + jazzy music score.

And hey, did you know that loads of hilarious amateur film versions have been made of "Komisario Palmu", inspired by this classic Finnish crime film. Perfect.

Classic Finnish Detective Drama

[tatumjaatinen · 10/10 · 26 January 2023]

Komisarion Palmun erehdys (Inspector Palmu's Error) is based on a book in the detective series by Mika Valtari, a celebrated Finnish author. Thus, it has some of the best scripts in movies I have seen, and in style quite close to Agatha Christie's classic crime mysteries. Having read the book first on which the film is based, it is very faithfully translated to the screen, and even surpasses it in many respects. It is the best one of the film versions of Inspector Palmu books, and well worth seeing.

A rich playboy is murdered in his bath in his manor, and the grumpy and cynical old Inspector Palmu along with his youthful and eager, yet naive assistant must discover who did the crime. A thorough investigation of all the suspects follows, and keeps you in suspense until the end. Telling more would spoil the plot, you had better see the movie yourself.

Acting is excellent, especially by the actor in the main role of Inspector Palmu. There are no unnecessary pauses or gaps in the story, and its keeps going forward. Visual and set design is excellent, and supports the story, while not being overly lavish either. I watched the movie multiple times already and enjoyed each one of those viewings.

The first mystery of Inspector Palmu

[Petey-10 · 10/10 · 14 December 2011]

Inspector Palmu gets an assignment to work on the case of a young playboy called Bruno Rygseck.Palmu knows something nobody else seems to know; that it was a murder.Komisario Palmun Erehdys (1960) is a Matti Kassila film.It's based on Mika Waltari's second Palmu novel from 1940.I read it before I watched this on a VHS a little while back.Sure I had seen it before, but these classics you can watch more than once.The cast is really something else.Can't picture anybody else than Joel Rinne portraying Frans J. Palmu.And what about Matti Ranin as Toivo Virta.Or Leo Jokela as Väinö Kokki.Jussi Jurkka plays the part of Bruno Rygseck.Leevi Kuuranne is 'Butler' Veijonen.Saara Ranin portrays Amalia Rygseck.Aino Mantsas is Alli Rygseck.Matti Oravisto plays Erik Vaara.Elina Salo plays Airi Rykämö while Pentti Siimes is her brother Aimo.Elina Pohjanpää plays Irma Vanne's role.Leo Riuttu is Writer K.V. Laihonen.Arvo Lehesmaa is Gunnar Rygseck.Risto Mäkelä plays Hagert.Pentti Irjala plays Doctor Dahlberg.Toivo Mäkelä is Pianist.Leo Lastumäki is seen as Repairman.Rose-Marie Precht, Katriina Rinne and Esko Salminen are seen in the swimming pool.This first Palmu movie doesn't have a reputation of a classic for no reason.We all remember the legendary scene, where Leo Jokela sings.And the whole character of Palmu is legendary.The way he works on the case and solves the crime.Finnish crime comedy doesn't get too much better than this.