The Unhanged

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The Unhanged
The-Unhanged-1971.jpg
Original Finnish film poster
Directed by Spede Pasanen
Vesa-Matti Loiri
Written bySpede Pasanen
Produced bySpede Pasanen
StarringSpede Pasanen
Vesa-Matti Loiri
Simo Salminen
Pirjo Laitila
Olavi Ahonen
Cinematography Kari Sohlberg
Edited by Taina Kanth
Irma Taina
Music by Jaakko Salo
Distributed byFilmituotanto Spede Pasanen
Release date
  • 1971 (1971)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryFinland
Language Finnish

The Unhanged (Finnish: Hirttämättömät) is a 1971 Finnish western comedy film directed by Spede Pasanen and Vesa-Matti Loiri. It is the sequel to the 1970 film Speedy Gonzales - noin 7 veljeksen poika . In addition to featuring Pasanen and Loiri (originally set to appear in Speedy Gonzales, but unable to appear due to an injury [1] ), the film also stars Pasanen's other stock actors, such as Simo Salminen and Olavi Ahonen. The two main characters are parody versions of The Lone Ranger and his sidekick Tonto.

Contents

The film was released the same year as Kahdeksas Veljes and Saatanan Radikaalit (which Spede only produced). None of the films were box-office successes leading Spede to not release any movies the following year. Regardless, Spede won a joint producer's Jussi Award for his efforts. [2]

Based on the film, a remake by the same name directed and starring Andrei Alén was released in 2022. [3]

Synopsis

The Lonely Rider (Loiri) and his Indian sidekick Tonto (Salminen) have captured the outlaw Speedy Gonzales (Pasanen), a ruthless gunfighter from the town of Njietponimaistadi. They embark to the town for the reward. After riding through the desert, without water, and fighting against Indians, they discover their heroism has brought them back, full circle. [4]

Cast

Production

Spede Pasanen editing the film in 1971 Spede Pasanen 1971 (JOKAMAL2B48-2).tif
Spede Pasanen editing the film in 1971

The film was one of the rare instances during Spede's early career when the Finnish Film Foundation provided financing for the film in the form of a grant. However, the grant was originally meant for an unproduced film called Kauhukakara, then re-allocated when Speedy Gonzales became a hit in 1970. The movie re-uses the Western village sets of the first film (having been previously repurposed from the sketch show Kivikasvot).

Following a theme from the first movie, the film pokes fun at the conventions of Western films and figures. The Lonely Rider and Tonto are takes on The Lone Ranger and his similarly named sidekick. The film is stylistically very different from Speedy Gonzales, being considerably more tongue-in-cheek and features a smaller cast. The music was again produced by Jaakko Salo, but featuring a less guitar-heavy score. Jukka Virtanen did not return to produce the music. Olavi Ahonen, who played the bar-tender and undertaker in the first film, returns in a self-referential appearance as a Bartender and Sheriff, who also claims to be a "county clerk, pimp and midwife".

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References

  1. (in Finnish) Speedy Gonzales film review at Leffatykki.com Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "IMDB - Jussi Awards 1971". Internet Movie Database. 2016-05-03.
  3. Speden, Veskun ja Simon klassikkokomediasta tehdään uusi versio – Tulossa vielä tänä vuonnaEpisodi (in Finnish)
  4. (in Finnish) Film review at imdb.com