Production
The film marked Spede's one and only time as a collaborative film-maker with Jaakko Pakkasvirta (who plays James in the film) and Risto Jarva. Although all three share writing-credit, Pasanen was mainly responsible for planning the comedy of the film. Of Spede's future collaborators, the film features a first appearance by Simo Salminen in a minor role, before he would appear more prominently in Millipilleri and several other future films.
The film introduced several conventions of Spede's later work such as gangsters, gadgetry, a luxuriously rich main protagonist and an intentionally fast-paced crazy comedy delivery. Similarly to his later films Noin 7 Veljestä, Speedy Gonzales - Noin Seitsemän Veljeksen Poika, Koeputkiaikuinen ja Simon enkelit and Tup-Akka-Lakko, Pasanen plays a dual-role.
Pertti Olavi "Spede" Pasanen was a Finnish film director and producer, comedian, and inventor. During his career he directed, wrote, produced or acted in about 50 movies and participated in numerous TV productions, including the comedy Spede Show and the game-show Speden Spelit. Much of his more commercial work was in collaboration with Vesa-Matti Loiri and Simo Salminen. Pasanen's films and TV shows, often made quickly and on a low budget, usually received little critical recognition but were popular among Finnish audiences from the 1960s onwards. He was the owner of his own film production company, Filmituotanto Spede Pasanen Ky.
Vesa-Matti "Vesku" Loiri was a Finnish actor, musician and comedian, best known for his role as Uuno Turhapuro, whom he portrayed in a total of 20 movies between the years 1973 and 2004.
Pähkähullu Suomi is a 1967 comedy by Spede Pasanen. It is the third film starring Spede in a contemporary comedy after X-Paroni and Millipilleri. The film's release coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Finnish declaration of independence which is also referenced in the film.
Näköradiomiehen ihmeelliset siekailut is a 1969 Finnish comedy by Spede Pasanen. It features one of the most famous appearances by Vesa-Matti Loiri outside his Uuno Turhapuro persona also created by Pasanen. The film also features a famous cameo of the Finnish pop-star Danny.
Uuno Turhapuro is a Finnish comedy character and antihero created by Spede Pasanen and played by Vesa-Matti Loiri. Originally appearing in Spede Show during 1971–1973, the character gained popularity through the Uuno Turhapuro films.
Uuno Turhapuro – This Is My Life is a 2004 Finnish comedy film, made as a tribute to Spede Pasanen. It is the twentieth and last installment in the Uuno Turhapuro film series.
Erkki Olavi "Ere" Kokkonen, born in Savonlinna, was a Finnish film director and screenwriter.
About Seven Brothers is a 1968 comedy directed by Jukka Virtanen and which was written and produced by Spede Pasanen. The film is a loose parody of the Robin Hood story. The name of the film is a take on Seitsemän veljestä the ground-breaking novel by Finnish author Aleksis Kivi.
The Finnish cinema has a long history, with the first public screenings starting almost as early as modern motion picture technology was invented. It took over a decade before the first Finnish film was produced and screened in 1907. After these first steps of Finnish cinema, the progress was very slow. After 1907 there were two periods when no Finnish films were produced. This was partly caused by the political situation, as Finland held a status as an autonomous part of the Russian Empire and was thus influenced by the worldwide political situation.
Koeputkiaikuinen ja Simon enkelit is a 1979 Finnish comedy film directed, written and starring Spede Pasanen, along with the typical comic-cast of Simo Salminen, Vesa-Matti Loiri, Tapio Hämäläinen and Olavi Ahonen.
Simo Veli Atte Salminen was a Finnish comic-actor best known for his many performances in movies and television shows by Spede Pasanen, usually playing his sidekick in some fashion.
Speedy Gonzales – noin 7 veljeksen poika (1970) is a Finnish western comedy directed by Ere Kokkonen, and written by Kokkonen with Spede Pasanen and Vesa-Matti Loiri. The title refers to Pasanen's 1968 film Noin seitsemän veljestä, though the movie does not otherwise link to it in any way. Neither has it anything to do with the cartoon character Speedy Gonzales.
The Unhanged 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, 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.
Ville-Veikko Salminen was a Finnish film, television, stage actor and director. He was one of the founders of the acting companies for both Yleisradio and Mainostelevisio. He is best remembered for his roles in the films of Spede Pasanen, often playing a handsome, suave womanizer - but also had an extensive career in films and TV outside his films.
Uuno Turhapuro muuttaa maalle is a 1986 Finnish comedy film, the 11th film in the Uuno Turhapuro film series.
Leikkikalugangsteri is a 1969 comedy directed by Ere Kokkonen, written and starring Spede Pasanen. It was released the same year as Spede's Näköradiomiehen ihmeelliset siekailut and Pohjan tähteet. Though the film is principally in black and white, the last 20 minutes are filmed in colour.
Leo Paavali Jokela was a Finnish actor. He is best remembered for his role as a detective Kokki in Matti Kassila's Komisario Palmu films and as a parrot G. Pula-aho in Spede Pasanen's radio programs.
Saatanan Radikaalit is a 1971 Finnish comedy film starring and directed by Paavo Piironen, Heikki Nousiainen, Heikki Huopainen and Timo Nissi. It was financed and produced by Finnish film-maker Spede Pasanen, but unlike the comedy films he had produced previously he did not feature him on-screen. The movie was released in 1971, the same year as Spede's Hirttämättömät and Kahdeksas Veljes. The film was intended to give its four stars a start in the Finnish film industry as both directors and leading actors.
Millipilleri is a 1966 comedy film directed and written by Spede Pasanen, Ere Kokkonen and Jukka Virtanen. The film was Spede's second starring feature after X-Paroni, Pasanen having established himself as a popular comedian in both radio and television. The film was one of Spede's biggest hits and launched his film career further. It also features several actors who would star in Spede's consequent films Pähkähullu Suomi and Noin 7 Veljestä.
Jukka Jalmari Virtanen was a Finnish entertainer and author. He worked as both a film and television director, actor and host. He was also an accomplished songwriter. Starting originally as a newspaper columnist, Virtanen began his television career in the 1950s and his film career in the 1960s.
