Onni pyörii (1942)

Director:

T.J. Särkkä

Writer:

Mika Waltari

Stars:

Tauno Palo, Regina Linnanheimo, Hanna Taini

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tauno Palo	...	Kauko Maja
Regina Linnanheimo	...	Eeva
Hanna Taini	...	Mrs. Heimonheimo
Aku Korhonen	...	Clauson
Siiri Angerkoski	...	Emmi Kankkunen
Hugo Hytönen	...	Urho
Yrjö Tuominen	...	Joosua Kankkunen
Kyllikki Väre	...	Mimmi
Elsa Rantalainen	...	Mrs. Korskas
Ossi Elstelä	...	Gramophone manufacturer
Ulla Ilona	...	Ulla
Mervi Järventaus	...	Aino
Varma Lahtinen	...	Headmistress of the orphanage
Eeva Savonen	...	Eila
Aarne Salonen	...	Thief leader

Storyline

Details

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish

Release Date:

5 April 1942 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Fattighusdrengen

Company Credits

Production Co:

Suomen Filmiteollisuus

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Color:

Black and White

User Reviews

Ups and downs of Fortune

Unfortunately this is neither a well written nor directed film, even though powerful names lead the team. Mika Waltari, the world-famous writer to be, has written a complete moralizing mishmash without any really redeeming features. It's a boring story of an orphan boy with a golden heart but a will too soft and a mind too naive. He tries to lead a blameless life, but is lead astray by wanton / lecherous / criminal women, until he becomes rich and famous himself, but finds that his boyhood days really were the treasure of his life. Mostly he stands up and sings a song which sounds like a salvation army hymn (these can be good, but this one really starts working on the viewers nerves as it is repeated for about 12 times). The director T.J. Särkkä produced about 250 films (!!!) and directed about 50 further. This time he has only directed a routine film which could have been much better than in is. Tauno Palo is a good singer who adored challenging himself (and the viewer) taking on hugely dramatic roles. He gives nothing special to this one. Hanna Taini is decorative as the heartless woman. Her own career mysteriously ended with that film. Regina Linnanheimo is not yet the magnificent bitch/ice queen she became in a few short years.

All in all, there is too much mediocre music, too much stupid dialog, stamped clichés, caricatured characters and situations and not enough glamour, interesting camera work or simply human touch and depth to make this film interesting to modern viewer. Not even unintentional humor.