Villin Pohjolan kulta
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(Gianfranco from Italy asked about this movie by e-mail...)
Villin Pohjolan kulta is not on DVD yet. Also on VHS, it's a pretty difficult to find. The movie was written and directed by Aarne Tarkas, who directed many popular movies in Finland during 1950's and 1960's. He started to make this film because westerns were "in fashion" in those days. This movie was a sequel for the film Villi Pohjola. It's been said that Villi Pohjola is less parodical than its sequels.
Critics didn't love Villin Pohjolan kulta when it was released. They just thought it was somewhat silly - perhaps because it was just a Finnish version of the real westerns (American westerns) with handsome guys and their Stetson hats. The Finnish side of it was the location (Lapland [Lappi]), the language and the mentality.
The leading star of the movie, Åke Lindman, made his own "western" years after this (it is called Lapin kullan kimallus).
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Gold from the Wild North
Villin Pohjolan kulta (Guld i vilda norden)
L'or du Nord farouche (French title)
Das gold des wilden Nordens (German title)
Finland 1963 B/W 90min Oy Suomen Filmiteollisuus
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Western
cast: Åke Lindman (Joel Vorna), Vili Auvinen (Kai Vorna), Helge Herala (Tommi Vorna), Tamara Lund (Karin Jäärä), Kauko Helovirta (Markus), Leo Jokela (Kristo, the owner of the saloon), Toivo Mäkelä (the priest), Aarne Tarkas (Torsti), Rose-Marie Precht (saloon girl), Reino Helismaa (the pianist), Armas Jokio, Erkki Viljos
credits: dir. & script Aarne Tarkas, prod. T.J. Särkkä
What is a Finnish western? - A northern. This film was shot in Lapland (Finland). Otherwise it's pretty much same as the westerns which has been made in west and shot in colour. Gunfights, gold, robbers, good men who has something to hide, bad and rich boss, stupid bad guys and a lovely lady.
The dialogue is oldish and the fights are a bit too slow. But in 60's this must have been really cool to watch. Especially for young boys.
The story tells about three brothers of Vorna (Lindman, Herala, Auvinen) who returns to a place from where they had to escape 15 years ago. There everybody thinks that they are gold robbers. The bros. are willing to search gold peacefully and alone but of course the evil ruler of the saloon (Jokela) wants to spoil their plans. Will the villagers hang the bros.? Will the bad guy (Helovirta) get the lady (Lund)? Will she ever change her trousers to a dress? ...Well, you can't get everything...
There's a sequel for this film: Villin pohjolan salattu laakso (Den hemlighetsfulla dalen, 'The secret Valley in the Wild North', also 1963). It's also directed by Aarne Tarkas.
REX - Monday, June 6 at 12:31 AM EEST
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