Agentti 000 ja kuolema kurvit (English title Agent 000 and the Deadly Curves[1]) is a 1983 Finnish spy comedy film directed by Visa Mäkinen and written by Ismo Sajakorpi. The film stars Ilmari Saarelainen as James Bond impersonator Joonas G. Breitenfeldt (Agent 000) and Tenho Saurén as a bank robber. English actor John Wood also makes an appearance as Agent 009, and his serious, wooden portrayal of the character stands in contrast to the outrageous antics of the other members of the cast contributing to further humour. Finnish actress Kielo Tommila stars as the reporter Ulla Salla and the main love interest of Agent 000. "000" or "nolla-nolla-nolla" as it was advertised, was then the Finnish national emergency call number.
| Agentti 000 ja kuoleman kurvit | |
|---|---|
 A Finnish VHS cover | |
| Directed by | Visa Mäkinen |
| Written by | Ismo Sajakorpi |
| Produced by | Visa Mäkinen |
| Starring | Ilmari Saarelainen, Tenho Saurén, Kielo Tommila, John Wood |
| Cinematography | Pertti Aherva |
| Edited by | Christian Achander |
| Distributed by | Kinosto |
Release date |
|
Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | Finland |
| Language | Finnish |
Plot
editVery much the typical spoof the film includes all the typical elements of the James Bond films, an evil genius villain, car chases, helicopters, gadgets and beautiful women.
The film involves a hazardous health clinic, the archetype villain's secret, console-crowded headquarters, as Agent 000 (Saarelainen) attempts to stop the masked villain's organisation (a spoof of SPECTRE) from turning the members of Finnish establishment into nudists, drunks or suicide candidates with a mind-control device. The parody content of the film is similar to that of Casino Royale (1967 film) starring David Niven and Peter Sellers.
Release
editThe film premiered on 16 September 1983. It was produced by the Finnish film company Tuotanto Visa Mäkinen and was distributed by Kinosto. The company produced a number of other popular Finnish films in the 1980s and early 1990s such as Pirtua, Pirtua in 1991. The rights to the film are owned by director Visa Mäkinen.
The cinema version of the film had a running time of 89 minutes although the uncut version released on VHS in 1984 ran 4 minutes longer at 92 minutes.
Initially for the big screen, Agentti 000 ja kuoleman kurvit was awarded the Finland:S certificate but the uncut video version was given a Finland:K-12 labelling. A testimony to the lasting significance of the film it was re-released on DVD in the late 1990s.
Cast
edit- Ilmari Saarelainen as Joonas G. Breitenfeldt (Agent 000)
- Tenho Saurén as Bank Robber #1
- John Wood as Agent 009
- Kielo Tommila as Reporter Ulla Salla
- Matti Ruohola as Bank Robber #2
- Jukka Sipilä as Inventor Doctor
- Pekka Elomaa as Member of the Ministry
- Titta Jokinen as Agent
- Seppo Kolehmainen as Museum Guide
- Matti Mäntylä as Lieutenant Colonel Armas Virtanen
- Martti Pennanen as X
- Rita Polster as Col. Karonov
- Allan Tuppurainen as Agent 004
- Airi Pihlajamaa as Interior Minister Sisko Vento
Cinematography
edit- Pertti Aherva
- Keijo Mäkinen
- Tapani Sillanpää