If you'll fill my glass and I'd like to tell...That's how you could start the popular Finnish song in English, the ballad this movie is based on.It tells the story of Robert (Tauno Palo).Being at the sea for seven years he returns back home in 1762 and finds out his sweetheart Erkylän Helena (Helena Kara) has married an evil Baron.So he becomes Rosvo Roope, a pirate. Hannu Leminen's Rosvo Roope was made in 1949 and was quite a success back then.Today's critics might call it dated and perhaps too theatrical, but I won't do that.It has some big historic value and it's very well made, if you ask me.It's a movie of great feelings and big emotions.Tauno Palo, who was the biggest star of that time, is just amazing.He would fill the screen with charisma, something I could never do.You can't imagine anybody else doing the lead of this movie.Then there are all those beautiful women.Helena Kara is wonderful as Helena.Ghedi Lönnberg is brilliant as Gunvor.Kirsti Ortola as Barbara Ants with mysterious eyes is fantastic.Juliska Koka is terrific as Verushka.Then there's one Savonian character, Vekarus, who is greatly portrayed by Yrjö Ikonen.I'm Savonian and it's always nice to listen to Savonian dialect in a movie.Another reason I like this movie is the song, Rosvo Roope, which is heard pretty often in the movie.I just love that song.That song takes me back many years.There was a class party when I was doing elementary school and I sang it in a karaoke then.That is one great memory from the time that is long gone now.And so is this movie.There is no Tauno 'The Great' anymore.Pictures are made in color.Everything is different now.Things may change, people may die, but movies will live forever.Long live Rosvo Roope!
