Diagnosis: Murder – 1975 | 95 mins | Thriller | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Originally made for HTV television, this lumbering thriller received a brief theatrical release thanks to its star cast. Sidney Hayers’ whodunit is shakily scripted tale of bourgeois hatred, greed and possessiveness, but the film is relentlessly grim and fails to explore his characters deeper motivations. Christopher Lee is still in sinister form with asuitably A stoic performance, whilst his nemesis Jon Finch is a surly, oddball character with problems of his own.

The wife of Dr. Stephan Hayward (Christopher Lee), a wealthy consultant psychiatrist, has disappeared, and the police begin receiving anonymous letters accusing the doctor of murdering his wife. Det. Insp. Lomax (Jon Finch), a cranky detective, is investigating the case. Lomax takes the letters seriously and suspects Hayward of having an affair with his secretary, Helen (Judy Geeson), and that this may be the motive behind his wife’s disappearance. As the police forensics dept dig for clues in the grounds of Hayward’s home, the doctor slips away with his secretary to share a revelation.