Kill or Cure – 1962 | 88 mins | Comedy | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Mildly amusing comedy produced at MGM-Elstree by the MargaretRutherford ‘Miss Marple’ team of director George Pollock and writers DavidPursall and Jack Seddon. The plot is mechanical and perhaps guilty of puttingmore emphasis on unravelling the mystery rather than comic situations. The filmboasts a plethora of comedy actors including neat turns from Terry-Thomas, EricSykes and Lionel Jeffries, but Dennis Price is regrettably underused.

Snoop photographer, gap-toothed Cpt Barker Rynde (Terry-Thomas), ishanded an assignment to visit the Green Glades health farm to assist wealthywidow Mrs. Margaret Clifford. Unfortunately, on arrival he is handed a strict fitnessregime and natural diet by clinic therapist Rumbelow (Eric Sykes). Before Ryndecan uncover the details of his task, Mrs Clifford is poisoned, and bungling policeDet. Insp. Hook (Lionel Jeffries) and his assistant (Ronnie Barker) are assignedto the murder investigation.

When a £2,000 reward is offered by hotel director DrCrossley (Dennis Price) for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator,both Rynde and Rumbelow begin amateur sleuthing around the hotel; eventuallyjoining forces. Suspicion falls on “the three Rs”: Mrs Clifford’s nephew, RogerForrester (Derren Nesbitt), clinic nurse Rita and Rachel Crossley, and Ryndeand Rumbelow prepare a trap to capture the killer.