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

Plot Synopsis

Mildly amusing comedy produced at MGM-Elstree by the Margaret Rutherford ‘Miss Marple’ team of director George Pollock and writers David Pursall and Jack Seddon. The plot is mechanical and perhaps guilty of putting more emphasis on unravelling the mystery rather than comic situations. The film boasts a plethora of comedy actors including neat turns from Terry-Thomas, Eric Sykes and Lionel Jeffries, but Dennis Price is regrettably underused.

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

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