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Kill or Cure (1962 film)

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Kill or Cure
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGeorge Pollock
Screenplay byDavid Pursall
Jack Seddon
Story byDavid Pursall
Jack Seddon
Produced byGeorge H. Brown
StarringTerry-Thomas
Eric Sykes
CinematographyGeoffrey Faithfull
Edited byBert Rule
Music byRon Goodwin
Color processBlack and white
Production
companies
George H. Brown Productions
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios
Distributed byMetro Goldwyn Mayer
Release dates
  • September 1962 (1962-09) (UK)
  • November 12, 1962 (1962-11-12) (NYC)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Kill or Cure is a 1962 British comedy film directed by George Pollock and starring Terry-Thomas and Eric Sykes.[1] It was written by David Pursall and Jack Seddon.

Plot

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Captain Jeroboam Barker-Rynde comes to a country hotel to assist a wealthy widow. He endures a nature cure diet and exercises under Rumbelow. When the widow is poisoned, Barker Rynde and Rumbelow join forces to win a reward offered by hotel manager Crossley. Crossley is next murdered, and the clues point to the original criminal.

Cast

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Production

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The film was made by MGM's British production arm under Lawrence Bachmann.[2]

Reception

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Box office

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According to MGM records, the film made a profit of $89,000.[3]

Critical

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The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Devotees of Terry-Thomas or Eric Sykes may find something to go for in this slapstick farce, and the physiotherapy equipment and the Pekinese also have their moments. Otherwise, however, there is little to distinguish its undemanding humour from that of a multitude of other minor British comedies."[4]

British film critic Leslie Halliwell said: "Flatfooted and unprofessional murder farce whose only pace is slow."[5]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "This is the kind of comedy that could have killed off the British film industry, despite its domestic star-power and the usually reliable writing team of David Pursall and Jack Seddon. When bumbling private detective Terry-Thomas tries to investigate a murder at a posh spa, the only interest is in seeing him lock comedy horns with Eric Sykes and Lionel Jeffries. Unfortunately, it is to little effect."[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Term of Trial". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Metro's Prod Chief in London Sees Britain as Future Film Centre". Variety. 2 May 1962. p. 89. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  3. ^ The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  4. ^ "Kill or Cure". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 30 (348): 22. 1 January 1963 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 557. ISBN 0586088946.
  6. ^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 504. ISBN 9780992936440.
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