KILL OR CURE

UK, 1962, 88 minutes, Black and white.
Terry Thomas, Eric Sykes, Moira Redmond, Denis Price, Derren Nesbitt, Lionel Jeffries, Ronnie Barker.
Directed by George Pollock.

A small British farce featuring Terry Thomas and Eric Sykes with the assistance of Lionel Jeffries and Ronnie Barker. Directed by George Pollock at the time that he was directing the Miss Marple series with Margaret Rutherford. The film has a similar kind of tone to many British films of the 1950s and a jaunty score by Ron Grainer. Minor but pleasing British comedy.

1. The appeal and entertainment value of this kind of British comedy? Its particular qualities? Appeal to the British, overseas audiences?

2. The humour of the title, indication of themes? And its use during the song?

3. The quality of the film as small budget production? How much did it make of its limitations?

4. Terry Thomas and his comedy style combining with that of Eric Sykes and Lionel Jeffries? Audiences relying on their expectations of these comedians?

5. The interest in the detective story and the solving of a murder mystery? Sufficient clues?

6. How enjoyable was the comedy routines, mistaken identities? In the night, messages, the various encounters? The general appeal of these situations?

7. Terry Thomas as Barker-Rhynde? His style as a private eye, his methods, Health Home, his reactions? His interactions, especially Rumbelow? The encounters with Hook?

8. The contrast with Eric Sykes as Rumbelow? His running of the Health Department? Responsibility to Crossley, his devices for detection and the humour of his asking Barker?

9. Lionel Jeffries' style as bumbling and his continually being made unconscious? His skill, British police? Ronnie
Barker as his assistant?

10. Denis Price's style as Crossley and the suave manner of his running the institute? His relationship with his wife, carrying ?

11.Clifford as an eccentric character, his attitude towards Barker? His assistant? Deat? Leaving things to the dog?

12. Roger as a suspicious character? Frances, Rita? Her detection?

13. The sudden revelation of the real killer? Did audiences guess who it was?

14. The electricity, the blanket? The dog?