Title: Kill or Cure
Year: 1923
Director: Hal Roach
Country: US
Language: English
Grifters selling "medicinal cures" is as old as society itself. Coca- Cola originated as a drug laced treatment for a variety of issues. By the 1920's there were plenty of laws in place to prohibit such advertisement, but peddlers still broke through. In present day gullible consumers are just as susceptible to falling for "natural" cures, usually involving crystals.
Kill or Cure stars Stan Laurel as he tries to hock patent medicine, but finds himself at odds with the public and the police.
The film acts as a series of short skits tied together by Laurel's self-employment efforts. It is a time capsule of 1920's life; displaying a society that is quite different from our own. Kill or Cure is a little meandering, but has enough genuinely funny gags to keep its audience interested.
It's quite interesting to see a silent comedy that isn't a Keaton, Chaplin or Lloyd, Stanley Laurel is just as recognizable, being one half of Laurale & Hardy, albeit he is solo in Kill or Cure. He has great comedic timing and proves to be a decent actor. This film proves he wasn't reliant on Oliver Hardy to make a good living.
Kill or Cure is dated compared to Safety Last (1923), but its subject natter will always be relevant. It should be seen by those who are enthusiastic about silent cinema.
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