''Do Not Fold, Spindle or Mutilate'' is a 1971 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

mystery film A mystery film is a film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur Detective, sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means of clues, ...

directed by Ted Post, starring Myrna Loy,

Helen Hayes Helen Hayes MacArthur (; October 10, 1900 – March 17, 1993) was an American actress. Often referred to as the "First Lady of American Theatre", she was the second person and first woman to win EGOT, the EGOT (an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and ...

, Mildred Natwick,

Sylvia Sidney Sylvia Sidney (born Sophia Kosow; August 8, 1910 – July 1, 1999) was an American stage, screen, and film actress whose career spanned 70 years. She rose to prominence in dozens of leading roles in the 1930s. She was nominated for the Academy ...

, John Beradino and

Vince Edwards Vince Edwards (born Vincent Edward Zoine; July 9, 1928 – March 11, 1996) was an American actor, director, and singer. He was best known for his TV role as Dr. Ben Casey and as Major Cliff Bricker in the 1968 war film '' The Devil's Brigade' ...

, with the screenplay adapted by John D. F. Black from a novel of the same name by Doris Miles Disney. It was broadcast as the '' ABC Movie of the Week'' on November 9, 1971.

Plot

Four middle-class Pasadena ladies in their late sixties habitually meet for lunch and exchange small talk with their waitress. They propose to create a fictitious young woman named Rebecca, and to submit her profile to a computer dating service. Several days after doing so they begin to receive letters from potential suitors, and derive additional amusement from reading them out loud. Concurrently, a young woman becomes alarmed by her date Mal's attempts to force himself upon her, and manages to escape into her home. His audible thoughts reveal that he has dangerous difficulty in relating to women. Mal turns his obsessive attentions to the fictitious "Rebecca", and not only sends a letter but tracks down the telephone number of "her" address. He calls and speaks to one of the old ladies, who impishly accepts a date with him at a local bar. In a spirit of fun, the four ladies wait at the bar to see what Mal looks like; however, when he arrives he mistakes a hooker, Brenda for "Rebecca", and leaves with her. When they arrive at Brenda's apartment and she asks for money, an outraged Mal attacks and kills her. Once the ladies realize their actions have led to murder, they go to the police; however, they also investigate Mal themselves, which places them in grave danger...

Cast

as Sophie Tate Curtis * Myrna Loy as Evelyn Tryon * Mildred Natwick as Shelby Saunders *

as Elizabeth Gibson *

as Mal Weston * John Beradino as Detective Hallum * Larry D. Mann as Police Sergeant Lutz * Barbara Davis as Brenda * Paul Smith as Cutter * Gary Vinson as Jonas * Diane Shalet as Ruth Mellon * Dodo Denney as Trudy * Patrecia Wynand as Hostess * Leonidas Ossetynski as Florist * John Mitchum as Mr. Tubbs * Margaret Wheeler as Mrs. Mellon * Joe Haworth as Detective * William Sumper as Man in Handcuffs

Brief continuation in a similar form

On December 16, 1972, 13 months after the ABC broadcast of ''Do Not Fold, Spindle or Mutilate'' on November 9, 1971, NBC reunited Hayes and Natwick in '' The Snoop Sisters'', a two-hour

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

about two aged sisters who write mysteries as well as solve crimes. Although different characters than in ''Do Not Fold'', the Snoop sisters' relationship clearly resembles that of the one adventurous / one sensible style of ''Do Not Fold''s Helen Hayes and Myrna Loy, but with Natwick now cast as the level-headed sibling. Four additional 90-minute episodes of ''The Snoop Sisters'' were broadcast between December 1973 and March 1974.''The Snoop Sisters'' at AllRovi
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Reception

In the 1989 edition of '' Leonard Maltin's TV Movies & Video Guide'', the film was rated "Average", with the comment that the "way in which prank turns frightening could've been handled far, far better; otherwise, good performances." '' Steven H. Scheuer's Movies on TV and Videocassette'' (1986–87 edition) gave the movie 1½ stars (out of 4), with the opening sentence stating, " is all-star comedy about murder tends to be a bit coy..."

References

External links