Film historian Eric Grayson will screen the 1944 Christmas film, The Curse of the Cat People, on Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Garfield Park Arts Center’s December Vintage Movie Night.
Grayson will introduce the film and conduct a Q&A afterwards. It will be preceded by a cartoon or other short feature.
“Believe it or not, this is really a Christmas film!” said Grayson. “The producer, Val Lewton, had a contract with RKO that said he had to make a movie from any title they gave him, but he had complete creative control, so long as it was under budget! It’s about a lonely little girl (Ann Carter), with boorish parents, who is given to flights of fancy. She is visited by a ghost (Simone Simon), who may or may not be real. The two celebrate the changing seasons, Christmas, and the little girl learns to cope being with being ‘different’.” Grayson added, “It’s a beautiful picture, wonderfully shot by Hoosier Robert Wise.”
All Vintage Movie Night films are family-friendly. Admission is $4; concessions $1. Tickets may be purchased at the door. Free parking. For more information, call 317-327-7135 or visit www.gpacarts.org.
