BEAUTY IS THE BEAST
October is the traditional month for scary movies–and why not? We will not disappoint! This month, the Packard Campus Theater will feature some great horror films where often it is the beauty—and not the beasts–who is the real monster…although often they are made that way by even less desirable people. A couple of titles are from the National Film Registry (Carrie and Vertigo), a few are cult classics (including Vampire Lovers), and some are just down right creepy. They will make October in the theater plenty scary.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 @ 7:30 p.m.
Vertigo (Paramount, 1958)
James Stewart (along with Kim Novak) stars in this Alfred Hitchcock suspenser about a retired detective who suffers from acrophobia. Shot primarily in San Francisco, the film opened to mixed reviews but has since gained “classic” status; it was added to the National Film Registry in 1989. Color, 128 minutes.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6 @ 7:30 p.m.
Black Swan (20th Century-Fox, 2010)
For some having to watch ballet is enough horror in and of itself. But this film is less about ballet than Natalie Portman, in an Academy Award winning performance, as a ballerina losing touch with reality. Rated R. Color, 108 minutes.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 @ 7:30 p.m.
King Kong (RKO, 1933)
The greatest tale of Beauty & The Beast ever told. Fay Wray (no, not Robert Armstrong) stars as the beauty, and ground-breaking special effects make up King Kong, the greatest of beasts. Ah, but was the big ape really the beast in this film? Black & white, 100 minutes.
NOTE: This screening following the NAVCC’s OPEN HOUSE. For more details on that event go to: https://www.loc.gov/programs/audio-visual-conservation/events-and-screenings/events/open-house-2023/.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12 @ 7:30 p.m.
Cat People (RKO Radio, 1942)
Producer Val Lewton, often with director Jacques Tourner, made a series of low budget horror films that rivaled and often out did those made by rival studio Universal. In this one, Simone Simon stars as the beauty…. and the beast. Black & white, 73 minutes.
…plus special mystery second feature.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13 @ 7:30 p.m.
Carrie (UA, 1976)
Stephen King and director Brian De Palma are a pretty good team to make a great horror film. Sissy Spacek stars as an innocent high schooler tormented by the “cool” students, who, unlike many of us that had similar experiences, finally gets her revenge. “Carrie” was placed on the National Film Registry in 2022. Rated R. Color, 98 minutes.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19 @ 7:30 p.m.
Diabolique [Les Diaboliques] (United MPO, 1955)
Part horror, part thriller this is the story of a woman and her husband’s mistress who plot to kill the man they have in common. At one time, Hitchcock wanted to film the story but Henri-Georges Clouzot beat him to it. This film ended up serving as the inspiration for Psycho. Black & white, 117 minutes. French with subtitles.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20 @ 7:30 p.m.
Vampire Lovers (Hammer, 1970)
Hammer horror films, low on budget but high on gore, are favorites of scary movie lovers. This one starring Peter Cushing has become a cult classic and is sure to provide opportunity for more than enough screams. Rated R. Color, 91 minutes.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26 @ 7:30 p.m.
Candyman (Columbia, 1992)
Who can make the sun rise? Oops, wrong Candy Man. In this one, Virginia Madsen plays a graduate student researching urban myths, only to learn that sometimes the myths are all too true. Not for the faint in heart. Rated R. Color, 101 minutes.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27 @ 7:30 p.m.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Columbia, 1992)
Francis Ford Coppola directed an all-star cast, including Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves, in this retelling of the life and exploits of Vlad the Impaler (or Dracula as his friends would call him). Rated R. Color, 128 minutes.
Please note: Due to necessary electrical maintenance to the NAVCC facility, the film screening schedule for the next few months will be altered. The Packard Campus Theater will be screening films on Thursday and Friday nights only (NOTE: But we do have a special Saturday screening Columbus Day weekend). Programs are free and the matinee show will be family friendly. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Seating at the screenings is on a first-come, first-served basis unless otherwise noted.
Patrons must go through an “airport style” security check upon entering and no large parcels, purses or backpacks are permitted.
Federal law (18 U.S.C. 930) prohibits the possession of any firearm or other dangerous weapons on this Federal facility. This includes in the parking lot, on all roads, trails, and grounds as well as inside the building. This also applies to off-duty law enforcement officers (LEO) and concealed-carry permit holders.
The Packard Campus is located at 19053 Mount Pony Road in Culpeper, Virginia. Access to the campus parking lot begins one hour before show time, entrance into the building begins 45 minutes before the show, and the theater opens for seating 30 minutes before the curtain. Please do not arrive early and queue at the Packard Campus gate.
The Library of Congress Packard Campus of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center oversees one of the largest collections of motion pictures in the world. Acquired primarily through copyright deposit, exchange, gift and purchase, the collection spans the entire history of the cinema. Since 2008, the art deco theater located at the Packard Campus has shown films each week and screened more than 2,500 titles. The programs highlight the best in cinema, including silent films, Hollywood classics, kids’ cartoons and foreign films.