CAPE ANN COMMUNITY CINEMA GETS DOWN AND SCARY THIS WEEK

The Cape Ann Community Cinema at 21 Main Street in Gloucester celebrates Halloween in its own unique way this week with two very special events.
On Wednesday, October 26th at 7:30pm, film director Susan Marks presents her fascinating documentary, "Of Dolls And Murder" and hosts a Q&A after the film.

SYNOPSIS ::: Before forensics, DNA and CSI, we had "dollhouses" – an unimaginable collection of miniature crime scenes, known as the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death. Created in the 1930s and 1940s by a crime-fighting grandmother, Frances Glessner Lee created the Nutshells to help homicide detectives hone their investigative skills. These surreal dollhouses reveal a dystopic and disturbing slice of domestic life with doll corpses representing actual murder victims, or perhaps something that just looks like murder. Despite all the advances in forensics, the Nutshells are still used today to train detectives. Documentary film, Of Dolls and Murder, explores the dioramas, the woman who created them, and their relationship to modern day forensics. From the iconic CSI television show to the Body Farm and criminally minded college students, legendary filmmaker and true crime aficionado, John Waters narrates the tiny world of big time murder. Learn more about the film at www.OfDollsAndMurder.com.
As a special bonus, acclaimed cellist Kristen Miller will play her haunting live original score to vanguard Maya Deren’s 1943 silent film, "Meshes Of The Afternoon" before the film. The amusing animated short about CSI called "Something Left, Something Taken" will also be featured.
On Friday, October 28th, the eclectic quintet Cirkestra (www.cirkestra.com) will play a live original score to Tod Browning’s 1927 silent "The Unknown." The film is about the ghastly goings-on at a traveling circus, and stars "Man Of 1000 Faces" Lon Chaney and a young Joan Crawford. Browning is best known as the director of the classic "Dracula"(1931) and the icky chestnut "Freaks" (1932).
Tickets for "Of Dolls And Murder" are $9.50 adults, $8.00 students and seniors (60+) and $6.50 for Cinema Members (membership is free). Tickets for "The Unknown" are $15.00 all seats, $12.50 for Members.
As for film festivals, the 2nd Annual Cape Ann Film Festival runs November 3-20. The line-ups will be announced Friday, October 28th, as will the extensive list of special events and guests.