Most people remember the “cage scene” from the movie “Silence of the Lambs.”
It’s that moment when Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter bites the face of one of the policemen who brought him dinner.
The iconic image can be seen once again Friday when the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Oakland shows the film at an event from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 on its 30th anniversary.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here.
The film will be shown at 7 p.m. Guests can see a replica of the cage where the scene was filmed in the ballroom. Closed captioning will be available during the film showing.
The cage was recreated by Hundred Acres Manor in South Park and can be disassembled.
“I watch this movie every time it’s on,” said John McCabe, of Plum, president and CEO of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Trust, Inc. and a Major who retired from the Judge Advocate General Corps in the U.S. Army Reserve.
“And I see new things every time too,” he said.
McCabe was serving in Desert Storm when the film debuted in 1991, but recalled his wife and sister telling him they screamed when they saw the famous “cage scene.”
McCabe said the film is more of a suspense movie than a gory one.
“It is more what you imagine than what you actually see,” McCabe said.
The movie has been shown at the museum to some incoming freshmen Pitt students, McCabe said and parts of it have been viewed during their over 21 cocktail hours – but this will be the first time they are inviting the public.
There is special licensing to show the film. He said he is considering showing it in the future.
Howard Bender of Dynamic Illustrations & Caricatures will create peoples’ likenesses for $10-$20. Guests can have tarot cards read by the Rev. Danielle Kurtz for a fee.
Victor Cianca, the Metropolitan Bishop of the Western Orthodox Church and superior general of Society of Sancta Maria Magdalena will explain and consult about hauntings, spirits, demons and angels. Cianca is also chief exorcist for the Society of Saint Michael, and churches under the Western Orthodox umbrella.
Joe Steinmetz will be onsite to share the original cage blueprint. And what’s believed to be the original cage rug from the movie will be on display courtesy of Ruth Frantz.
The owner of the property that was used as Buffalo Bill’s house in the movie will be present.
They plan to limit attendance to 400. McCabe said the movie doesn’t have anything to do with the military or remembering veterans, but it has another appeal.
“Pittsburgh loves its history and there is still living history here,” said McCabe. “They love that movies are filmed in Pittsburgh. This could be a perfect Trivial Pursuit game question. Where was the cage scene from ‘Silence of the Lambs’ filmed?”
Guests are encouraged to wear a face mask.
