---

ATTLEBORO - The 1966 movie "Fahrenheit 451" shown Thursday at the Larson Senior Center as part of a community read and discussion initiative drew mixed reactions - much as the book has - among the mature audience members.

The event was the first of several free public showings of the film scheduled in the city as part of the public library's efforts to build community through literacy and the shared experience of reading the same book through The Big Read: Attleboro's 1 Adventure, 1 Book, 1 Community project.

And if the effort was meant to stimulate discussion, that's what it did among local seniors.

Gloria Saulnier, one of about 20 people who watched the movie at Thursday's showing, said she had recently read the book by Ray Bradbury that was published in 1953 and set in a futuristic society without books.

Some of the predictions and gadgets within Bradbury's science fiction account ring true today, she said, noting that her 8-year-old grandson's use of a handheld video game brought to mind the electronic gear and the sense of isolation illustrated within the book and movie. "That was what's in that movie - there it is today," Saulnier said, just after the movie concluded.

She admitted that though she read the book, "if I had picked it up on my own I would not have read it."

The subject matter didn't interest her, she said, adding, "I think I liked the movie better. Now I have a better idea about the book."

Frank Balut said he has not read the book and it was his first time seeing the movie. And he said he'll have to watch it again - "I missed the first 20 minutes."

Balut said he related the burning of the books and government control in the story's telling to different periods within our history.

He's in favor of the community read project and the showings of the movie "because it's a conversation with the public."

Adele Wagle, who described herself as an avid reader, said she had to put the book down before finishing it.

"I hated it," she said.

Ditto for the movie.

"It's not a warm and cozy" subject, Wagle said. But maybe that was the idea, she acknowledged. "Maybe it's just to wake us up."

The next showing of the film will be at 7 p.m. on Oct. 18 at the South Attleboro Fire Station, which will also feature a discussion led by Tim Richmond of the Network School.