The independently produced thriller tells the story of a rebellious teenager who leads the fight to save his small town from being swallowed up by a gelatinous invader from outer space. The action climaxes in a truly marvelous scene, utilizing ingenious special effects in which the monster devours an entire diner. THE BLOB was made at the height of the red-scare era, but the filmmakers denied that there was a political subtext, even though the ever-redder blob insidiously attacked sacred American institutions. The movie launched the careers of antihero Steve McQueen and composer Burt Bacharach, and has become a cult classic with an enthusiastic following of Web sites and sci-fi fans. THE BLOB will be screened at 7:00 pm, preceded by a vintage 1959 newsreel and the classic 1953 Chuck Jones cartoon, DUCK DODGERS IN THE 24 1/2TH CENTURY.