Science on Screen at the Coolidge Corner Theatre kicks off Valentine’s Week with the steamy thriller BODY HEAT. Guest speaker Michael Baum, Ph.D. will introduce the film with a talk on the biology of attraction.

Lawrence Kasdan made his directorial debut with this contemporary film noir. In one of his most memorable roles, William Hurt plays a Florida lawyer unwittingly drawn into a web of deceit spun by Kathleen Turner—a married socialite who plots to kill off her husband with Hurt’s assistance. The perspiration-soaked love scenes between Hurt and Turner caused quite a stir when the film was initially released.

BODY HEAT raises the question, “What exactly is it that attracts us to other people?” Sharing some insights on the subject is Boston University biology professor Michael Baum, whose groundbreaking research focuses on scent and how it relates to sexual attraction in animals. Although Dr. Baum works primarily with mice, his project’s recent findings may provide direct evidence that our sense of smell—specifically our receptivity to pheromones—plays a significant role in shaping our perceptions and behaviors when it comes to who we are attracted to and why.

Registration required:

No

Free:

No