His scheduled appearance in December will be part of an anniversary celebration of the film “Prancer,” which is still playing on television screens during the holidays.

“I’m looking forward to seeing it,” said John Hancock, the film’s director.

Hancock, who lives in northern LaPorte County, said the celebration will include a showing of the film at the Vickers Theater and a parade in Three Oaks on Dec. 14.

The film will be shown on December 15th at the Civic Auditorium in LaPorte.

Hancock said Elliott and some of the surviving cast members will be at each location. He said there will also be a question and answer session between the actors, himself and the audience.

Initially, Hancock said that Elliott was willing to come but was hesitant to commit to the event so early, according to his conversations with the veteran movie star’s agent in recent weeks.

Hancock said Elliott, 80, relented when LaPorte Mayor Tom Dermody began calling his superiors.

“He just wouldn’t take no for an answer and eventually Sam decided to come along. I had given up, but Dermody is a stubborn guy,” Hancock said.

In the film, Elliott plays John Riggs, a grieving widowed father whose apple farm outside LaPorte has fallen on hard times.

Fearing that he will not be able to care for his 8-year-old daughter Jessica, he considers letting his late wife’s sister care for her, but later changes his mind.

At some point, the girl discovered an injured reindeer, which she named Prancer, in the barn on the family farm and nursed the animal back to health.

The film ends with the girl watching in amazement as Prancer reunites with the reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh, lands on the farm and joins them for takeoff.

Hancock said he made the film at the request of his wife, who thought it would become a classic during the Christmas season.

“It turns out it was. She was right,” he said.

The film also starred late Hollywood legends Cloris Leachman and Abe Vigoda.

Hancock said other cast members planning to come include Rebecca Harrell Tickell, who was nominated for a best young actress award for her performance as Jessica in the film.

Dermody said his determination comes from a desire to make the occasion even more memorable for Hancock and the community, as the film is still close to his and many residents’ hearts.

“We wouldn’t settle for anything less,” he said.

Because the Civic Auditorium is owned by the city, Dermody said its administration works with Hancock on things like ticket prices and timing of the ceremony.

“I think people will be excited. “We’re going to pack up the Civic and enjoy a special evening or afternoon,” he said.

Hancock, 85, spent his childhood between his family’s home in Chicago and their fruit farm in LaPorte County.

He became known as the director of the 1973 film “Bang the Drum Slowly,” which was about the rapprochement between two baseball players after one of them was diagnosed with cancer.

After “Prancer,” Hancock made several more films in the immediate area.

“It’s such a great place to make a film. It was a great pleasure to work where I grew up,” he said.