THE SNOWMAN (1982)

Based on: The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

Directed by: Dianne Jackson

Music by: Howard Blake

This classic British animated story of a dreamlike twilight evening, wherein a young boy’s snowman comes to life, is told in a through-composed orchestral soundtrack. The song ‘Walking in the Air’ is the only dialogue featured throughout, and thus it falls on Blake’s poetic and emotional score to take the audience on this magical journey, which he does so through a soaring symphony of jubilant brass and strings, with a melancholy solo piano for the final scenes.

THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004)

Based on: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Music By: Alan Silvestri

Whilst the CGI in this computer animated Christmas adventure film may feel outdated, its soundtrack remains absolutely timeless. The genius of the film’s score is demonstrated in its diversity, starting with ‘The Polar Express’, where Tom Hanks’ character sings to the young boy who has just boarded, about the mysterious ‘roller coaster’ locomotive, headed for the elusive North Pole. The music leaps from the jazzy ‘Hot Chocolate’, featuring spirited trumpets, trombones, drums and electric guitar, to exquisite and delicate harmonic strings, woodwind and piano in ‘When Christmas Comes to Town’.

DIE HARD (1988)

Based on: Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp

Directed by: John McTiernan

Music by: Michael Kamen

Whilst Die Hard’s legitimacy as a Christmas film has been contested over the years, the brilliant uniqueness of this thrilling score is not up for debate. Bruce Willis stars as a New York City police detective, who must save his estranged wife after unwittingly stumbling upon a terrorist attack whilst visiting her. Kamen expertly scores the explosive action sequences with woodwind instruments, pizzicato strings and sleigh bells to contradict their festive connotations. Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’ is chosen as the leitmotif for Hans Gruber, the film’s snarling villain, played in a lower, more ominous key to create a truly menacing Christmas soundtrack.

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)

Based on: Story by Tim Burton

Directed by: Henry Selick

Music by: Danny Elfman

This dark and fantastical stop-motion animated musical tells the story of the attempted takeover of ‘Christmas Town’, by the King of ‘Halloween Town’, Jack Skellington. Elfman’s score takes the audience on Jack’s journey of discovery, from the eerie ‘This is Halloween’, featuring clashing cymbals and demonic vocalists, to the moment Jack’s frosty heart begins to thaw with the spirit of Christmas, as he discovers fresh snow and Christmas trees, featuring high energy, jovial orchestral arrangements and the jingling of sleigh bells. 

HOME ALONE (1990)

Based on: Story by John Hughes

Directed by: Christopher Columbus

Music by: John Williams

This classic Christmas comedy tells the story of plucky younger brother Kevin McCallister, who must defend his Chicago home from two burglars after his entire family unintentionally leaves him behind on their Christmas holiday. Replacing composer Bruce Broughton, Williams creates a truly unforgettable score, using the whimsical ‘Somewhere in My Memory’ as the film’s theme song, and featuring other traditional Christmas songs, such as ‘Carol of the Bells’ and as ‘O Holy Night’ to set the scene of this action-packed festive film.  

ELF (2003)

Based on: story by David Berenbaum

Directed by: Jon Favreau

Music by: John Debney

This Christmas comedy stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human raised by elves, who heads to New York on a haphazard and eventful journey to find his biological father. The soundtrack features an abundance of classic Christmas tunes, such as ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’, ‘Sleigh Ride’ and ‘Santa Claus Is Coming to Town’, but it also has a delightfully cheerful score by Debney, filled to the brim with jingling bells, dulcet melodies and an appropriately festive choir.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)

Based on: The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern

Directed by: Frank Capra

Music by: Dimitri Tiomkin

This vintage Christmas drama, considered by many to be one of the greatest Christmas films of all time, tells the story of a man contemplating suicide on Christmas Eve, prompting an intervention from his guardian angel. The soundtrack features classic songs such as ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’, ‘My Wild Irish Rose’ and ‘Vieni, Vieni’, as well as Tiomkin’s sweet and sentimental orchestration, featuring heavy use of woodwind and strings. Tiomkin and Capra collaborated on a number of other films together in the same era, including ‘Mr Smith Goes to Washington’ and ‘You Can’t Take It With You’.

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000)

Based on: How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss

Directed by: Ron Howard

Music by: James Horner

Horner’s soundtrack is comical and heartfelt in equal measures, with warm melodies alongside playful themes, underscoring Jim Carrey’s spectacular performance as the grumpy green Grinch who must learn the true meaning of Christmas. This quintessential American Christmas film also features contemporary songs from Smash Mouth, Busta Rhymes and *NSYNC in company with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

GREMLINS (1984)

Based on: story by Chris Columbus

Directed by: Joe Dante

Music by: Jerry Goldsmith

Produced by Stephen Spielberg himself, this black comedy turned horror shows how a young man’s gifted pet spawns to create a small army of destructive monsters, that wreak mayhem on Christmas Eve. The film draws on the folk legend of the mischievous creatures – or ‘gremlins’ – that caused malfunctions in British Royal Air Force equipment in World War II. Goldsmith’s intention was to capture both their mischievous humour but simultaneous suspense within his score, using a chilling synthesiser and writing the haunting ‘Gizmo’s theme’, which was hummed by a child actress.

SCROOGE (1951)

Based on: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Directed by: Brian Desmond Hurst

Music by: Richard Addinsell

 This Christmas fantasy drama is an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ much revered novel, the story of a mean-spirited old man who hates Christmas and must be inspired to change by four visiting spirits. Addinsell’s score contains several excerpts from traditional Christmas carols, such as ‘Silent Night’, ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘I Saw Three Ships’, as well as several pieces written by the composer, ranging from overtly joyous to deeply moody. Most notably, he includes a polka tune for the party scenes.   

Check out our brand new Film Music Special edition of Gramophone, available to buy NOW! 

Gramophone's expert writers take an in-depth look at this fascinating form of composition, celebrating some of the masters behind the greatest movie scores. 

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