Saturday Cinema

There aren't many films that have New Year as the theme from beginning to end, but there are certainly loads of great movies that have New Year's scenes in them, like 1960's 'The Apartment', directed by Billy Wilder and featuring music by Charles Williams.

After winning acclaim for last year's 'Ain't Them Bodies Saints' score, composer Daniel Hart is heading in a very different direction with his music for the provocative short film 'The Girlfriend Game.'

Irving Berlin's song, 'White Christmas', premiered on radio and starred in two motion pictures; Bing Crosby's version made the Guinness Book of World Records for its millions of sales. On this week's Flicks in Five, we'll hear that beloved song.

In another holiday edition of Flicks in Five, Lynne Warfel looks at the music and lyrics from the 1971 musical retelling of Charles Dickens' classic, 'A Christmas Carol'.

Just before its release at Christmas in 1946, composer Dimitri Tiomkin's original score to 'It's a Wonderful Life' was overhauled. On this week's Flicks in Five, we'll hear Tiomkin's original finale for the film.

John Williams provides a sentimental and lovely score to accompany the screwball comedy about a kid left alone at home at Christmastime.

The first movie to be shot on location at the Macy's Day Parade in New York City, 'Miracle on 34th Street' was also the first major vehicle for then-child star Natalie Wood.

In 1944, the U.S. was embroiled in war. Back home, folks were going to the movies to bolster spirits. Some movies looked directly into the face of war, while others helped people escape for just a couple of hours. 'Meet Me in St. Louis' was one of the latter variety films.

Throughout the decades, certain songs or pieces of music from films find their way into the broader consciousness, often becoming radio hits. One such song, titled in English "I Will Wait for You", comes from a 1964 French film.

In the latter part of the 20th century, Kenneth Branagh reigned supreme as the actor putting Shakespeare plays on film. In the cinematic version of Shakepeare's best comedy, Patrick Doyle provided the music.