We love Christmas!

It’s a special time of year, especially with all the festive music that abounds everywhere. We love the Christmas films that get shown on telly (and repeated!) regularly here in  the UK.
One of my favourite films isn’t especially a Christmas one but is often on television at this time of year. It’s Murder on the Orient Express – the original 1974 version with Albert Finney as Poirot and a cast of mega stars.
I have to say the main reason isn’t the story or the acting (though both are great)- but the music. And I’m really talking about the bit near the start when the beautiful engine front light suddenly switches on, the orchestra strikes a chord simultaneously and the train slowly pulls out of the station to the utterly gorgeous waltz theme by the brilliant Richard Rodney Bennett. As the train gathers speed, so the music likewise does a gradual accelerando to match. The elegance of both against the snowy landscape of Turkey is just glorious! Gives me goosebumps every time. 
RRB wrote around 50 film scores; this particular one was up for several awards winning a much deserved Bafta.