Saturday Cinema

With the best movie sequence of all time -- the chariot race -- 'Ben Hur' also boasts one of the longest musical scores ever written, recorded in one of the most epic recording sessions ever scheduled.

The Austrian born American director brought us many films in his trademark black and white, but it was his 1958 comedy starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe that earned him a place in the annals of film history.

Based on a novel and a 1930s opera, the 1959 film 'Porgy and Bess' starred Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge -- but their vocals were overdubbed by Robert McFerrin (Bobby's father) and Adele Addison, both of whom were uncredited. Hear Kathleen Battle sing the iconic tune, "Summertime", on this week's Flicks in Five.

The film considered one of the greatest of all time also features an equally lauded score by Bernard Herrmann. The music includes an aria from an opera that doesn't exist. Hear it on this week's Flicks in Five.

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.