For many, “A Christmas Story” is synonymous with the holiday season. Released in 1983, this heartwarming comedy, filled with iconic scenes like the triple-dog dare and Ralphie’s quest for a Red Ryder BB gun, has become a perennial classic. While the film’s humor and memorable performances are widely celebrated, the enchanting musical score by Carl Zittrer and Paul Zaza has, until recently, remained an unsung hero. Now, with the release of A CHRISTMAS STORY: MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE, audiences can fully appreciate the music that perfectly captures the film’s nostalgic spirit, including its clever use of themes from “Peter and the Wolf”.
The collaboration between composers Carl Zittrer and Paul Zaza and director Bob Clark began in 1979, a partnership that garnered them a Genie Award for their score in “Murder By Decree.” Reuniting for “A Christmas Story,” Zittrer and Zaza crafted a score that is both whimsical and deeply evocative of childhood innocence. Zittrer recounts that the musical pieces seemed to fall into place almost magically during the scoring process. He highlights a particularly insightful choice: incorporating themes from Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” to underscore scenes featuring the neighborhood bully.
In Zittrer’s words, “Oftentimes scoring a film means trying out lots of music to see if it fits. By an incredible coincidence, the test pieces we selected were natural fits. For instance, we used themes from Peter And The Wolf in several scenes featuring the bully. It instantly conveys the bully’s villainy, but it also works on a deeper level because the young boys in the film most certainly would have known this music and understood its menacing connotation.” This ingenious use of “Peter and the Wolf” not only enhances the bully’s on-screen presence but also resonates with the audience’s understanding of classic storytelling and musical cues for character portrayal.
Beyond the “Peter and the Wolf” motifs, the soundtrack also features Zittrer and Zaza’s arrangement of the “Grand Canyon Suite,” prominently featured during Ralphie’s imaginative fantasy sequence where he defends his backyard against Black Bart and his gang. Zittrer aptly describes its impact: “It is the quintessential Western music. All you need to hear are those first two notes and you’re on a dusty trail somewhere.” This exemplifies how the music in “A Christmas Story” works on multiple levels, enriching both the comedic and adventurous aspects of Ralphie’s childhood world.
Based on the semi-autobiographical stories of Jean Shepherd, who also narrates the film, “A Christmas Story” is set in the 1940s and follows nine-year-old Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) in his determined pursuit of a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. While initially met with modest success in theaters in 1983, the film has since grown into a cultural phenomenon, celebrated annually with 24-hour marathons and attracting dedicated fans to museums and conventions. The release of A CHRISTMAS STORY: MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE adds another layer to this enduring legacy, allowing fans and new audiences to experience the film’s magic through its captivating score, particularly its clever nods to “Peter and the Wolf”.
A CHRISTMAS STORY: MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE Track Listing:
- “Bob’s Major Award”
- “Jogging To School”
- “Black Bart Bites The Dust”
- “Meeting Of The Minds”
- “And They’re Off!”
- “Truth Or (Triple Dog) Dare”
- “Jingle Bells”
- “He Had Yellow Eyes”
- “A Chip Off The Old Block”
- “When Things Seem Hopeless…”
- “Feet, Do Your Stuff!”
- “Ralphie’s Brilliant Idea”
- “Ming The Merciless”
- “Don’t Look Back!”
- “Sleigh Bells”
- “Ralphie’s Revenge” & “The “F” Word”
- “Joy To The World” & “Silent Night”
- “The Bumpus Hounds Make Their Rounds”
- “Glorious, Beautiful Christmas”
- “Silent Night” – The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
This newly available soundtrack provides a fresh perspective on “A Christmas Story,” highlighting the artistry of Zittrer and Zaza and their contribution to making this film a timeless holiday treasure. The subtle yet effective use of “Peter and the Wolf” themes, alongside other musical gems, underscores the film’s genius and its lasting appeal across generations.
