The Polar Express is a 2004 American animated adventure film directed by Robert Zemeckis, who co-wrote the screenplay with William Broyles Jr., based on the 1985 children's book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg. It stars Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, and Eddie Deezen. The film depicts human characters using live action and motion capture computer animation, with production sequences for the latter taking place from June 2003 to May 2004. Set on Christmas Eve, it tells the story of a young boy who sees a mysterious train bound for the North Pole stop outside his window and is invited aboard by its conductor. He joins other children as they embark on a journey to visit Santa Claus, who is preparing for Christmas.
Theatrical release poster
The film marks the last performance of Michael Jeter, who died the year before the film's release, and it is dedicated to his memory.
Administration building of the Pullman Palace Car Company
Pere Marquette locomotive 1225, the basis for the Polar Express
Robert Lee Zemeckis is an American filmmaker. He first came to public attention as the director of the action-adventure romantic comedy Romancing the Stone (1984), the science-fiction comedy Back to the Future trilogy (1985–1990), and the live-action/animated comedy Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). He subsequently directed the satirical black comedy Death Becomes Her (1992) and then diversified into more dramatic fare, including Forrest Gump (1994), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Director. The film also won the Best Picture.
Zemeckis in 2015
Overseeing the filming of Contact (1997)
Zemeckis' star on Walk of Fame, Hollywood, LA
Zemeckis with wife Leslie Harter, at the French premiere of Flight, January 2013