Poster When Harry Met Sally
Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal star in "When Harry Met Sally."
MGM

Flicks in Five: When Harry Met Sally

Flicks in Five: When Harry Met Sally

Whenever I do a listener request show on Saturday Cinema or Flicks in Five, 1989's "When Harry Met Sally invariably comes up.

This particular "rom-com" (romantic comedy), or "chick flick," was a story based on the real life experiences of director Rob Reiner. Reiner collaborated with Nora Ephron as screenwriter, and Nora based Harry largely on interviews with Rob Reiner talking about his recent divorce and what happened with his life afterward. Sally, in turn, was based on Ephron and her circle of friends.

The soundtrack was largely done with jazz standards, with a big band and orchestra arranged by Marc Shaiman. But Harry Connick Jr. appears throughout the soundtrack and won his first Grammy Award for best jazz male vocal performance.

The film is ranked 23rd on the American Film Institute's 100 Years, 100 Laughs of the top comedy films and No. 60 on Bravo's 100 Funniest Movies.

There's that wonderful scene in the movie when Sally finally has had enough of relationships going wrong, and she decides that she's going to decorate her apartment for Christmas this year all on her own. And accompanying what she's doing on screen is Harry Connick Jr. playing his version of "Winter Wonderland." Listen by clicking the audio player above.

That's "When Harry Met Sally" — one of the favorite films of all time, according to many film institutes. And you.

Saturday Cinema

Tune in to Saturday Cinema at 10 a.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 18, to hear music from other films about sometimes-complicated relationships, including "The Lion King," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "Thelma and Louise" and "The Lion in Winter."

Just click on the Listen button below.

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