in Christmas 1956 [apart from the 'BttF' nonsense], a young boy from Grand Rapids, Michigan is hoping for a true belief in the Christmas spirit, but it seems every encyclopedia and source of information denies the existence of Santa at the North Pole. On Christmas Eve night a large train called the Polar Express pulls up outside the boy's house and the conductor tells him to board for a trip to the North Pole. The boy soon finds himself on the train along with an African-American girl, a nerdy and smart-alecky boy, and a shy boy. Upon arriving at the North Pole, all the children prepare to witness a true miracle, Santa delivering the first gift of Christmas before taking off, and letting children know that Christmas spirit only exists to those who believe. a Chicago Intl Film Fest '04 official selection. • Tom Hanks leads in six different roles, co-starring Michael Jeter as Smokey and Steamer. Robert Zemeckis directs from the screenplay by Zemeckis & William Broyles, Jr.; Based on the 1985 illustrated Houghton Mifflin book by Chris Van Allsburg. Produced by Steve Starkey, Zemeckis, Gary Goetzman and William Teitler • Executive Producers: Hanks, Jack Rapke and Van Allsburg. featuring six Original Songs written and produced by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri; featuring Steven Tyler in "Rockin' On Top of the World" and Josh Groban with the Oscar®-nominated "Believe"; Score Composed and Conducted by Silvestri. a Playtone/ImageMovers/Golden Mean production of a Castle Rock Entertainment presentation, with Shangri-La Entertainment. The first CGI film all motion-captured for a Guinness World Record - Imagery and Animation by Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc. Dedicated to the memory of Michael Jeter. Motion Capture filming between March 21, 2003 - May 2004. General: 11/10/04 Approved [No. 41220]/rated G.