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What is the setting of the Polar Express?
The book is set partially in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the author's home town, and was inspired in part by Van Allsburg's memories of visiting the Herpolsheimer's and Wurzburg's department stores as a child.
What is the Polar Express based off of?
The Pere Marquette 1225Every sight and sound of the magical Christmas train in the 2004 film The Polar Express is based on a real-life steam locomotive. The Pere Marquette 1225 has its own Christmas story to tell — and it involves a very close call with the scrapyard.
Is the Polar Express set in a dream?
However, the story wasn't a dream, as the main character tells Billy and the bell at the end proves. Magic can explain how the train could make that incredible journey in less than a night and survive all those perils. It also explains how the children were able to stay safe no matter what.
How old is the Polar Express story?
The Polar Express is a 2004 American computer-animated adventure film co-written and directed by Robert Zemeckis, based on the 1985 children's book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg, who also served as one of the executive producers.
What was Billy's address in Polar Express?
11344 Edbrooke AvenueBilly lives close to Hero Boy at 11344 Edbrooke Avenue in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His family lives in poverty, as depicted in the film. His house is described as being "on the wrong side of the tracks" to the other children's houses and his appearance is much simpler and poorer than his friends.
Can you actually ride The Polar Express?
Yes, you can experience a real-life version of The Polar Express! Railroads across the U.S. get in on the fun with hot chocolate, sing-alongs, visits with Santa and more.
How much did they pay Tom Hanks for The Polar Express?
a $40 millionYou won't believe how much Hanks made for his Polar Express roles (he voiced seven characters, to be exact). According to the Los Angeles Times, the actor and producer made a $40 million salary plus 20% of the first-dollar gross, which adds up to an estimated $100 million total.
What does the Hobo represent in The Polar Express?
He is quick to act, not afraid to contradict the Hero Boy, and can be somewhat startling as he voices the marionette scene found in the film. The Hobo's demeanor reflects that of doubt and disbelief while also representing a willingness to help others in a time of need.
Who is the little black girl in Polar Express?
Nona Gaye (born September 4, 1974) is an American singer, actress and former fashion model. She did the voice and motion capture for Hero Girl in the 2004 film, The Polar Express and the video game.
How old is the black girl in Polar Express?
She appears to be 10-13.
Why does The Polar Express look weird?
The reason “The Polar Express” “looks closer to human anatomy” is because they actually filmed the real human actors first: They used a new (at the time) digital motion capture technology.
Does the boy in Polar Express have a name?
One of the most common questions asked about the Polar Express is 'what is the boy's name on Polar Express'? The answer is, no-one knows! He is never named in the film and in the credits, he is referred to only as 'Hero Boy'.
What is The Polar Express story about?
Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis ("Forrest Gump"; "Cast Away") reunite for "Polar Express," an inspiring adventure based on the beloved children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.The Polar Express / Film synopsis
Is there a real train called The Polar Express?
About This Trip THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is back in 2022! The 1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole.
What is the meaning of The Polar Express?
The Polar Express is the tale of a boy's dreamlike train ride to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus. Like all stories worth knowing, it's rich enough in image and feeling to accommodate many interpretations. Chris Van Allsburg, the author of the book, calls his story a celebration of childhood wonder and imagination.
What year was Polar Express published?
LC Class. PZ7.V266 Po 1985. Preceded by. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. Followed by. The Stranger. The Polar Express is a children's book written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg and published by Houghton Mifflin in 1985. The book is now widely considered to be a classic Christmas story for young children.
What is the Polar Express?
The Polar Express is a 2004 American computer-animated film based on the book. Written, produced, and directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film features human characters animated using the live action performance capture technique.
What is the train called that is going to the North Pole?
The conductor explains the train is called the Polar Express, and is journeying to the North Pole. The boy then boards the train, which is filled with many other children in their pajamas.
Where is the Polar Bear Express?
Not to be confused with the Polar Bear Express, a real-life train between Cochrane and Moosonee in Ontario, Canada.
Who owns Pere Marquette 1225?
At the premiere of the movie, Van Allsburg stated that Pere Marquette 1225, formerly owned by Michigan State University and now owned by the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, Michigan, was the inspiration for the story line.
What is the Polar Express based on?
The Polar Express is a 2004 American motion capture computer-animated musical Christmas fantasy film based on the children's book of the same title by Chris Van Allsburg and has a much longer story.
Who lets the boy board the train?
The Conductor lets the boy board the train. The boy meets other children on board, including a girl and a Know-It-All kid. When the train goes to pick up Billy the Lonely Boy, the Hero Boy applies the emergency brakes to let Billy on board, who at first declined to board but changed his mind.
Who delivers the hot chocolate cup to Billy?
The Hero Girl and Conductor deliver the hot chocolate cup to Billy, but the Hero Boy discovers the Hero Girl’s ticket left on her seat and unpunched. He tries to return the ticket, but he loses it. After the ticket is abused by the wind and animals, it slips back on the train.
Does the train in the book have a lettering?
The train in the book does not have any "Polar Express" lettering. In the book, Hero Boy goes outside when the Conductor looks at him through his window. In the film, he is led by his curiosity and the Conductor steps outside later on.
What is the Polar Express?
The Polar Express™ by Chris Van Allsburg is the heart-warming story about the power of belief and has touched the hearts of millions. Add this iconic train to any HO layout and bring the magic to life!
Is the Polar Express a classic?
The Polar Express has mel ted hearts of the young and those who are young at heart, making it a worldwide Christmas classic. This story about believing in the magic of Christmas is brought to life for millions of families each and every year that enjoy the book and the motion picture.
When was the Lionel Polar Express published?
A History of The Lionel Polar Express. Since the Chris van Allsburg book was published in 1985 , the Polar Express has become an essential part of Christmas for families all over the world, topping bestseller lists and remaining popular year after year, enduring the ever increasing number of new books released each Christmas.
What is the beauty of the Polar Express?
The beauty of The Polar Express is that it allows hobbyists to combine their passion for model trains while embracing a Christmas tradition. Whether you run the Polar Express exclusively on your holiday layout, around the tree, or if it’s a year-round staple of your railroad, this train is a classic, fun addition to any collection.
How long has Lionel been making Polar Express trains?
Lionel has been producing Polar Express trains for 15 years, while also creating an ever growing range of Polar Express accessories, enabling you to easily add to your set.
What scale is Lionel Polar Express?
Currently, Lionel produces Polar Express trains in O, S, and HO Scale, with certain accessories available in the same scales. Create your own history over the holidays, and with every holiday season moving forward, with the Lionel Polar Express series!
What does the Polar Express do to Santa Claus?
The Polar Express then takes a magical journey through forests and over mountains before reaching the North Pole. On arrival, Santa chooses the boy in the story to receive the first gift of Christmas.
Can you add Polar Express cars to your collection?
Of course the beauty of model trains is the ability to be creative and mix and match if you wish, so you can always add your Polar Express cars to an existing collection, and run them on your year-round railroad.
Is Lionel Polar Express a franchise?
The history of The Polar Express as a franchise, and more specifically as a way for hobbyists and railfans to indulge in the holiday spirit, is rich and will continue to grow. Lionel Polar Express model trains, cars, and accessories are a great way to bring a sense of Christmas cheer to your railroad and enjoy for years to come.
What is Lionel Polar Express?
The original Lionel Polar Express set from 2004 had handrails on the locomotive as well, but only a traditional air whistle in the tender (and an undersized motor.) LionChief Plus simply means the locomotive has a switch to allow it to be run conventionally with a transformer or using the remote.
Is the Polar Express a slouch?
FYI the lc polar express is no slouch in performance. Here we have the loco pulling 8 k-line streamlines with no problem. Granted the curves are o42, but power and traction are no problem.
Is Kohl's blowing out PE sets?
Kohl’s department store was blowing out PE sets and others as an online loss leader last year in early to mid December. Don’t know if you can wait that long but something to watch if you are still in the market at that point.
Should Lionel make a Polar Express page?
I've said it here before, but Lionel really should create a Polar Express page detailing all of the PE stuff they have produced and showing the differing features between each. With a new set being released seemingly every two years or so lately, it's so hard to keep track of. For the unfamiliar, people are just going to buy any PE set for sale without knowing which version they are getting. Worse yet, if they try to buy add-on cars and don't pay attention, they may get cars that now don't match the other cars they have now that the lettering and roofs are different. I have trouble keeping track of all of the different PE sets, cars, and locomotives. I can't imagine what it must be like for someone newer to the hobby.
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Product description
Celebrating 15 years of believing! For 15 years, Lionel has had the privilege of bringing The Polar Express train sets, rolling stock and accessories directly to your very own home, allowing you to create family traditions and memories that will last a lifetime. To help celebrate the 15th Anniversary this set will be individually numbered.
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Overview
The Polar Express is a children's book written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg and published by Houghton Mifflin in 1985. The book is now widely considered to be a classic Christmas story for young children. It was praised for its detailed illustrations and calm, relaxing storyline. For the work, Van Allsburg won the annual Caldecott Medal for illustration of an American children's pictur…
Plot summary
A young boy is awakened on Christmas Eve night by the sound of a train. To his astonishment, he finds the train is waiting for him right outside his house. He sees a conductor who then proceeds to look up at his window. He runs downstairs and goes outside. The conductor explains the train is called the Polar Express, and is journeying to the North Pole. The boy then boards the train, which is filled with many other children in their pajamas being served hot chocolate by the train's …
Development
Van Allsburg based the story on a mental image of a child wandering into the woods on a foggy night and wondering where a train was headed.
At the premiere of the film, Van Allsburg stated that Pere Marquette 1225, a class N1 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive formerly owned by Michigan State University and now owned by the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, Michigan, was the inspiration for the story line. He playe…
Reception
In 1986, The Polar Express was awarded the Caldecott Medal and appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. By 1989, a million copies had been sold – more each year than the last – and the book had made the bestseller list four years in a row.
Based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education Association listed the book as one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children". It was one of the "Top 100 Picture Books" of all time in …
Film adaptation
The Polar Express is a 2004 American computer-animated film based on the book. Written, produced, and directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film features human characters animated using the live action performance capture technique.
The film stars Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, Michael Jeter, Eddie Deezen and Tom Hanks. The film was first released in both conventional and IMAX 3D theaters November 10, 2004 and …
Rail tours
The Polar Express has inspired real-life train rides across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom based on the book and film. These train rides are hosted by a number of different railways, including the Grand Canyon Railway, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, the Texas State Railroad, the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, Michigan, the Valley Railroad in Connecticut, and others. Beginning in 2016, the UK's Telford Steam Railway offered the Polar Express ride on …
External Links
• The Polar Express
Plot
- On the night of Christmas Eve in the late-1950s, Hero Boy is awoken to a train called the Polar Express pulling up in front of his house that is about to embark to the North Pole. When the Conductor invites Hero Boy onboard, he is reluctant, but changes his mind and jumps on as the train leaves. He meets other children onboard, including Hero Girl ...
Characters
Cast
- Tom Hanks: Hero Boy (motion-capture and adult voice), Conductor, Hobo, Santa Claus, Hero Boy's father and Ebenezer Scrooge puppet
- Leslie Zemeckis: Sister Sarah (motion-capture), Hero Boy's mother
- Eddie Deezen: Know-It-All
- Nona Gaye: Hero Girl
Development
- Tom Hanks first brought the book to the attention of Robert Zemeckis in 1999 in hopes of playing the Conductor and Santa Claus. One of the conditions was for the film to be live-action, but Zemeckis thought it would be too expensive and lack the look, feel, and magic of the illustrations he felt was important to the story. Zemeckis considered three ways to make the film, which inclu…
Differences from The Book
- The film puts more emphasis on Hero Boy's crisis of faith and states it directly, while it is only implied in the book.
- The book says Hero Boy was listening for "a sound – a sound a friend had told me I'd never hear," while in the film, the narrator says, "a sound I was afraid I'd never hear."
- Most of the events up until the train arrives are not in the book.
- The film puts more emphasis on Hero Boy's crisis of faith and states it directly, while it is only implied in the book.
- The book says Hero Boy was listening for "a sound – a sound a friend had told me I'd never hear," while in the film, the narrator says, "a sound I was afraid I'd never hear."
- Most of the events up until the train arrives are not in the book.
- The train in the book lacks any "Polar Express" lettering.
Trivia
- Many of the shots in the film replicate illustrations from the book.
- This film marks:
- On some foreign DVDs of the film, such as the UK DVD release, the "Piracy. It's a crime." promo is seen, but on the majority of DVD releases, this is not used, possibly due to it being a bit too fr...
- Many of the shots in the film replicate illustrations from the book.
- This film marks:
- On some foreign DVDs of the film, such as the UK DVD release, the "Piracy. It's a crime." promo is seen, but on the majority of DVD releases, this is not used, possibly due to it being a bit too fr...
- Since adult actors did the motion-capture for the children characters most of the time, oversized props were used to get the movement right.
Goofs
- The first time Hero Boy goes downstairs, a red snowman skirt is on the tree, but on Christmas morning, it is yellow with bells on it.
- Early in the film when Hero Boy is in his room, his robe is seen on the bedpost closest to the bedroom door. However, it disappears briefly when his parents visit the room and re-appears when Hero...
- The first time Hero Boy goes downstairs, a red snowman skirt is on the tree, but on Christmas morning, it is yellow with bells on it.
- Early in the film when Hero Boy is in his room, his robe is seen on the bedpost closest to the bedroom door. However, it disappears briefly when his parents visit the room and re-appears when Hero...
- There are several moments when footprints left in the snow disappear too soon.
- At Herpolsheimer's, when Know-It-All says, "I want all of them!", the window on the car displays a reflection of a present pile not seen in the actual store.