Prehistoric Cinema
To mark the latest release in the Jurassic Park franchise, Jurassic World Rebirth, Matthew Sweet looks at music for films set in prehistoric times, or that feature dinosaurs in a modern setting.
Aug 12, 2025•18 min
Sound of Cinema
Your weekly roundup of the finest film scores and movie music with Edith Bowman.
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Episodes
Walter Murch
Matthew Sweet talks to film editor, sound designer and director Walter Murch about working on Apocalypse Now, the Godfather films, The Conversation, Barton Fink and Return to Oz
Aug 12, 2025•33 min
Mythical Creatures
Matthew Sweet is on the hunt for mythical creatures on the big screen. Tune in to escape reality, as we explore film music that transports you to fantastical worlds; from Middle-earth with Howard Shore’s beloved music for The Hobbit, to ancient Greece with Leonard Rosenthal's epic score for Clash of the Titans. Our final destination is the Isle of Berk, the Viking setting of How To Train Your Dragon - the live action remake, scored by John Powell, is released in cinemas this week. To listen on m...
Jun 25, 2025•16 min
Unusual Instruments
Matthew Sweet looks at unusual instruments used in film scores such as the Cristal Baschet which is a favourite of Cliff Martinez in scores such as Drive. He considers the use of unusual technology such as the Blaster Beam used by Jerry Goldsmith in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. He traces the development of electronics in film music, from 'electronic tonalities' in Forbidden Planet, to the Moog synthesiser in A Clockwork Orange, and the later use of the Chamberlin by Jon Brion in Eternal Sunshi...
Jun 25, 2025•15 min
The Telephone
Matthew Sweet dials in, with a playlist of film music inspired by a phone call. Hold the line for classics including Scream, The Conversation and Dial M for Murder. Also featuring Bear McCreary’s score for our featured new release, Drop. To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema.”
Jun 25, 2025•16 min
A.R. Rahman
Matthew Sweet is joined by multiple award-winning composer A.R. Rahman to explore his extraordinary career in film music, including his best-known score - Slumdog Millionaire. In an exclusive interview, we hear about his relationship with his father, R.K. Sekher who was also a film music composer. A.R. Rahman tells Matthew about his early success in the Indian film industry, and why he decided to remain in the industry rather than become a rock musician. And we hear about his work in Hollywood o...
Jun 02, 2025•37 min
Joe Hisaishi
Matthew Sweet celebrates the life and work of Studio Ghibli composer, Joe Hisaishi. Tune in for some of his most beloved music, with classic soundtracks including Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro and Howl’s Moving Castle. Joe Hisaishi will make his BBC Proms debut this year, performing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema.”
Jun 02, 2025•18 min
Hans Zimmer on Performance
This special episode of Sound of Cinema features an exclusive interview with the legendary film composer and record producer, Hans Zimmer. Hosted by Matthew Sweet, this programme dives into the growth of live film music, exploring how scores are reworked for the concert platform. With a catalogue of iconic soundtracks including Pirates of the Caribbean, Inception, and The Dark Knight, Hans Zimmer is a household name. Tune in to find out how he got started in the music industry, where his inspira...
Jun 02, 2025•25 min
Wallace & Gromit and the Music of Aardman Animations
Evil penguins, chickens on the run and the mischievous sheep of Mossy Bottom Farm. Enter the unique musical world of Aardman Animations as Matthew Sweet celebrates the studio's iconic film scores with the release of Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Matthew visits the Aardman Animation studios in Bristol to meet archivist Tom Vincent, where he encounters uniquely Aardman props, puppets and scores - even a real-life Were-Rabbit. Matthew also speaks to those involved in Vengeance Most Fow...
Mar 06, 2025•32 min
And the Beat Goes On: Percussion in Film
Matthew Sweet bangs the drum for the inventive ways films use percussion. There's Tan Dun's taiko masterclass of a score in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the delicate and lyrical marimba in American Beauty, John Williams' ritualistic drums in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Justin Hurwitz's obsessive kit in Whiplash. To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema".
Mar 06, 2025•16 min
100 years of Ron Goodwin
Matthew Sweet celebrates the centenary of legendary film composer Ron Goodwin - famous for his scores for Where Eagles Dare, 633 Squadron, The Battle of Britain and the Miss Marple films. However, Goodwin's scores are far more varied than military marches, with his music for Hitchcock's Frenzy and the first-ever score for brass band, Escape from the Dark. Matthew also speaks to Helen, the step-daughter of Ron Goodwin, who shares her memories of growing up with an in-demand composer. To listen on...
Mar 06, 2025•22 min
Bafta Film Awards 2025: Soundtrack Highlights
Matthew Sweet celebrates the film highlights of the year with a focus on the recently announced 2025 Bafta winners. He speaks exclusively with the winner of the Best Original Score - composer Daniel Blumberg, for the film The Brutalist - who tells Matthew about how he travelled to an Italian quarry to record some of the music, and what it was like to actually win the Bafta itself. There's music from Conclave, The Brutalist and The Wild Robot, plus even some Zoe Saldana and a hint of Trent Reznor...
Feb 25, 2025•22 min
Warsaw Concertos: Film Music from Poland
Matthew Sweet speaks to actor and director Jesse Eisenberg about using Chopin's music in his latest film "A Real Pain" - the story of two cousins touring Poland to honour their grandmother. Matthew also explores the wider impact Polish music and musicians have had on the world of film music - from Bronislaw Kaper's music for the 1954 monster classic "Them!" to Wojciech Kilar's award-winning scores for "The Pianist" and "Bram Stoker's Dracula". To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC...
Feb 20, 2025•26 min
Wolf Hall and Period Music in Film
Matthew Sweet talks to composer Debbie Wiseman about using period music in films. For the TV series Wolf Hall, Debbie wrote original music in a period style, films like Farinelli and Death In Venice use classical music and for the series Bridgerton Kris Bowers created a hybrid of period-sounding music with hip-hop beats. Matthew asks how the search for authenticity enhances the viewer's experience, and when does it become a distraction? To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Sounds...
Feb 05, 2025•24 min
Maria Callas and Opera in Films
With the Maria Callas biopic starring Angelina Jolie in cinemas, Matthew Sweet speaks to Maria director Pablo Larrain. The talk about working with Angelina Jolie, being a frustrated musician himself and how Pablo uses music in his films. Pablo also reveals the secrets of bringing Maria Callas alive through Angelina's singing. Matthew also explores how films have turned to their natural predecessor, opera, for inspiration. Puccini's Madame Butterfly proves a Fatal Attraction for Michael Douglas, ...
Feb 05, 2025•27 min
Small but Mighty Soundtracks
Defying the convention of massive orchestral scores, Matthew Sweet looks at films that embrace the intimacy of chamber music including: the Syrian-inspired strings of Nainita Desai's For Sama score, The Third Man's iconic 1949 zither melody composed by Anton Karas, Clint Mansell's agonising quartet from Requiem for a Dream, and a surprising period drama score written for a trio by John Williams. To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema".
Jan 25, 2025•18 min
Alfred Hitchcock
From the driving energy of North By Northwest to the iconic string stabs of Psycho, music is an integral part of what makes Alfred Hitchcock's films stand out. Matthew Sweet finds out what makes them so good and looks at times when Hitchcock and his composers disagreed. To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema".
Jan 11, 2025•18 min
A Celebration of German Film
As part of Radio 3's European Road Trip, Matthew Sweet explores some of the best soundtracks in German cinema. To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema".
Jan 04, 2025•21 min
The Vatican
What is the sound of Papal Rome? Matthew Sweet explores the music of films set in and influenced by the Vatican. From Morricone's melancholy oboe in The Mission to Hans Zimmer's massed choirs and menacing strings in Angels & Demons. Nino Rota's score for The Godfather Part III exquisitely demonstrates both the pageantry of the Catholic Church and Michael Corleone's personal feelings of guilt in the film. Meanwhile, the solo guitar highlights the intimacy between the two protagonists in Bryce...
Jan 02, 2025•17 min
Comfort films
Presenter Matthew Sweet cosies up with the soundtracks of films that bring comfort to those dark, wintry nights… From the life-affirming joy of Studio Ghibli classic My Neighbour Totoro to the 80s cinema thrills of Raiders of the Lost Ark, he uncovers why film scores don't necessarily need to be twee to warm our hearts… To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema".
Jan 02, 2025•15 min
Christmas Film Scores
Hop on board the Polar Express! Matthew Sweet's unwrapping the greatest Christmas film soundtracks. We'll be walking in the air with Howard Blake's Snowman and Home Alone with John Williams. To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema".
Dec 23, 2024•19 min
Cinematic Presidents
In cinema, US presidents have been portrayed as heroes, villains, great leaders who unite the world and hopeless puppets who are the butt of jokes. In this episode, Matthew Sweet casts his vote on classic soundtracks to films including Nixon and Independence Day. Celebrating the 1991 blockbuster, Point Break, as it returns to cinemas in the UK. To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema."
Nov 30, 2024•16 min
The Roman Empire
With the release of Gladiator II in cinemas, Matthew Sweet brings us the music of the Roman Empire - as told by Hollywood - from Alex North's scores for Spartacus and Cleopatra, Miklos Rozsa's epic music for the equally epic Quo Vadis? and Ben Hur. Matthew is also joined by composer and academic Dr MaryAnn Tedstone Glover to find out if the music we now think of as Roman sounds anything like what the Romans themselves would have heard. To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to...
Nov 16, 2024•21 min
Hollywood composer Marc Shaiman
Sleepless In Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, The Addams Family, Hairspray, Mary Poppins Returns, Marc Shaiman's music has been a part of our lives for over three decades. One time king of the Romcom score, master arranger and songwriter, Marc talks to Matthew Sweet about his career and introduces cues from some of his many scores. As well as those listed above, the programme also features music from Mr Saturday Night, City Slickers, The American President, LBJ, Bros, and Marc's chosen Classic Sco...
Oct 31, 2024•29 min
Westerns
Matthew Sweet saddles up to explore the most iconic soundtracks of the Wild West. Traverse the sweeping landscape with music from Western blockbusters, including The Magnificent Seven and A Fistful of Dollars. Featuring the award-winning score from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, in celebration of its 55-year anniversary. To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema."
Oct 22, 2024•16 min
Cinema Paradiso and the Long Hot Summer
Matthew Sweet packs his bags in search of the films that bring back memories of summer - with music from the hot sun of Roman Holiday and Jean de Florette, the childhood adventures of Swallows and Amazons and UP and the nostalgia of Cinema Paradiso.
Aug 24, 2024•16 min
M. Night Shyamalan
This special episode of Sound of Cinema features an exclusive interview with the visionary filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, known for his masterful blend of suspense, psychological drama, and supernatural elements in films like The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, and Split. His collaboration with composers like James Newton Howard has resulted in some of the most memorable film scores of recent decades, making his insights particularly valuable in the context of Sound of Cinema. Hosted by Matthew ...
Aug 10, 2024•33 min
Kiefer Sutherland on Donald Sutherland
With a career spanning 60 years and over 200 films, the late Donald Sutherland was a true acting legend. His son, actor Kiefer Sutherland - best known for his starring roles in 1987's The Lost Boys plus Designated Survivor and 24 - joins Matthew Sweet to look back at his father's life through the soundtracks of his major films. It includes music from The Hunger Games (by composer James Newton Howard), Don't Look Now (composer Pino Donaggio), Six Degrees of Separation (composer Jerry Goldsmith) a...
Jul 23, 2024•30 min
It's all lies! Music for films of deceit and fakery...or is it?
With the release of Fly Me To The Moon - in which Scarlett Johansson wants to fake the moon landing - Matthew Sweet uncovers the films in which fakery is the name of the game. From characters stuck in artificial worlds - The Truman Show and The Matrix - to films that lead the audience to question what's real and what's not, like The Game, Total Recall and Synecdoche New York, this episode of Sound of Cinema looks at how deception comes across in the music of these fraud-based films......
Jul 16, 2024•18 min
Composer of The Watched - Abel Korzeniowski
Matthew Sweet in conversation with Abel Korzeniowski, the composer of Ishana Night Shyamalan's supernatural horror film The Watched. We'll hear about writing music for 'Emily', the 2022 biopic about Emily Brontë, and the film that won Colin Firth the Best Actor award at the 2009 Venice Film Festival, A Single Man. Abel also talks about why Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather means so much to him.
Jun 19, 2024•30 min
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