Excerpts from Alan Rickman's diary reveal what the late actor thought about John Williams' Harry Potter score. Adapted from the novel series of the same name, the Harry Potter film franchise began with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in 2001. Since the film's release, the Harry Potter franchise has grown to become the fourth-largest film franchise in the world, with a total gross of over $9 billion. The eighth film in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, is currently the 15th highest-grossing film of all-time.
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Though there have been several composers involved in the Harry Potter film series, including Thor composer Patrick Doyle and Academy Award-winning composer Alexandre Desplat, John Williams is responsible for writing the iconic Harry Potter theme "Hedwig's Theme." Williams fully scored the first three Harry Potter films, before departing the franchise ahead of The Goblet of Fire. Williams' Harry Potter scores were nominated for several awards, including two Academy Awards, three Grammys, and one Saturn Award. With Williams' work in Harry Potter now being one of the most easily recognizable film themes of all time, one franchise star's thoughts on the music are seemingly being known.
In excerpts from Alan Rickman's personal diary, published by The Guardian, Rickman reflected on his Harry Potter journey – and has some less-than-favorable things to say about certain aspects of the film. In one diary entry from November 4, 2001, Rickman says that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone needs to be seen on a big screen – so that the film's scale and depth will match the "hideous" score composed by Williams. Read Rickman's entry below:
4 November
HARRY POTTER PREMIERE.
6.30pm The film should only be seen on a big screen. It acquires a scale and depth that matches the hideous score by John Williams. Party afterwards at the Savoy is much more fun.
Alan Rickman Was Divided About His Harry Potter Tenure
While Rickman seemingly begrudges Williams' score in his humorous diary entry, he has also shared his no-holds-barred thoughts on some other franchise cast and crew. In an entry from 2003, Rickman recalled that while filming Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, none of the children he was filming with knew their lines, and that a young Emma Watson's diction was "this side of Albania at times." Rickman's diary entries, which are set to be released on October 18, are completely frank and honest, as he details the highs and lows of working for several years on a major movie franchise.
Given Alan Rickman's feelings on John Williams' Harry Potter score is just one word, it may be a joking jab at the celebrated composer more so than an actual distaste for his work on the franchise. While Rickman was partly known for his brutal honesty, much like his beloved Professor Snape, the late Golden Globe winner was also well-known for his good-natured humor. Regardless of how he felt about John Williams' score, audiences can dive into Rickman's full thoughts on his life from 1992 to 2016 and working in the Harry Potter franchise when "Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman" hits shelves on October 18.