Charlie Brown & Peanuts

Peanuts - A Boy Named Charlie Brown

Join Charlie Brown and the rest of the delightful "PeanutsTM" gang in their smashing debut on the silver screen in the late Charles M. Schulz's first full-length animated motion picture. It's a movie filled with all the characters and charm that has made "PeanutsTM" the most popular comic strip in the world. And it is musical entertainment that will positively make you grin from ear to ear. Our story begins with Charlie Brown gearing up for his first pitch of the baseball season - stopping midstream because his pitcher's mound is filled with dandelions. It's one enchanting scene after another in this very special movie that brings all our "PeanutsTM" characters to fun-loving life. With excitement added by Vince Gauraldi's jazz music and songs by Rod McKuen A Boy Named Charlie Brown is a motion picture Gene Shalit said is "so cheerful I can hardly wait for the next one!"Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY UPC: 097368748347 Manufacturer No: 874834

Things get off to a bumpy start. First, Charlie fails to make anything profound out of the cloud formations above, just a "ducky" and a "horsy." (But that's always been one of his best qualities--he calls them as he sees them.) Then he has a disastrous kite experience, followed by further humiliation on the baseball field (with its dandelion-covered pitching mound). Just when it seems as if things couldn't get much worse--they don't. Charlie finds something he's good at. Lucy, Violet, and the rest of the Peanuts gang doubt that his spelling bee winning streak can possibly last, but Charlie proves them all wrong and makes it to the national championships in New York City. His best pal, Linus, and free-spirited pooch, Snoopy, arrive shortly afterwards and provide their support. Granted, this rare, full-length feature film ends just as it began, with one more small humiliation, but it's Charlie's achievement that leaves the bigger impression. There are even a few lessons to be learned, but the tone is never preachy or condescending. Along the way, there are numerous pleasures to enjoy: Vince Guaraldi's classic Oscar-nominated score (featuring lyrics by Rod McKuen), the brightly hued, clean-lined animation (which occasionally erupts into impressionist and pop art flights of fancy), Schroeder's lovely rendition of Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata, Snoopy's ice-skating escapade at Rockefeller Plaza, and Linus's Fred Astaire-inspired dance with his long lost blanket. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

A Charlie Brown Christmas

This half-hour Christmas show is one of the truly lovable animated specials in TV history, a status proved by its annual network telecast since 1965. A Charlie Brown Christmas was the first, and best, of a series of programs based on the Charles M. Schulz cartoon strip "Peanuts." Hapless hero Charlie Brown finds himself depressed at Christmastime, searching for the true meaning of the holiday amidst the glitz and commercialism of the modern age. Appointed director of the school holiday pageant, Charlie Brown ventures out with Linus to buy "a great, big, shiny aluminum Christmas tree." Instead they bring back a miserable tree--a real one. A Charlie Brown Christmas shows off the "Peanuts" gang doing what they do best: Lucy is bossy, Snoopy is crazy, Linus is sweet, and Pig Pen is, well, filthy. Instead of using adult actors trying to sound like kids, the production features real children providing the voices, an endearing effect. The jazz music score, composed by Vince Guaraldi, has become a classic in its own right; like so much about this program, it's an unexpected but perfectly right choice. --Robert Horton

Snoopy, Come Home

What happens when America's favorite beagle turns up missing? Nothing short of a resounding cry from the entire "PeanutsTM" gang of Snoopy Come Home. Legendary cartoonist the late Charles M. Schulz took his beloved comic strip characters onto the big screen in this dazzling display of colorful animation and delightful music. The fun-loving exploits of Charlie Brown Snoopy Linus Lucy and the whole gang come to life in this story that will enchant the entire family. Accompanying Schulz's adorable characters and witty dialogue is a wondrous score by Richard and Robert Sherman. Their music is filled with upbeat songs that will keep you humming long after the picture is over. Snoopy Come Home is sound wholesome entertainment as well as a hilarious treat for children and adults alike.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: G UPC: 097368748248 Manufacturer No: 874824

Three years after A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969), Charles Schulz's beloved "Peanuts" characters hit the big screen again in the enjoyable Snoopy, Come Home. This time, everyone's favorite beagle turns the kids' world upside down when he receives a mysterious letter from a girl named Lila and hits the road with best friend Woodstock, evading sadistic would-be pet owner and other perils along the way. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown is left to wonder: Who is Lila, and will Snoopy ever return? Snoopy, Come Home still holds up well for kids of all ages, though the mod opening sequence and snappy songs by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and other Disney films) are unmistakably from the '70s. Vince Guaraldi's jazzy music is missed, but Thurl Ravenscroft, best known for "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" and the laugh of the Jolly Green Giant, lends his basso profundo to the persistent "No dogs allowed!" (All ages: minor cartoon violence). --David Horiuchi

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown gets rocks in his trick-or-treat bag, Linus awaits a visitation from the Great Pumpkin in his terribly sincere pumpkin patch (while the adoring little Sally sits tight with him), Snoopy falls asleep, Lucy harasses Schroeder, and Pig-Pen kicks up a dust storm even beneath his costume in this classic television broadcast. Funny stuff, but also graced with Charles Schultz's more poignant and gently satiric themes from the 1960s on the influence of faith, failure, and hope in our lives. --Tom Keogh

It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (remastered deluxe edition)

The thirteenth installment in the evergreen Charlie Brown animated series this is a delightful romp through the rites of spring. The running gag that holds this string of episodic misadventures together is Peppermint Patty's futile attempts at explaining how to make Easter eggs to Marcy. Highlights of this rather surreal Peanuts outing include Snoopy's dancing with little bunny rabbits inside a kaleidoscope Sally heading to the mall to purchase a pair of platform shoes (this video was made in 1974) and Woodstock's lavishly equipped bachelor-pad birdhouse. As with the best of the Peanuts cartoons this will entertain children and adults alike and is one of the last of the series to feature a music score by Vince Guaraldi.System Requirements:Run Time: 50 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY UPC: 085391200635 Manufacturer No: 120063

The thirteenth installment in the evergreen Charlie Brown animated series, this is a delightful romp through the rites of spring. The running gag that holds this string of episodic misadventures together is Peppermint Patty's futile attempts at explaining how to make Easter eggs to Marcy. Highlights of this rather surreal Peanuts outing include Snoopy's dancing with little bunny rabbits inside a kaleidoscope, Sally heading to the mall to purchase a pair of platform shoes (this video was made in 1974), and Woodstock's lavishly equipped bachelor-pad birdhouse. As with the best of the Peanuts cartoons, this will entertain children and adults alike, and is one of the last of the series to feature a music score by Vince Guaraldi. --Kristian St. Clair

Peanuts - Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown

The struggles of managing a losing baseball team are underscored in this 25-minute film featuring the Peanuts gang, based on the cartoon strip by Charles M. Schulz. Angst-ridden Charlie Brown attempts to motivate his team, while Lucy in right field nettles poor Chuck into a nervous wreck. With their losses mounting, Charlie Brown tries every remedy to score a win--even trading his own dog--yet nothing improves the team's dismal record. Then Chuck orchestrates "the greatest trade in the history of baseball." While this film has the look and feel of earlier Charlie Brown classics, the heart is gone. There is a noticeable difference between this feature and "It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown," the last film created under Schulz's supervision. His presence is sorely missed. While winning isn't everything, Schulz would have found a silver lining in the art of losing, or a character redeemed through the process. One plus: smooth jazz accompaniments by David Benoit. (Ages 5 and older) --Lynn Gibson

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHARLIE BROWN (DVD MOVIE)

Charlie Brown gets rocks in his trick-or-treat bag, Linus awaits a visitation from the Great Pumpkin in his terribly sincere pumpkin patch (while the adoring little Sally sits tight with him), Snoopy falls asleep, Lucy harasses Schroeder, and Pig-Pen kicks up a dust storm even beneath his costume in this classic television broadcast. Funny stuff, but also graced with Charles Schultz's more poignant and gently satiric themes from the 1960s on the influence of faith, failure, and hope in our lives. --Tom Keogh

Peanuts Holiday Collection (A Charlie Brown Christmas/A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving/It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown)

Two of the all-time cartoon classics It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) and A Charlie Brown Christmas (a Peabody and Emmy winner from 1965) highlight this three-disc, six-episode set. Although the DVDs contain no extras (good grief!) and could have been combined on a single disc (drat!), the collection looks and sounds wonderful on DVD. The content is the same on the VHS and DVD sets, with two episodes per tape or disc. Accompanying Pumpkin is You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown, a cute spin on politics that has aged very well since its 1972 release. Christmas sports a lackluster sequel of sorts, It's Christmas Time Again, Charlie Brown (1992) that has Sally dwelling on getting (instead of giving), Charlie Brown facing a spending dilemma, and everyone suffering stage fright before the annual school play. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973) also won an Emmy but is not as well known as others; it also suffers from not having the original cast. Snoopy is foremost in helping to put on an impromptu feast (toast and popcorn) as the gang keeps forgetting the true meaning of the holiday. Also on the disc is a better Thanksgiving venue, The Mayflower Voyages (1988), part of the This is America, Charlie Brown series that breathed new life into the franchise. Mostly narrated by Linus, the show traces the Pilgrims' plight and doesn't talk down to youngsters on the hardships they faced. It's a treasure of a gift (for others or yourself), all nicely packaged. --Doug Thomas

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

This sweet, heartwarming 1973 offering from the Peanuts gang (and Charles Schultz) once again shows Charlie Brown in a pickle, as his erstwhile friends impose upon the hapless would-be-host to provide a memorable and traditional Thanksgiving feast. And as much as Charlie Brown would rather forget the whole thing, he just can't help but try for fear of being labeled a failure. Ultimately it's up to Snoopy and Woodstock to save Charlie from certain embarrassment, and it falls to Linus to impart to all assembled the true meaning of Thanksgiving. This very special Emmy Award-winning cartoon features the usual sweet unassuming humor that only the Peanuts can provide, along with the melodic Vince Guaraldi score, and is one of those childhood classics meant to be enjoyed again and again. --Robert Lane

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (Remastered Deluxe Edition)

This classic and much-loved Peanuts story centers on the romantic yearnings of that eternally hapless hero Charlie Brown. As Valentine's Day approaches Lucy tries to get Schroeder to give her a card Sally chases after Linus and poor Charlie Brown dreams of getting just one valentine. Even Snoopy's mailbox is stuffed with those red heart-shaped cards--doesn't ANYONE love Charlie Brown?Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY UPC: 883929005284 Manufacturer No: 1000036307

"Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz retired from the cartoonist's life early in 2000, and indeed left a few loose strings hanging among his chronically dissatisfied characters. He never did, for instance, cut Charlie Brown much slack in the romance department (or let him kick Lucy's football, for that matter). Sympathetic readers might have taken note of a story in the press just before Schulz said farewell, in which the inspiration for Charlie Brown's unrequited love interest--the never-seen, too-distant, "little red-haired girl"--was identified as a woman who turned down a marriage proposal from Schultz a half-century ago. That bit of biographical detail now adds poignancy to Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, a 1975 television special built upon years of Valentine's Day "Peanuts" strips. This half-hour show finds Charlie Brown suffering, typically, the ignominy of receiving no hearts-and-flowers greetings while the rest of the gang, including Snoopy, spend their day sorting through piles of love notes. Worse, Schulz's famous sad sack can't get up the nerve to approach his unapproachable angel, though there may be--just may be--a glimmer of hope this time around. It may be Valentine's Day, but not much else is different in the "Peanuts" neighborhood. --Tom Keogh

On the DVD
The 2008 remastered DVD has the two additional specials that were on the previous DVD, You're in Love, Charlie Brown (1967), in which our hero tries to meet the little red-haired girl, and It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown (1977), a vastly more complex production that has two focuses for CB: win the big football even though Lucy keeps pulling the ball away, and escort--and kiss--the little red-haired girl to the homecoming ball. New for 2008 is a 15-minute featurette on the theme of unrequited love in the "Peanuts" world, with interviews of the Schulz family, Lee Mendelson, and others. --David Horiuchi