A Charlie Brown Christmas

TV Movie
1965
TV-G
25m

IMDb RATING

8.3/10

45K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer0:31

Hand-Drawn Animation Holiday Animation Holiday Comedy Holiday Family Animation Comedy Drama Family Holiday Music

Depressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas.Depressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas.Depressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.3/10

45K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,006

591

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 Primetime Emmy
- 3 wins & 3 nominations total

Frieda
(voice)
(uncredited)

Chris Doran

Schroeder
(voice)
(uncredited)
…

Sally Dryer

Violet
(voice)
(uncredited)

Bill Melendez

Snoopy
(voice)
(uncredited)

Karen Mendelson

Patty
(voice)
(uncredited)

Geoffrey Ornstein

Pig-Pen
(voice)
(uncredited)

Peter Robbins

Charlie Brown
(voice)
(uncredited)

Christopher Shea

Linus Van Pelt
(voice)
(uncredited)

Cathy Steinberg

Sally Brown
(voice)
(uncredited)

Tracy Stratford

Lucy Van Pelt
(voice)
(uncredited)

Storyline

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Did you know

Edit

Trivia
When viewing the rough cut of the show, both Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson were convinced that they had a flop on their hands. After it premiered, they were happily surprised and shocked at the high ratings and excellent reviews that the show received. Today, the show remains the second longest-running Christmas special on US network television (the 1964 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) premiered one year earlier and is still broadcast every year on US network television).

Goofs
When Schroeder and Lucy are discussing what Beethoven contributed, he stops playing the piano, but the piano doesn't stop right away.

Quotes
Charlie Brown: I guess you were right, Linus. I shouldn't have picked this little tree. Everything I do turns into a disaster. I guess I really don't know what Christmas is all about.
[shouting in desperation]
Charlie Brown: Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?
Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
[moves toward center stage]
Linus Van Pelt: Lights, please.
[the lights dim, and a spotlight shines on Linus]
Linus Van Pelt: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not:"
[Linus drops his security blanket on purpose]
Linus Van Pelt: "for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"
[Luke 2:8-14 KJV]
Linus Van Pelt: [silent pause as Linus picks up his blanket and walks back towards Charlie Brown] That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Alternate versions
Original uncut telecast version featured sponsor plugs within the context of the film. During the main title sequence we see Snoopy tossing both Charlie Brown and Linus during the opening "Christmas Time Is Here" song. Charlie crashes into a tree as the main title credits are seen (as we have all been familiar with over the years). However, all current prints do not show us what happens to Linus...in the uncut version, Linus crashes into a Coca-Cola sign (indicating the show's sponsor). Also, after the final credits (while the Peanuts gang sing "Hark The Herald Angels Sing"), there is a subtitle that says "Merry Christmas from your local Coca-Cola bottler". Due to subsequent FCC laws precluding sponsor plugs in the context of children's programs, these two elements have been edited out of all current prints (even in the so-called "uncut" versions shown on CBS, as well as all home video releases from Paramount and Warner Bros.).

Connections
Edited into A Charlie Brown Kwanzaa (2000)

Soundtracks
Christmas Time Is Here
(uncredited)
Music by Vince Guaraldi
Lyrics by Lee Mendelson
Performed by the The Vince Guaraldi Trio and members of the choir of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, San Rafael, California

User reviews182

Review

Featured review

9/10

A Very Different Christmas

A Charlie Brown Christmas is probably the most unique Christmas film you can find. It's different because the Peanuts gang seem melancholy and introspective much of the time. I mean, do kids really worry about the commercialization of Christmas?!

Nevertheless, the special really speaks to adults and probably older kids, and keeps you thinking after it's over. It has a very good message, and the music, while also melancholy, sticks with you for a long time afterwards. You could probably play a few notes of their "Christmastime" song, and I'll immediately picture this film. This movie should definitely become part of anybody's holiday collection, even if it's only to stand out from the other material.

My IMDb Rating: 9/10. My Yahoo! Grade: A- (Almost Perfect)