Why, Charlie Brown, Why? (1990) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Sam Jaimes

Writer:

Charles M. Schulz (writer)

Release Date:

16 March 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Short

Plot:

Linus falls for a new girl who soon must go to the hospital for cancer treatment.

Plot Keywords:

Hospital | Cancer | Leukemia | Dog Cartoon | Peanuts

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Kaleb Henley	...	Charlie Brown (voice)
Brandon Stewart	...	Linus Van Pelt (voice)
Olivia Burnette	...	Janice Emmons (voice)
Adrienne Stiefel	...	Sally Brown (voice)
Jennifer Banko	...	Lucy Van Pelt (voice)
Dion Zamora	...	The Bully (voice)
Brittany Thornton	...	Little Sister (voice)
Lindsay Sloane	...	Big Sister (voice)
Bill Melendez	...	Snoopy / Woodstock (voice)

Runtime:

Argentina:30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Argentina:Atp

Company:

Lee Mendelson/Bill Melendez Production

Trivia:

Originally planned as a 5-minute educational video to be shown to young cancer patients, Charles M. Schulz suggested that the project be expanded to a full half-hour special. CBS and producer Bill Melendez initially balked at the idea, but went ahead with it, due to Schulz's enthusiasm of the project. Schulz was touched by the idea, as his mother Dena succumbed to cancer on the night he was drafted for WWII.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Charlie and Lunus first arrive at the hospital, they are told that Janice is in room 402. However, when they leave the room while she gets her injection, they return and enter room 404.

Quotes:

The Bully: [approaches Linus and Janice] Huh? Say, who's the kid with the pink hat? Pretty cute. Does it fly? It needs a propeller. Hey, maybe it'll fly without a propeller!
[he spins off Janice's hat to the snow and laughs to see Janice is bald due to chemotherapy]
The Bully: Hey, look at this! A baldy!
Linus van Pelt: [as Janice cries, furiously] You blockhead! What's the matter with you?
The Bully: What's the matter with me? What's the matter with her? She's bald! She's got no hair!
[laughs]
Linus van Pelt: [angrily takes him by the jacket] Janice has got leukemia, cementhead! That's cancer! Have you ever heard of cancer? She's been in the hospital and she's had chemotherapy to help her get better, and it makes her hair fall out! Does that make you happy? Would you like to go through what she's gone through? Think about it!
[releases him]
Linus van Pelt: Or don't you ever think about anything!
[Linus comforts Janice and picks up their books off the snow]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Zomergasten: (#4.1)" (1991)

Brilliant and Poignant

I don't think I've ever seen any cartoon deal with such a serious subject matter in a way that this one does. It is straightforward and presented in a way that children will understand, and the character is inspiring to face any illness with bravery and dignity. The movie presented all the aspects of dealing with leukemia and teaches bravery, friendship, and dealing with the hard parts of life in a way that was easy for kids to understand but without sugarcoating it or making into a fairy-tale. Any kid will benefit from the lessons that this movie teaches, and it is especially good for any child facing a serious illness. Only Charles Schultz could pull this off and I think that this movie deserves every praise.