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IMDbPro

A Charlie Brown Christmas

  • TV Movie
  • 19651965
  • TV-GTV-G
  • 25m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
37K
YOUR RATING
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Watch Now on Apple TV+
Play trailer0:31
6 Videos
82 Photos
  • Animation
  • Comedy
  • Drama
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.
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
37K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Bill Melendez
  • Writer
    • Charles M. Schulz(comic strip "Peanuts")
  • Stars
    • Ann Altieri(voice)
    • Chris Doran(voice)
    • Sally Dryer(voice)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bill Melendez
  • Writer
    • Charles M. Schulz(comic strip "Peanuts")
  • Stars
    • Ann Altieri(voice)
    • Chris Doran(voice)
    • Sally Dryer(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 164User reviews
    • 44Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos6

    Watch Now on Apple TV+
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Now on Apple TV+
    Watch Now on Apple TV+
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Now on Apple TV+
    Holiday Movies and TV Specials That Get You in the Spirit
    Clip 2:06
    Holiday Movies and TV Specials That Get You in the Spirit
    A Charlie Brown Christmas
    Clip 2:48
    A Charlie Brown Christmas
    What to Watch: A Marvelous Return, a Battle for the Ages, and a Guaranteed Cry
    Full Episode 4:00
    What to Watch: A Marvelous Return, a Battle for the Ages, and a Guaranteed Cry
    The New Class of Holiday Classics
    Video 2:01
    The New Class of Holiday Classics

    Photos82

    A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
    A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
    A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
    A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
    A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
    A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
    A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
    A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
    A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
    A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
    A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
    A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ann Altieri
    • Friedaas Frieda
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Chris Doran
    • Schroederas Schroeder
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    Sally Dryer
    • Violetas Violet
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Melendez
    Bill Melendez
    • Snoopyas Snoopy
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Karen Mendelson
    • Pattyas Patty
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Geoffrey Ornstein
    • Pig-Penas Pig-Pen
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Peter Robbins
    Peter Robbins
    • Charlie Brownas Charlie Brown
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Christopher Shea
    Christopher Shea
    • Linus Van Peltas Linus Van Pelt
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Cathy Steinberg
    • Sally Brownas Sally Brown
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Tracy Stratford
    Tracy Stratford
    • Lucy Van Peltas Lucy Van Pelt
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Bill Melendez
    • Writer
      • Charles M. Schulz(comic strip "Peanuts")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Cathy Steinberg, who did the voice of Sally Brown, had not yet learned to read at the time of production, so she had to be fed her lines, often a word or syllable at a time, which explains the rather choppy delivery of the line "All I want is what I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share".
    • Goofs
      When Charlie Brown consults Lucy for psychiatric help, her sign (as read from the front) says, "The Doctor Is Real In". However, when seen from the side angle, the sign simply says, "The Doctor Is In".
    • 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 the center of the stage]

      Linus Van Pelt: Lights, please.

      [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: [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 reviews164

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    As spiritual as you will see come the next millennium
    This morning I turned on the television to find something with just the right atmosphere for opening Christmas presents. But in the 500-channel universe, could I find the Queen, or the Pope, or anything? I could find practically anything but Christmas.

    The most inappropriate programme on wasn't the infomercial for the miracle juicer, no, it was the annual Parade of Expensive Children's Merchandise direct from Disneyland, in case there were some kids left who hadn't coerced a Mickey, or Terk, or Pumbaa from their beleaguered parents. One of the French channels did have a service from Notre Dame in Paris which was the right sort of thing, with an actual church and choir, but it was entirely in French. But then I found "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on one of the stations.

    Once upon a time, "Charlie Brown" was just a prelude for its television viewers, most of whom would be attending church closer to Christmas Day. Nowadays, it's probably more than just the prelude; it's likely to be the whole concert.

    Thank goodness Charles Schulz and company did such a fine job of crafting this programme back in 1965. Thirty-five years later, Charlie Brown is still as earnest and sympathetic as ever. He was even decrying the commercialization of Christmas back then, decrying in the wilderness, it seems.

    Vince Guaraldi normally gets a lot of credit for his music, but there is far more to the show than just that. It is extremely well-written with a lot of charming and funny lines. I particularly like Linus as "an innocent shepherd", but even Snoopy as a penguin is sure to get a big laugh.

    But at the midway point in the programme, the tone changes from quality seasonal fun to something very sincere and deeply held. Linus delivers his heartfelt sermon from the pulpit (the school stage). The Peanuts gang renews its faith (in Charlie Brown, at the very least). The congregation assembled there together raises its collective voice in the recessional hymn "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" as we bid them farewell and take our leave. It is these parallels from the church service, I feel, that contribute to the strong emotion many of us experience whenever we view this small triumph of television programming.

    Would I say that everything in the story conforms to a higher design conceived by Charles Schulz? I won't hazard a guess, but I do like to feel that he felt a little touch of divine inspiration with this one.
    helpful•49
    14
    • Varlaam
    • Dec 25, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 9, 1965 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Fröhliche Weihnachten, Charlie Brown
    • Production companies
      • Lee Mendelson Film Productions
      • Bill Melendez Productions
      • United Feature Syndicate (UFS)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $150,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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