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A Charlie Brown Christmas

  • TV Movie
  • 1965
  • G
  • 25m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
45K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,611
24
Bill Melendez and Peter Robbins in A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Watch Now on Apple TV+
Play trailer0:31
8 Videos
89 Photos
Hand-Drawn AnimationHoliday AnimationHoliday ComedyHoliday FamilyAnimationComedyDramaFamilyHolidayMusic

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.

  • Director
    • Bill Melendez
  • Writer
    • Charles M. Schulz
  • Stars
    • Ann Altieri
    • Chris Doran
    • Sally Dryer
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.3/10
    45K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,611
    24
    • Director
      • Bill Melendez
    • Writer
      • Charles M. Schulz
    • Stars
      • Ann Altieri
      • Chris Doran
      • Sally Dryer
    • 182User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 3 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos8

    Watch Now on Apple TV+
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Watch Now on Apple TV+
    Watch Now on Apple TV+
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Watch Now on Apple TV+
    Holiday Movies and TV Specials That Get You in the Spirit
    Clip 2:06
    Watch Holiday Movies and TV Specials That Get You in the Spirit
    A Charlie Brown Christmas
    Clip 2:48
    Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas
    Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection (Depressed On Christmas: A Charlie Brown Christmas)
    Clip 1:22
    Watch Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection (Depressed On Christmas: A Charlie Brown Christmas)
    Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection (Christmas Tree: A Charlie Brown Christmas)
    Clip 1:20
    Watch Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection (Christmas Tree: A Charlie Brown Christmas)
    Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection (Hockey Stick: A Charlie Brown Christmas)
    Clip 1:37
    Watch Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection (Hockey Stick: A Charlie Brown Christmas)
    The New Class of Holiday Classics
    Video 2:01
    Watch The New Class of Holiday Classics

    Photos89

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    + 83
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    Top cast10

    Edit
    Ann Altieri
    • Frieda
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Chris Doran
    • Schroeder
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    Sally Dryer
    • Violet
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Melendez
    Bill Melendez
    • Snoopy
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Karen Mendelson
    • Patty
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Geoffrey Ornstein
    • Pig-Pen
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Peter Robbins
    Peter Robbins
    • Charlie Brown
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Christopher Shea
    Christopher Shea
    • Linus Van Pelt
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Cathy Steinberg
    • Sally Brown
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Tracy Stratford
    Tracy Stratford
    • Lucy Van Pelt
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Bill Melendez
    • Writer
      • Charles M. Schulz
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    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
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10

    A moment captured in time with a timeless message

    Peanuts will always exist in middle class mid-century America. It's exclusively a child's world that is presented, with all adult voices just coming across as a "mwah mwah mwah mwah" sounding drone, which is no doubt what you heard when adults spoke and you were a child and no doubt what your own children really hear when you speak.

    Charlie Brown is a child everyman with dreams who exists in a world with a sometimes cruel pecking order. Lucy is always besting him, but Charlie Brown's own dog bests Lucy with nothing more than the threat of a slobbery kiss. The episodes teach lessons that in many cases, sadly, could not be taught today. For example, , A Charlie Brown Christmas has Charlie Brown wondering what Christmas is all about. In the end, as an answer, Linus presents the simple Biblical tale of Jesus' birth. The moral comes across as "Christmas is not about getting more stuff", and in the 60's did not ignite a firestorm - as it would today no doubt - of people claiming they were offended by the "exclusivity of the message" so that you had to water down the message to the point where there is no message at all.

    I was a kid in the 60s, so it's about the nostalgia for me, but I think most people will find this simple tale of childhood charming.
    • AlsExGal
    • Oct 3, 2020
    • Permalink

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 5, 1965 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Joyeux Noël, Charlie Brown!
    • Production companies
      • Lee Mendelson Film Productions
      • Bill Melendez Productions
      • United Feature Syndicate (UFS)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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