It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

The Peanuts gang celebrates Halloween while Linus waits for the Great Pumpkin.

Director:

Bill Melendez

Writer:

Charles M. Schulz

Stars:

Peter Robbins, Christopher Shea, Sally Dryer

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Peter Robbins	...	Charlie Brown (voice)
Christopher Shea	...	Linus Van Pelt (voice) (as Chris Shea)
Sally Dryer	...	Lucy Van Pelt (voice)
Cathy Steinberg	...	Sally Brown (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ann Altieri	...	Frieda / Violet (voice)
Lisa DeFaria	...	Patty (voice)
Bill Melendez	...	Snoopy (voice)
Glenn Mendelson	...	Schroeder / Shermy (voice)
Gabrielle DeFaria Ritter	...	Pigpen (voice) (as Gail DeFaria)

Storyline

The Peanuts gang celebrates Halloween, with Linus hoping that, finally, he will be visited by The Great Pumpkin; while Charlie Brown is invited to a Halloween party.

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Plot Keywords:

pumpkin patch | halloween | pumpkin | peanuts | trick or treating | 

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Taglines:

Peanuts, pumpkins, and pleasure for the whole family! (2008 DVD re-release)

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Family

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Certificate:

TV-G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite Charlie Brown going trick-or-treating and Linus not, Linus technically wound up with more candy than Charlie did. This was because Lucy asked one house to give her another piece of candy for Linus.

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Goofs

When the kids are putting on their Halloween costumes, Charlie Brown's ghost sheet has many holes in it. Shortly after, when Snoopy is walking out the front door as the World War I Flying Ace, Charlie Brown holds the door open for him and salutes. When he does this the many holes in his ghost costume disappear, only to re-appear later.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[Lucy scoops out the innards of the pumpkin Linus brought]
Linus: [groans] You didn't tell me you were gonna kill it!
[bawls]

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Crazy Credits

Linus and Charlie Brown are at the wall and Charlie tells Linus that he's done stupid things in his life, too. Then Linus keeps on shouting during the credits about how sitting and waiting in a pumpkin patch wasn't stupid.

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Alternate Versions

When ABC assumed the rights of "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown," an edited version was made to fit in a 21-22 minute time show. The following changes were made:

• The scene where Charlie attempts to kick the football and Lucy pulls it away, even though she claims she has a signed document that prevents her from doing so was edited;
• The sequence of Snoopy dancing to Schroeder's World War I-era piano music was cut

Since at least 2007, ABC has also aired the unedited version along with an edited version of "You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown," only slightly cutting the transition music after Linus sets up shop in the pumpkin patch.

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Connections

Spoofed in Nostalgia Critic: It (2010)

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Soundtracks

Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile!
(uncredited)
Music by Felix Powell
Arranged and Performed by Vince Guaraldi

User Reviews

Here's the World War I Flying Ace with his review...

I've been a lifetime Peanuts fan; I grew up with the comic strip and a number of the TV specials. It was always a cause for celebration to see these endearing characters and laugh at their assorted escapades.

Here, the character of Linus, ordinarily the most sensible of the children, indulges in his ongoing personal fantasy involving the almighty Great Pumpkin who in Linus' mind is the Santa Claus of the Halloween season, appearing in the most sincere of pumpkin patches and distributing toys to the faithful.

One can't help but be charmed by his dedication to this concept, even as it prevents him from enjoying the more conventional trappings of the holiday - specifically trick or treating, which his admirer Sally forgoes in order to be with him.

This lovable story does of course display a constant disarming sense of humour, in particular poor Charlie Browns' tendency to get rocks in his treat bag in place of candy - yet he doesn't let it get him down. Good old Snoopy continues to be a major cut up - whether he's indulging in his own flights of fancy, taking on the persona of the World War I Flying Ace forever facing off against his arch rival The Red Baron, and pretending to be making his way across enemy lines (this sequence features some of the best animation in the special), or stealing the show at Violets' Halloweeen Party. It's just too cute when he bops along to Schroeders' piano music and then sobs uncontrollably when the music turns dramatic.

The special remains bright and upbeat all the way through, with Linus ranting his way all through the closing credits about the supposed "stupidity" of waiting in a pumpkin patch. Everything about this can continue to appeal to all ages; 45 years later, it's still a charmer.

10/10

Details

Official Sites:

Snoopy.com

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 October 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Bill Melendez Productions, United Feature Syndicate (UFS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3