Peanuts-Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

"The one irreplaceable Christmas special.  Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald
"A true classic in every sense of the word!  Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review

Editor's Note One of the most endearing of all Peanuts' specials finds Charlie Brown nurturing the thinnest, scraggliest Christmas tree ever. At first the gang makes fun of Charlie for choosing such an ugly tree for the holiday but a timely assist from Linus makes the true message of the season come shining through. Everyone realizes in the end that a little affection can make all the difference in the world... even to a tree.

	Peanuts Gang
	Peter Robbins - Voice
	Kathy Steinberg - Voice
	Christopher Shea - Voice
	Charles M. Schulz - Screenwriter
	Lee Mendelson - Producer
	Vince Guaraldi - Composer
	Ann Altieri - Voice
	Bill Melendez - Producer
	Sally Dryer - Voice
	Chris Doran - Voice
	Tracy Stratford - Voice
	Bill Melendez - Director

Entertainment Weekly
"It takes a tiny tree -- as wilted as Charlie Brown himself --to finally bring him happiness and cheer." 11/26/2004 p.80

The DVD Report 10 of 10
Charles Schultz cast the gold standard of annual holiday classics with his 1965 creation of A Charlie Brown Christmas. This animated, made-for-TV special features all the familiar Peanuts characters, although I've always wondered why the comic strip was titled Peanuts and not Charlie Brown. Lucy, Snoopy, Schroeder, Linus, Sally, Pig-pen, and Woodstock all make appearances. However, the enduring popularity of this holiday classic stems not from its original storyline, but rather its vivid invocation of childhood nostalgia and memorable Christmas music. It seems everyone on earth has heard the song the characters sing in the closing credits, and it's become a Christmas classic in-and-of itself...For those who need refreshing, because I don't know anyone who hasn't seen it, A Charlie Brown Christmas covers title character Charlie Brown's search for the true meaning of Christmas. When neighborhood friend Lucy dispenses her usual five-cent advice, she encourages Charlie Brown to take on the job of director in the school Christmas play. But none of the other kids take their new director seriously, and when Charlie Brown passes over several Christmas trees which he believes embody the commercial exploitation of Christmas, and brings back a sagging relic of branch instead, the other kids fire him as director...Simply put, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a breath of fresh air -- a thoughtful, funny, and highly entertaining show which the entire family can enjoy. It connects parents and children through the shared experience of its annual holiday viewing, and parents don't have to worry about the foul language and adult content that so often permeates today's television programs. Overall, A Charlie Brown Christmas is as close to perfect as a Christmas television special can be. - Britt Gillette