Entertainment historian Bob Barnett remembered sitting in front of his “old television set with its rabbit-ear antennas, waiting for the annual TV broadcast of A Charlie Brown Christmas, which this year celebrates its 59th Anniversary. The moment that tiny tree drooped under the weight of a single ornament I couldn’t help but feel for Charlie Brown. The music, especially the song, ‘Linus and Lucy,’ always brought a smile to my face. And Linus’s speech about the true meaning of Christmas? It made my heart swell with the warmth of the season.”
This article is edited material from Herbie J Pilato’s new book, CHRISTMAS TV MEMORIES: NOSTALGIC HOLIDAY FAVORITES OF THE SMALL SCREEN.
With good reason, as that speech includes this passage from the Bible, “for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”
A monumental moment in the history of animated Christmas specials, Linus quoting the Bible is indeed historic, in every sense of the word.
Directed by Bill Melendez, and written by Charles Schulz, A Charlie Brown Christmas clearly had a TV effect in the hearts and minds of viewers like Barnett. In the process, young voiceover talent Peter Robbins made his indelible mark as Charlie Brown in the poignant holiday classic that spawned a series of similar specials for every holiday.
Debuting on CBS in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas tells of its title character’s search for the true meaning of Christmas and the perfect tree. While directing a school play, he finds both, though not before our young low-achiever is confronted by several obstacles. None the least of these conflicts is presented by his beloved dog Snoopy’s obsession with winning first prize in a local decorations competition, or by his mean-spirited peers who mock his choice of a tiny sickly tree.
Through it all, Charlie continues to struggle for peace of mind in his December time, when he is forced to visit with his pseudo-psychologist friend (and foe) Lucy, who offers him a 5¢ therapy session. Following a desperate plea during which he loudly laments, “Isn’t there anyone who can tell me what Christmas is all about?!”, Charlie Brown finally hears the real deal — from Lucy’s younger brother Linus, of all people: “I can tell you,” Linus reveals. And in one of the most uniquely animated moments in the history of the genre, Linus goes on to quote the biblical story of the first Christmas.
In a matter of moments, Charlie Brown’s misguided pals realize their inconsideration and, with the help and reconfiguration of Snoopy’s prize-winning decorations, breathe life into a once-listless tree — further uncovering and “illuminating” the true meaning of Christmas. “Hark the herald” these young TV-animated angels then all sing.
As Hollywood archivist and historian Robert S. Ray concluded:
“Charles Schulz and his comic-strip Peanuts gang of precocious youngsters entered the Christmas TV sweepstakes with A Charlie Brown Christmas. At a half-hour as opposed to 60 minutes, it seemed more intimate and was profoundly touching in its humor and its bold attempt to bring the focus on the season back to the holy birth that the holiday commemorates. CBS network executives were no doubt nervous because the story criticized the trivialization of Christmas, with its emphasis on decorations, Christmas parties, Jingle Bells, and Santa Claus at the expense of the sacred aspects of the day. Charles Schulz and his team of animators and writers, with a big assist from Linus and his remarkable speech, all alone on that empty stage, expertly explains with poignancy just exactly indeed ‘what Christmas is all about.’ And the fact that he has been doing it continually for nearly 60 years since, tells us that it’s a story that needs to be told again and again.”
This article originally appeared on Newsbreak.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org
More from MediaFeed:
10 Christmas TV Movie Classics to Binge Watch This Holiday Season
Many noble new Christmas TV-movies are churned out today by the good folks at Hallmark and Lifetime, but none can compare to the classics. Here is a list of at least ten of the best.
Prostock-Studio / istockphoto
Directed by Paul Bogart. Written by Eleanor Perry and Gail Rock. Based on the book by Rock. Jamie Mills (Jason Robards) has grown bitter over the years after losing his wife a decade before. He no longer celebrates Christmas and refuses to put up a tree. But this is no run-of-the-mill take on Scrooge — especially after watching Jaime’s young daughter Addie (Lisa Lucas) drag a decorated tree through town and into the Mills’ living room. If the TV viewers are looking for their heart, they’ll find it in The House Without A Christmas Tree, in which too, veteran actress Mildred Natwick offered her usual stock performance, here — in a supporting role — as Robards’ mother. With a sparse budget, Tree was produced on videotape, which, in the end, adds to the movie’s poignant reality.
IMDb
Directed by Fielder Cook. Written by Valentine Davies, Jeb Rosebrook (and others). It’s not the original 1947 feature film classic, but it’s more touching than the overblown remake from 1994. This version featured Sebastian Cabot (Mr. French from TV’s Family Affair), David Hartman (soon to be an early-rising staple on ABC’s Good Morning, America), and Jane Alexander (who’s just about to find super fame playing Eleanor Roosevelt in a series of TV-movies for ABC). In solid supporting roles: Roddy McDowall, Jim Backus (Gilligan’s Island, Mr. Magoo), James Gregory (Barney Miller), Conrad Janis (Mork & Mindy), Roland Winters, and David Doyle (Charlie’s Angels) and Tom Bosley (Happy Days), who have been cross-identified by viewers for years, and who appeared on screen together for the first time. Add its slick production values (for its time), nostalgia (on so many fronts), and a straightforward “logic within the illogic” script, and this film becomes everything a Christmas TV-movie (or any TV-movie for that matter) should be.
[Note: This article is edited material from Herbie J Pilato’s new book, CHRISTMAS TV MEMORIES: NOSTALGIC HOLIDAY FAVORITES OF THE SMALL SCREEN.]
IMDb
Directed by Norman Abbott and based on the original TV series created by Ed James. Like The House Without a Christmas Tree, this reunion TV flick was produced with a low budget and videotaped (whereas the original Father series was filmed). But little matter; the script is in place, the story is home-made-for-TV, and the cast is dynamite, including all members of the initial show: Robert Young (Marcus Welby, MD), Jane Wyatt (Spock’s mom on Star Trek), Lauren Chapin, Elinor Donahue (who later married the much-older executive producer Harry Bewitched Ackerman; and who also guest-starred on the original Trek), and Billy Gray.
IMDb
Directed by Fielder Cook. Written by Eaerl Hamner, Jr. After the Spencer’s Mountain feature film, and before The Waltons weekly series, there was this holiday gem of a TV-movie that introduced the famed Earl Hamner, Jr. clan to small screen mainstream. The main adult characters were recast for the TV show, but the charm, class, and elegance of the series began with this remarkable film.
IMDb
Directed by Randell Klaiser (pre-Grease). Written by James Poe. Amid his fame from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and the groundbreaking Rich Man, Poor Man mini-series, Ed Asner starred opposite Maureen Stapleton and Gregory Harrison (Trapper John, M.D.) in this poignant, realistic drama of a grumpy, dying man who gathers his family for one last Christmas dinner. Nothing like what you might assume if you haven’t seen it.
IMDb
Directed by George Kaczender. Written by Barry Morrow. On loan from The Wonder Years, Fred Savage delivers yet another fine performance, this time as the privileged offspring of wealthy parents who learn the true meaning of Christmas from their son (who learns it from a homeless man). Hint: It doesn’t have anything to do with buying lots of expensive, materialistic gifts for people on Black Friday. Also stars Hume Cronyn, Badja Djola, Cloyce Morrow, Kenneth Welsh, and Kahla Lichti.
IMDb
Directed by Ted Kotcheff. Written by Pamela Wallace and Earl W. Wallace. This time, Roma Downey is no angel. Hector Elizondo is also in this flick, which also stars Eric McCormack, pre-Will & Grace. Bottom line: She’s poor. He’s her rich, snobby corporate boss — and they’re brought together by her daughter Carly (Janet Bailey) — with a little help from Elizondo.
IMDb
Directed by Donald Wrye. Written by Lionel Chetwynd and Philip Van Doren Stern. Before the rest of the universe realized the wonder of Frank Capra’s 1946 feature classic It’s A Wonderful Life, That Girl star Marlo Thomas reworked it here with a female twist. And the results were impressive. It’s probably because of this remake’s success that people became enamored with the original. Also stars Orson Welles (as Mr. Potter), Wayne Rogers (M*A*S*H), Cloris Leachman (The Mary Tyler Moore Show), Dick O’Neill, Cliff Norton, Christopher Guest, C. Thomas Howell, and Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond) as Ma Bailey.
IMDb
Directed by Clive Donner. Written by Roger O. Hirsen and Charles Dickens, The Dickens classic had been remade several times before, but this version starring George C. Scott stands above the rest. It’s an A-List production from every angle and also stars Frank Finlay, Angela Pleasence, Edward Woodward, David Warner, Susannah York, Roger Rees, and many other fine actors.
IMDb
Directed by former child star Jackie Cooper, and written by Jim Moloney, this film is much grander than its simple title implies. Starring Charlie’s Angels Jaclyn Smith, Art Carney (The Honeymooners), Paul Le Mat (who starred opposite Angels co-star Farrah Fawcett in 1985’s groundbreaking TV-movie, The Burning Bed), June Lockhart (Lost in Space), songwriter Paul Williams, Scott Grimes, and others.
IMDb
Saint Maybe (1998, CBS): Directed by Michael Pressman. Written by Robert W. Lenski. Based on the book by Anne Tyler. Not technically a Christmas movie, this film is infested with the spirit of one. Thomas McCarthy plays a lonely teen who works past a tragic car accident that kills his sister and forces him to care for her three children. Moving, pristine, and downright awe-inspiring. Also starring Blythe Danner, Edward Herrmann (who co-starred with Jane Alexander in those Roosevelt TV-movies), the appealing Melina Kanakaredes, Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds), and former TV-movie queen Glynnis O’Connor.
IMDb
Directed by Eleanore Lindo. Written by Alan Hines. Based on the novel (“Me and Luke”) by Audrey O’Hearn. Newcomer Kristopher Turner plays a compassionate teen father who sets out to protect and claim his newborn son from the likes of the child’s selfish mother. The Oscar-winning Louise Fletcher, as the Turner’s grandmother, steps up to the plate as the first-time dad’s main ally. Also stars Philip Akin, and Lindsay Ames, among others.
This article originally appeared on Upbeatwithherbiejpilato.substack.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org
IMDb
wallofcelebrities.com
Featured Image Credit: :littleny /Istockphoto.
