Good story, Not enough for a whole film

I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Of course, hiring children who could barely read, due to a lisp to provide the voices for these characters and employing mediocre animators known for their choppy animation, might doom a project like this, but surprising, this special wasn't half bad. It was mostly fine, but no way, near the masterpiece, people think, it is. Based on the comic strip, 'Peanuts' by Charles M. Schulz, this special tells the story of Linus Van Pelt (Voiced by Chris Shea), the best friend of Charlie Brown (Voiced by Peter Robbins) as he tries to stick to his beliefs on Halloween, no matter what others may think of him. Without spoiling the TV movie, too much, while Schulz usually avoided outright politics in his comics, he often enjoyed incorporating religious references in many of his comics and animated cartoons as he love to see what people think about it. A various religious interpretations of Linus' sincere belief in the Great Pumpkin has come out since this animated special. Some people see it as a symbol of strong faith; showing the struggles faced by anyone with beliefs or practices that are not shared by the majority. While others see it, a symbol of foolish nonsense in a world of racial thought. No matter what people see in it, this special shows the basics of mankind's existentialism dilemma. It's not sacrilegious at all. Any religion evangelism that think so, is highly, missing the point of the special. However, I do have to say, I wasn't really looking forward to this as a concept. Don't get me wrong, it was unique, but I wanted something more simple and family friendly for the kids. I found the whole religious debate with Linus somewhat annoying and disturbing to watch. Where is his parents!? Honestly, where is anybody parents!? Are they really willing to let a kid freeze to death out there for his beliefs!? I also didn't like how mean-spirited, the other children were. What would they care, what Linus does for Halloween? How come, Linus's best friend, Charlie Brown didn't come to his aid? Another thing, what were random people doing in Linus's house, just to degraded him!? All the mean-spirited nature was just not that fun to watch. However, I did like how they show that crabby, bitchy, Lucy Van Pelt (Voiced by Susan Dryer) does care for her brother, so that was nice, but I hate that the movie detour from the Halloween theme into an out of place World War 1 fantasy with Snoopy the Dog (Voiced by Bill Melendez). That sequence went a little too long for me to like, as I felt lost. Despite that, the special did have some funny moments that made me, laugh. Examples are Lucy dressing up as witch, as she perceives it as being the opposite of her real personality, and everybody else dressing up as a ghost with Charlie getting carry away with too many eye holes. Also, I kinda dig 'the rock' joke. Yet, they kinda ruin it, by recurring it, three times throughout the special. Regardless of that, another thing that I like, about this animated special, is the music. The score, by Vince Guaraldi and John Scott Trotter, is full of memorable cues. Also, the reprise of "Linus and Lucy" from 1965's 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' is even better with that little flute bit added. Even the music from WWI era tunes like "It's a Long Way to Tipperary"; "There's a Long, Long Trail A-Winding"; "Pack Up Your Troubles in the Old Kit Bag", and "Roses of Picardy were fine to listen to. I also, like how this special was the first Peanuts special to use the titular pattern of a short phrase, followed by "Charlie Brown", a pattern which would remain the norm for almost all subsequent Peanuts specials. "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" was also the 3rd Peanuts special and second holiday-themed special to be produced and animated by Bill Melendez after 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'. Its initial broadcast took place on October 27, 1966, on CBS, preempting the show 'My Three Sons' (1960-1965). Nevertheless, the special was so popular, that both ABC and CBS re-aired the special, multiply times for many years, during the Halloween season. Still, those reruns specials, are without fault. Many of the rerun telecasts were edited to trimmed the run-time, such taking away the "trick-or-treat" sequence or cutting parts of the opening credits. Nevertheless, I have to say, not all the edit version are bad. I kinda like the ABC version, which took out the medley of WWI songs sequence, as well, as the rehash leaf pile and football gag. The reasons why, is because I felt that those jokes didn't match the overall holiday tone of the film. I felt that it would work better for 'Thanksgiving' special. However, I didn't like this version of the special, muting certain words. Yet, there is one version of this special that nearly nobody has saw, since is very rare to find and that is the one that has the opening credits sequence originally ended with two references to the special's original sponsors with Coca-Cola and Dolly Madison. Clearly that version, wouldn't be use in future broadcasting. You wouldn't find that version, anytime soon. Despite that, I have to say, Halloween isn't complete without this classic. So, try to find any version of the special. It's worth watching, at least, once, during this holiday fall season. Highly recommended.

Fifty years ago in 1966, the television special "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" aired as "A CBS Special Presentation In Color" on October 27,1966. It was the third Peanuts special(and the second holiday themed special,following the phenomenal success of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in 1965 that became a colossal hit)to be produced and animated by Bill Melendez and was written by Charles M. Schulz,based on his Peanuts comic strip and serving as executive producers Lee Mendelson along with Bill Melendez with the original theme music composed by Vince Guaraldi. "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" was also the first Peanuts special to use the titular pattern of a short phrase,followed by the main character "Charlie Brown", a pattern which would remain the norm for almost all subsequent Peanuts specials for many years. The initial broadcast of "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" took place in prime-time on Thursday October 27,1966 on CBS-TV In Color ,preempting "My Three Sons" on it's regular schedule. The original sponsors,as seen during the opening sequences(almost never seen afterward in its entirely since the original telecast)were The Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Dolly Madison Snack Foods which would go on to be a longtime co-sponsor of the Peanuts specials that originally aired on CBS. From the original telecast it was a colossal hit and the animated special was nominated in 1967 for three Prime Time Emmys including Outstanding Children's Program, Outstanding Animation Director(Bill Melendez),and Outstanding Outstanding Animation Writer(Charles M. Schulz). It was also nominated in 1967 for the Golden Globe for Best Animated Special. "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" really encapsulates childhood, the camaraderie and the spirit of Halloween in this classic tale of Charlie Brown and his friends going out for trick or treats and seeing Charlie Brown and his bag of rocks while everybody else gets candy and goodies; Linus and Sally waiting for the Great Pumpkin to arrive while Charlie Brown and the gang get invited to Violet's Halloween party. The classic Snoopy and the Red Baron(in one of the greatest animated scenes ever)sets the tone for what's to follow. The scene where Sally really gives Linus the scolding of his life is the best of this holiday special where Sally misses Halloween and Treats while calling Linus "You Blockhead!" while sitting all night in a pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin to arrive but instead rises Snoopy from the patch. The musical score from Vince Guaraldi is in regards a classic among classics and the score is just as brilliant today as it was when audiences first heard this back in 1966. I heard there is a soundtrack album to this television special too."It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" aired annually on CBS from 1966 until 2000 with ABC picking up the rights beginning in 2001(as with all of the Peanuts specials)where it airs annually during the Halloween season. Until the 2013 broadcast, the other Peanuts special "You're Not Elected Charlie Brown" aired immediately after "It's The Great Pumpkin" as if the emphasize the proximity of Halloween to Election Day. Also,the Great Pumpkin is mentioned in "You're Not Elected Charlie Brown" which aired twice on ABC in 2014. When ABC aired the first-ever animated special based on the "Toy Story" movies titled "Toy Story of Terror" that animated special "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" immediately followed afterward. Even after its initial broadcast more than 50 years ago this Peanuts special still entertains while enjoying the holiday spirit. So, here's a golden 50th anniversary to the Great Pumpkin and Charlie Brown.

"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" is a timeless animated family animated classic. This cute cartoon short is sure to please the kids (and a few adults) on Halloween.After recently re-watching this film short, I can't decide who I felt more sorry for Charlie Brown, who kept getting rocks instead of candy for Halloween treats, or Linus, who still did not see the Great Pumpkin rising out of the pumpkin patch... lol.If you or your kids have not seen this timeless Peanuts classic then you should give this short film a watch this Halloween season - it's sure to give you a few giggles.10/10

I think the above quote can sum this special nicely. I mean, it wouldn't feel like the holidays without the Peanuts, and I'm sure you are all familiar with this one. This half-hour of classic Halloween fun begins with Lucy and Linus marching into the local pumpkin patch and selecting a nice, big one, which Linus is forced to carry home, or rather roll home with him on it. Once they get it home, the boy is dismayed that Lucy hadn't told him beforehand that she was going to "kill it." The next day, Linus "helps" Charlie Brown and Snoopy rake leaves, then Lucy tries to entice Charlie Brown to kick the football. He doesn't want to fall for it...literally, but then Lucy presents him with a signed document that states she won't pull the ball away again. Chuck surprisingly believes her and tries for a running kick, and predictably falls flat on his back, because apparently the signed document wasn't notarized. Sheesh, how do these guys put up with her? After that, Linus writes a letter to the Great Pumpkin, the Halloween equivalent of Santa Claus, apparently. His friends all balk at this concept, but Linus remains confident. He's sure GP will rise out of the pumpkin patch and gives presents. So come Halloween night, the gang is all dressed up, including Charlie Brown as a Swiss-cheese ghost, and Linus sits in the patch, and waits. He convinces Sally to wait with him, so she misses out on her first trick-or-treat outing to wait with Linus.Snoopy, dressed as a WWI flying ace, has an interesting adventure as the Red Baron shoots down his dog house, leaving him stranded behind enemy lines. While he manages to avoid detection, the kids finish up trick or treating and find they had a successful run...except Charlie Brown who only received rocks. Then it's on to Violet's Halloween party, to which Charlie Brown was surprisingly invited, mainly so he could model for a jack-o-lantern. Snoopy crashes the party, then ventures out to the pumpkin patch. Linus predictably assumes him to be the Great Pumpkin and faints. Sally is furious at being cheated out of "tricks or treats", berates Linus by saying he owns her restitution and leaves with the others. Always the optimist, Linus continues to wait well into the night. At 4:00, Lucy finds her half-frozen brother asleep in the pumpkin patch and brings him inside. Say, where are these kids' parents anyway? So has Linus learned anything from this experience? Maybe that the pumpkin patch in which he waited wasn't sincere enough, and he vows to try again next year, and every year until the Great Pumpkin finally shows up.Classic. I watch it every Halloween, and I believe you all should too. You know what I think makes this such a timeless piece that can be rebroadcast every year? Just that: it's timeless. You could watch it in 1966 or 2013 and it would still fit. Most animated specials today are loaded with cultural references and crude humor, which turn off their audiences and date themselves horribly. The Peanuts specials never did that, they respected their audiences and were genuine. What makes this work is that it's for ANYBODY at ANY TIME. Again, in 1966, 2013 or even in 3066, people will still be enjoying this special, as it's aimed at the kid in all of us. Another Halloween has come and gone, but I still urge you to see It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown...even though this special was more about Linus than CB. Another interesting observation: in the Christmas special, it was established that Linus knows the true meaning of the season, and he apparently doesn't believe in Santa as referenced in the dialog, yet he believes in the Great Pumpkin. But then he IS just a kid.