A Charlie Brown Christmas
1965 television special directed by Bill Melendez
A Charlie Brown Christmas is a 1965 animated television special, and is the first TV special based on the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. Produced by Lee Mendelson and directed by Bill Melendez, the program made its debut on CBS on December 9, 1965. In this special, Charlie Brown finds himself depressed despite the onset of the cheerful holiday season. Lucy suggests he direct a neighborhood Christmas play, but his best efforts are ignored and mocked by his peers. After Linus tells Charlie Brown about the true meaning of Christmas, Charlie Brown cheers up, and the Peanuts gang unites to celebrate the Christmas season.
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ADDITIONAL DETAILS
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| Country of origin | United States
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| Original language | English
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PRODUCTION
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| Producer | Bill Melendez
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| Running time | 25 minutes
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| Budget | $96,000
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| Original release | December 9, 1965
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CHRONOLOGY
| Preceded by | A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1963)
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| Followed by | Charlie Brown's All Stars! (1966)
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Sally: I've been looking for you, big brother. Will you please write a letter to Santa Claus for me?
Charlie Brown: Well, I don't have much time. I'm supposed to get down to the school auditorium to direct a Christmas play.
Sally: (hands a clipboard and pen to Charlie Brown) You write it and I'll tell you what I want to say.
Charlie Brown: (sticks pen in his mouth) Okay, shoot.
Sally: (dictating her letter to Santa Claus as Charlie Brown writes it for her) Dear Santa Claus, How have you been? Did you have a nice summer?
(Charlie Brown looks at her)
Sally: How is your wife? I have been extra good this year, so I have a long list of presents that I want.
Charlie Brown: Oh brother.
Sally: Please note the size and color of each item, and send as many as possible. If it seems too complicated, make it easy on yourself: just send money. How about tens and twenties?
Charlie Brown: TENS AND TWENTIES? Oh, even my baby sister!
Sally: All I want is what I... I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share.
Charlie Brown: Well, I don't have much time. I'm supposed to get down to the school auditorium to direct a Christmas play.
Sally: (hands a clipboard and pen to Charlie Brown) You write it and I'll tell you what I want to say.
Charlie Brown: (sticks pen in his mouth) Okay, shoot.
Sally: (dictating her letter to Santa Claus as Charlie Brown writes it for her) Dear Santa Claus, How have you been? Did you have a nice summer?
(Charlie Brown looks at her)
Sally: How is your wife? I have been extra good this year, so I have a long list of presents that I want.
Charlie Brown: Oh brother.
Sally: Please note the size and color of each item, and send as many as possible. If it seems too complicated, make it easy on yourself: just send money. How about tens and twenties?
Charlie Brown: TENS AND TWENTIES? Oh, even my baby sister!
Sally: All I want is what I... I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share.
- Lucy Van Pelt: I know how you feel about all this Christmas business, getting depressed and all that. It happens to me every year. I never get what I really want. I always get a lot of stupid toys or a bicycle or clothes or something like that. Charlie Brown: What is it you want? Lucy Van Pelt: Real estate.
- Charlie Brown: [Yells into mailbox] Hello in there. [looks away and soon begins to walk] Charlie Brown: Rats. Nobody sent me a Christmas card today. I almost wish there weren`t a holiday season. I know nobody likes me. Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?
- Lucy Van Pelt: Linus, you`ve got to get rid of that stupid blanket, and here, memorize these lines. Linus Van Pelt: I can`t memorize these lines. This is ridiculous. Lucy Van Pelt: Memorize it and be ready to recite when your cue comes. Linus Van Pelt: I can`t memorize something like this so quickly. Why should I be put through such agony? Give me one good reason why I should memorize this. Lucy Van Pelt: I`ll give you five good reasons. [proceeds to make a fist out of her fingers] Lucy Van Pelt: One, two, three, four, FIVE! Linus Van Pelt: [begins shaking his head emphatically] Those are good reasons. Christmas is not only getting too commercial, it`s getting too dangerous. Lucy Van Pelt: And get rid of that stupid blanket! What`s a Christmas shepherd gonna look like holding a stupid blanket like that? Linus Van Pelt: Well, this is one Christmas shepherd who`s going to keep his trusty blanket with him. [Lucy raises her fist to strike Linus; Linus puts his blanket over his head like a headdress] Linus Van Pelt: See? You wouldn`t hurt an innocent shepherd, would you?
- Patty: Try to catch snowflakes on your tongue. It`s fun. Linus Van Pelt: Mmm. Needs sugar. Lucy Van Pelt: It`s too early. I never eat December snowflakes. I always wait until January. Linus Van Pelt: They sure look ripe to me.
- Lucy Van Pelt: Here he comes! Attention, everyone, here`s our director. [Charlie Brown enters, while everyone applauds] Snoopy: Whoooooooooooooooooooooo. Charlie Brown: [sarcastically] Man`s best friend.
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