DVD Review Peanuts 1960's Collection

Cast: Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Woodstock Running Time: 2 hr. 30 mins Rating: Not Rated Due Out: July 7, 2009

Plot: The first six animated Peanuts TV specials that aired between 1965 and 1969 are in this collection. Two of the specials, "He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown" and "It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown" make their DVD debut. All six specials have been re-mastered for picture and sound quality.

Who's It For? Parents will love the oodles of nostalgia that will run over them when they sit down with their kids to watch all of these, with Christmas and the Great Pumpkin standing out.

Specials

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" (1965) – Charlie Brown is upset by how commercial the Christmas holiday has become. To coax him out of his holiday blues, Lucy suggests he direct the school’s Christmas pageant and decorate a glorious tree. Charlie Brown concedes. The tree he finds however, is puny, prompting everyone to ridicule him.

"Charlie Brown’s All-Stars" (1966) – Charlie Brown is faced with a difficult moral dilemma; should he accept brand new uniforms and give the rest of the gang a chance to be part of an official little league baseball team even if it means that due to policy, Snoopy, Lucy, Patty, Violet and Frieda must be kicked off?

"It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" (1966) – The Peanuts gang outfitted in costumes, is ready for trick or treating and crashing Violet’s Halloween party. Charlie Brown is in a ghost costume (with more eyeholes cut out than needed), Lucy dressed as a witch and Snoopy in a World War I flying ace costume. Linus decides to steadfastly hold vigil in the pumpkin patch as he awaits the Great Pumpkin.

"You’re in Love, Charlie Brown" (1967) – Charlie Brown tries to work up the courage to meet his school-girl crush, the little red-haired girl. He enlists the help of his pals Linus and Peppermint Patty but they only aggravate the situation.

"He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown" (1968) – Snoopy returns to the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm for a refresher course in obedience training after his mischievous behavior lands Charlie Brown in trouble. On his way to the puppy farm however, Snoopy finds refuge in Peppermint Patty’s house, that’s until Charlie Brown gets a call from the puppy farm telling him Snoopy never showed up.

"It was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown" (1969) – At summer camp, the Peanuts gang put up with poor food and the girls winning all the sports competitions. To get even, the boys challenge them into a wrist-wresting contest between Lucy and “The Masked Marvel” – aka Snoopy in disguise.

TV Score: 9/10

EXTRAS

New Featurette Profiling Composer Vince Guaraldi: THE MAESTRO OF MENLO PARK - Starting with shots of the Golden State Bridge, Lee Mendelson talks about "Cast Your Fate to the Wind." This begins the partnership of Vince Guaraldi and the Peanuts. Former musicians talk about this Jazz Legend with great reverence. This is an extra for the adults, and focuses much more on Guaraldi than the Peanuts. The great moustache helps.

The other extras: You Must Remember This trailer

Extras Score: 5/10

OVERALL

Good grief this is good. Getting "He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown" and "It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown" on DVD for the first time should push people over the edge, who are thinking they can just watch "It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on TV once a year. The amazing thing ... not much happens in these specials but there is a great heart. Who would think a prematurely bald kid would capture our imagination for so many years? He doesn't get to kick the football in any of these specials, and there could have been more extras, but the Peanuts gang should rest comfortably in your DVD collection for many years.

Final Score: 8/10