A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Remastered Deluxe Edition)

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie brown (1966) was Charles Schulz's 3rd animated special and features many of the most important elements of the Peanuts cartoon strip: Charlie Brown trying to kick the football from Lucy (and you can guess what happens!), Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace, and of course, Linus' unfleeting faith in the Great Pumpkin. Sally is the only one who is willing to sacrifice tricks or treats and the Halloween Party for the Great Pumpkin's arrival. Well, without giving away too many details, let's just say neither Sally nor her older brother Charlie Brown walk home with any Halloween candy. However, when this special was originally aired, Charles Schulz's office wound up with lots of candy to give to poor old Charlie Brown.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973) won an Emmy. This time, Peppermint Patty invites herself and her friends to Chuck's house for Thanksgiving while Charlie Brown is expected at his grandmother's that same day. With Linus and Snoopy's help, they make an impromptu supper for their last-minute guests (though unconventional, as Peppermint Patty complains: "Where's the pumpkin pie, Chuck?"). Before the day is through, all of them learn a lesson of the true meaning of Thanksgiving.


Weakest of the "Big Three"   December 3, 2003
Kyle Vraa (Circle Pines, MN United States)
11 out of 21 found this review helpful

Unlike the timeless 5-star Christmas and Halloween classics, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving falls short. Here the gang has been transplanted from the small-town Midwest with its dark, cold fall and winters to some suburban-type setting where people can walk around in shorts in late-November.

Instead of the earnest adult-like children, we get an attempt at early-70s hip wisecracking. Further severely dating the show to 1973 is the soundtrack, typified by the horrid jazzy blues vocal number "Little Birdy" and a fight snoopy has with an animated lawn chair (segment is total filler).

The voiceovers are distracting too. Although, the actors who did the Christmas and Halloween specials were certainly well into adolescents by the time the Thanksgiving special was made, there was not even an attempt to retain any similarity when hiring the new actors (with the exception of Linus, who was voiced by the brother of the kid who did the Christmas and Halloween specials). They also sound a bit older and (perhaps as a result?)are much more wooden in their delivery.

That being said, there aren't very many Thanksgiving specials out there and it does give a short history of the holiday. It will certainly give the kids something to watch for 25 minutes during halftime.

But if you are expecting the sincerity and magic of the Christmas and Halloween specials, you will be disappointed.


The forgotten Peanuts holiday special   November 27, 2002
Blake Petit (Ama, Louisiana United States)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

While people often gush -- and rightly so -- about the Charlie Brown Christmas and Halloween cartoons, I often feel like this is the "lost" Peanuts holiday special that doesn't quite get the attention of its more popular siblings.

Charlie Brown, through no fault of his own, gets roped into preparing a Thanksgiving dinner for Peppermint Patty and all his friends. And this from a boy who can barely make cold cereal and toast. Snoopy and Woodstock lend a hand in the kitchen with predictably silly results.

While it's not as iconic as some of the other Peanuts specials, it's a good story that really grasps the characters very well. This DVD also features "The Mayflower Voyages," one of several specials that cast the Peanuts characters as participants in American history. It's a good educational tool for the kids, mixing in some of the harsher facts of life at Plymouth Rock with the softer, happier mood of the Peanuts gang. Together, these two cartoons are well worth the DVD.


Heart warming. Takes you back to being a kid   November 20, 1999
Tina (Paris Island, SC)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

This video takes me back to being a kid and being able to stay up and watch the specials that came on TV for the holidays. This is just a great simple cartoon for kids and parents alike. You will never be disapointed with any Charlie Brown cartoon. From Lucy's contant quest to never let Charlie Brown never kick the football,to Charlie Browns deep thoughts on life. You will always love this one.


A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving you've just got to have!   November 5, 2004
M. Fields (Brooklyn, New York USA)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

This is a classic. Even though Charles Schultz hated it when he first saw it, it has become one of the most beloved Charlie Brown caroons of all time. People get very antsy if their networks don't put it on every year. As usual, Charlie Brown has his trials and tribulations as he tries to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for kids who have invited themselves to dinner. Even Snoopy and the bird get into the act.

This cartoon is great even for the little ones. It doesn't matter if you are 3 or 93. It's a treat for the whole family.

Enjoy it, Thanksgiving or any time of year!