Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown
| Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Animated TV Special |
| Created by | Charles M. Schulz |
| Written by | Charles M. Schulz |
| Directed by | Phil Roman |
| Voices of |
Duncan Watson Melanie Kohn Stephen Shea Lynn Mortensen Linda Jenner Greg Felton Bill Melendez Linda Ercoli |
| Theme music composer | Vince Guaraldi |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Lee Mendelson |
| Producer(s) | Bill Melendez |
| Editor(s) |
Chuck McCann Roger Donley |
| Running time | 30 min. |
| Release | |
| Original network |
CBS (1975–2000) ABC (2001–present) |
| Original release | January 28, 1975 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown |
| Followed by | You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown |
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown is the 13th prime-time animated TV special based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It originally aired on the CBS network on January 28, 1975 and aired annually on CBS from 1975 to 2000. It has aired annually on ABC since 2001.
Plot
Linus is fond of his teacher, Miss Othmar. To prove his point, he buys her a huge heart-shaped box of chocolates. However, Violet warns him it is probably not smart to fall in love with a teacher. But Linus says that he is fond of the ground she walks on. When he leaves Sally believes that Linus bought the candy for her, and decides to make him a valentine in return. Later, Lucy goes to a puppet show held by Snoopy. At the concession stand, Lucy asks for popcorn. However, because Snoopy cannot understand Lucy he gives her candy, then soda, and finally (as having been requesting all along) popcorn. With Charlie Brown narrating the show, Snoopy tells a story about true lovers that is a little too interactive for Lucy's taste.
Valentine's Day then comes and the gang brings valentine cards for everybody. At Birchwood School, Schroeder explains a box labelled "VALENTINES FOR THOSE WE LOVE" with a slot for putting the cards in. Charlie Brown brings a briefcase hoping he will get lots of valentines. However, after the cards are passed out, it turns out Charlie Brown got nothing. He got nothing except for a candy heart (a candy heart which reads an impolite comment; "FORGET IT, KID!"). Angry, Charlie Brown throws the valentine box out the classroom window. Linus also never gave his candy to Miss Othmar because she left with her boyfriend. Sally who still believes the box of candy is for her, is dismayed when he attempts to go after the teacher to give her the candy. Charlie Brown and Linus vent their heartbreak in different ways: Linus throws his chocolates off a bridge ("This one is for love! This one is for valentines! This one is for romance...!"), not knowing that Snoopy and Woodstock are under it, catching and eating every chocolate he throws off; Charlie Brown kicks his mailbox, only to have Snoopy pop out of it and kiss him. ("I hate Valentine's Day!" Charlie Brown says). The next day, Violet gives Charlie Brown a used valentine (she struck her own name from it) as an apology, despite Schroder berating her for dropping by the day after Valentine's Day and acting out of guilt. ("Don't listen to him; I'll take it!" Charlie Brown says). As Charlie Brown and Linus meet at the brick wall later, Charlie Brown expresses hope that Violet's pity valentine will start a trend, and he will get even more valentines the following year.
Sequel
A Charlie Brown Valentine was produced in 2002.
Production notes
- After this special was originally aired, children all over America sent valentines to Charlie Brown out of sympathy.[1]
- At the end credits, puppet caricatures of everyone who worked on the show, including Charles Schulz, Lee Mendelson, Bill Melendez, and the Peanuts kids were shown.
- The scene where kids leave to celebrate Valentine's Day appears to be borrowed from another Peanuts special, You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown.
- It was the last special for Stephen Shea as Linus and Lynn Mortensen as Sally. They would be replaced by Liam Martin and Gail M. Davis, respectively.
- It was the last special for the same cast from It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown.
- Schroeder calls for Joanne Lansing while passing out valentines. Joanne Lansing is an ink and paint artist who worked on many Peanuts specials from 1972 to 1991.
- Sally Brown's candy heart is apparently inscribed with Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet Sonnet Number 43 from the Portuguese.
- After the special first aired, many children sent Charlie Brown valentines out of sympathy, just as they had sent him sweets after It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was first broadcast.
- This special was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special (as was It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown). The award went to Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus, which was directed by Bill Melendez.
- The abridged and high pitched version of music box dance music is reused from It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown when Snoopy presses the music box.
Voice cast
- Duncan Watson: Charlie Brown
- Melanie Kohn: Lucy van Pelt
- Stephen Shea: Linus van Pelt
- Lynn Mortensen: Sally Brown
- Greg Felton: Schroeder
- Linda Ercoli: Violet/Frieda
- Bill Melendez: Snoopy/Woodstock
Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Shermy, Franklin, Pig-Pen, 5, and Patty make cameo appearances, but are silent.
Credits
- Written and Created by: Charles M. Schulz
- Story by: Norman Stiles, Ray Sipherd, Emily Perl Kingsley, Joseph A. Bailey, David Korr, Paul D. Zimmerman, Jerry Juhl
- A Lee Mendelson-Bill Melendez Production
- Directed by: Phil Roman
- Produced by: Bill Melendez
- Executive Producer: Lee Mendelson
- Music Composed and Performed by: Vince Guaraldi
- Music Supervised by: John Scott Trotter
- Design: Bernard Gruver, Evert Brown, Dean Spille
- Animation: Sam Jaimes, Don Lusk, Bob Carlson, Bob Matz, Al Pabian, Bob Bachman, Joe Roman, Patricia Joy, Bill Littlejohn
- Painting Supervisor: Joanne Lansing
- Painting: Adele Lenart, Marie Ardell, Brigitte Strother, Patricia Capozzi, Sheri Lonsdale, Chandra Poweris, Cheri Lucas
- Editing: Chuck McCann, Roger Donley
- Recording: Coast Recorders, Radio Recorders
- Dubbing: Producers' Sound Service · Don Minkler, Howard Wollman
- Camera: Dickson/Vasu
- Production Manager: Carole Barnes
- Production Assistant: Judy Freudberg
- In cooperation with United Feature Syndicate, Inc. and Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates
- THE END "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown" © 1975 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.
Home video releases
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown was released on VHS in the 1980s by Kartes Video Communications, Media Home Entertainment and its Hi-Tops Video subsidiary through the "Snoopy's Home Video Library" collection, then in 1994 by Paramount Home Entertainment. Paramount released the special in 2003 on DVD with You're in Love, Charlie Brown and It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown. It was rereleased on January 15, 2008 by Warner Bros. Home Video in a "remastered deluxe edition" with a new bonus featurette, "Unlucky in Love: An Unrequited Love Story". Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown has also been released on laserdisc, and is available on iTunes.