A Charlie Brown Christmas
Wikipedia
Guide to Christmas Movies
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. 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.
On their way to join their friends ice skating on a frozen pond, Charlie Brown confides in Linus that despite the onset of Christmas he is still depressed. After Linus' reproach, and a put-down from Violet, he visits Lucy's psychiatric booth and tells her his problem. She suggests getting involved in a Christmas project, inviting him to direct the school Christmas play.
En route to the auditorium, Charlie Brown becomes even more discouraged by his observations of Christmas' commercialization--Snoopy decorating his doghouse for a neighborhood lights and display contest; and Sally, dictating a letter to Santa Claus asking for a long list of gifts, and preferably cash. At the play rehearsal, Charlie Brown finds the Nativity play has been modernized with dancing, lively music and a "Christmas Queen". Sensing the play needs a more proper mood, Charlie Brown and Linus leave to search for a Christmas tree.
At the tree lot, Charlie Brown picks a small sapling that, ironically, is the only real tree there. Linus is dubious about Charlie Brown's choice, but he believes that once decorated the little tree will be perfect. Lucy and the others scorn him and the tree and walk away laughing. In despair, Charlie Brown loudly asks if anyone knows what Christmas is all about; Linus says he does and, walking to center stage, asks for a spotlight and recites the Luke 2:8–14. When finished Linus returns to Charlie Brown and quietly says, "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
Realizing that he doesn't have to let commercialism ruin his own Christmas, Charlie Brown decides to take the tree home to decorate it and show the others that it will work in the play. He stops at Snoopy's winning doghouse and takes a large red ornament from it to hang on his tree. But when the heavy bulb causes the tiny tree to bend to the ground, Charlie Brown walks away dejected.
The others, who also heard Linus' oratory, realize that they were too hard on Charlie Brown and quietly follow him. Linus gently uprights the drooping tree, bulb and all, and lovingly wraps his blanket around the tree's base. After the others give the tree a startling makeover using more decorations from the doghouse, even Lucy concedes to Charlie Brown's choice. The kids then start humming "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". Hearing them, Charlie Brown returns to see that his little sapling is now a magnificent Christmas tree. All the kids shout, "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!", and then sing "Hark" with Charlie Brown joining in as snow begins to fall.
On their way to join their friends ice skating on a frozen pond, Charlie Brown confides in Linus that despite the onset of Christmas he is still depressed. After Linus' reproach, and a put-down from Violet, he visits Lucy's psychiatric booth and tells her his problem. She suggests getting involved in a Christmas project, inviting him to direct the school Christmas play.
En route to the auditorium, Charlie Brown becomes even more discouraged by his observations of Christmas' commercialization--Snoopy decorating his doghouse for a neighborhood lights and display contest; and Sally, dictating a letter to Santa Claus asking for a long list of gifts, and preferably cash. At the play rehearsal, Charlie Brown finds the Nativity play has been modernized with dancing, lively music and a "Christmas Queen". Sensing the play needs a more proper mood, Charlie Brown and Linus leave to search for a Christmas tree.
At the tree lot, Charlie Brown picks a small sapling that, ironically, is the only real tree there. Linus is dubious about Charlie Brown's choice, but he believes that once decorated the little tree will be perfect. Lucy and the others scorn him and the tree and walk away laughing. In despair, Charlie Brown loudly asks if anyone knows what Christmas is all about; Linus says he does and, walking to center stage, asks for a spotlight and recites the Luke 2:8–14. When finished Linus returns to Charlie Brown and quietly says, "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
Realizing that he doesn't have to let commercialism ruin his own Christmas, Charlie Brown decides to take the tree home to decorate it and show the others that it will work in the play. He stops at Snoopy's winning doghouse and takes a large red ornament from it to hang on his tree. But when the heavy bulb causes the tiny tree to bend to the ground, Charlie Brown walks away dejected.
The others, who also heard Linus' oratory, realize that they were too hard on Charlie Brown and quietly follow him. Linus gently uprights the drooping tree, bulb and all, and lovingly wraps his blanket around the tree's base. After the others give the tree a startling makeover using more decorations from the doghouse, even Lucy concedes to Charlie Brown's choice. The kids then start humming "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". Hearing them, Charlie Brown returns to see that his little sapling is now a magnificent Christmas tree. All the kids shout, "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!", and then sing "Hark" with Charlie Brown joining in as snow begins to fall.