This collection features three classic Peanuts television specials on all-new remastered Deluxe Edition DVDs. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown has already been released individually, and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas will soon be available separately on Oct 7. This review will only be covering two of the DVDs in the set as I have previously reviewed Great Pumpkin.
Thanksgiving premiered in 1973 and was the first from an original script as opposed to being based on Charles Schulz’ comic strips. After the opening where Charlie Brown attempts to kick Lucy’s football, the story deals with Peppermint Patty inviting herself, Marcy, and Franklin over to Charlie Brown’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. He already has plans to go to his grandmother’s, but he is unable to say no, partially thrown off by her inaccurate declarations of his affection for her. Linus suggests Charlie Brown make dinner early for everyone and Charlie Brown confesses he can only make “cold cereal and maybe toast,” but they proceed anyway, creating a meal of buttered toast, popcorn, jellybeans, and pretzel sticks.
Before dinner is served, Linus offers a prayer by telling the story of the first Thanksgiving between the pilgrims and the Indians. Upon seeing what dinner is comprised of, Peppermint Patty complains about not having the traditional items like turkey and mashed potatoes and embarrasses “Chuck.” After he leaves the table, Marcie points how rough and ungrateful Peppermint Patty was. Marcie then straightens things out. All ends well when Charlie Brown’s Grandma invites everyone over for dinner.
The special presents a good message, explaining that people should be thankful for what they have. It is also very funny, especially the mishaps of Snoopy and Woodstock as they set up the dinner table and make toast.
An included bonus special that ties in thematically is “The Mayflower Voyagers,” the first episode from the This Is America, Charlie Brown miniseries that aired in 1988 and ’89. The Peanuts gang play pilgrims headed to the colonies, but it is very odd seeing them mixed with adult characters. The special is rather dry and doesn’t offer much humor. It seems better suited as a teaching aide.
An All-New Featurette “Popcorn & Jellybeans: Making a Thanksgiving Classic” continues in the tradition of previous Peanuts DVD releases, providing great insight into the making of the project. It is funny to hear the widow Mrs. Schulz say Charles was against Charlie Brown kicking Lucy’s football because “that’s not funny. You know, once he kicks the football the whole thing is over,” yet he did just that years later in It’s Magic, Charlie Brown, which is paired with Great Pumpkin.
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