Horst in Translation ([email protected]) "It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown" is a Peanuts television special, which the title already makes obvious and this one is from 1976, so already over 40 years old. Like some of the others, it was nominated for an Emmy, but did not succeed. The names you find attached to this project like Schulz and Melendez most of all define these Peanuts films and even if director Phil Roman may be more known for his Garfield stuff, this one we have here is still not his only effort about Charlie Brown and the gang. Like the others, it runs for roughly 20 minutes and focuses on the subject of Arbor Day, an occasion that is really unknown here in Germany and I don't know how it is in the United States, maybe a bit more known. I see it is in less than two weeks. It needs to be said that they did solid justice in terms of the subject of nature here. I liked the romantic reference about sitting under a tree and talking and while one boy does not want that at all, another, namely the one in the title, may be right in this process already, even if the girl longing for him seems to realize it more than he does. And the baseball action on the not exactly appropriate field was occasionally fun too. Maybe Snoopy could have been a bit better, this is the rare occasion where the kids have interesting and even sometimes funny story lines, but Snoopy is rather forgettable and also not too funny in his scenes, for example when he wrestles a resilient plant. Overall, one of the better, but not best Peanuts films I'd say. I enjoyed the watch enough to give this one a thumbs-up. Go check it out, especially if you like the kids gang. Chances are oretty much zero you have not seen another Peanuts work when you consider seeing this one, so you can also decide for yourself.

ofpsmith It's Arbor Day in wherever the Peanuts live and everyone except Charlie Brown (Dylan Beach) seems to be working to celebrate it. Meanwhile Charlie is working on his upcoming baseball game with Peppermint Patty (Stuart Brotman). Well the plan of the Arbor day celebration collides with the game and the team ends up converting the baseball field into a garden. And if you thought that it was bad before when Charlie had a whole bunch of dandelions on his pitcher's mound now it's a tree. The first nice thing they do for Charlie and what a surprise, it almost ruins the game. Charlie isn't too thrilled about this and neither is Patty. But it turns out that all the plants work to their advantage and they end up winning. Until it starts raining. A good thing never lasts for Charlie does it? I have to say this is probably one of the most clever ideas that I've seen the Peanuts done. Have it so that the only way they can win a game is by having an impaired field. That's just genius. I say if you are a peanuts fan check this one out. It should be pretty easy to find.

Woodyanders A well-meaning tree-planting scheme gets out of hand. Charlie Brown's baseball team plays against Peppermint Patty's team in a field that's been turned into a lush garden. Director Phil Roman, working from a typically sweet and witty script by Charles M. Schulz, ably crafts an easy'n'breezy laid-back quality which makes this good-natured affair a totally engaging delight to watch. Naturally, there are several amusing gags: Snoopy and Woodstock get out of a library for making too much noise, a smitten Sally pines for a disinterested Linus, Patty likewise hits on Charlie Brown, and Snoopy even briefly reprises his sunglasssed hipster supreme Joe Cool persona. The disastrous big game is an absolute hoot. Peppermint Patty is in real peak fiercely competitive form here as she continually brags about clobbering the opposing team. Moreover, there's a pleasingly ironic conclusion with said game being rained out just as it seems that Charlie Brown might win for once. Vince Guaraldi's neat jazzy score does the mellow trick; sadly this was his final score for a Peanuts special. A pleasant show.

Mike Aaawwww, the cartoons of youth passed. Having Mr. Schulz as a native of St. Paul, it makes me appreciate his cartoons even more so. If you look carefully you can see little hints of St. Paul and its humor. Vince Guaraldi music is simply great and entertaining. Too bad this was his last composing for the Charlie Brown shows.