BCDB: Cartoon Reviews: A Boy Named Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown has been picked on quite a bit by Violet, Frieda, and Patty (regular Patty, not Peppermint Patty). One day at school, Charlie participates in the school spelling bee. Despite some tough words, he wins the spelling bee. Even more important to Charlie Brown is the fact that he can rub his victory in the face of those who have doubted him in the past. It isn't long before Charlie Brown advances to the National Spelling Bee that's being held in New York City, New York. The gang bids farewell to Charlie Brown as he gets ready to board a bus bound for New York. Before he gets the chance to leave, Linus does the unthinkable... he parts with his blanket, offering it to Charlie Brown as a lucky charm. Charlie Brown reluctantly accepts the blanket from Linus and hops on the bus. A long ride later, Charlie Brown arrives in New York and immediately begins to hit the books. Back home, Linus suffers from not possessing his blanket. He's a nervous wreck and frequently passes out. Desperately, Linus sets out for New York to retrieve his blanket with Snoopy tagging along. He finds Charlie Brown's hotel room but discovers that Charlie Brown himself is a wreck from studying for so long. He even has a habit of spelling words he uses in sentences. Linus is angry that Charlie Brown has no clue where the blanket is, so he and Snoopy set off to find it at the many places Charlie Brown visited. Snoopy, instead of helping Linus, takes the opportunity to skate on the frozen pond at Rockefeller Plaza. Linus returns to the hotel room after unsuccessfully finding his blanket. He writhes in mental agony and moans, "Woe is me." Charlie Brown begins to get ready for the spelling bee and starts shining his shoes with a familiar piece of blue cloth. Linus immediately recognizes it lunges toward it. It's his blanket! In a dance sequence that Fred Astaire would appreciate, Linus and his blanket rejoice together. The spelling bee begins with Linus and Snoopy watching from the front row of the auditorium while, back home, the gang watches it on a tv at Lucy's place. Will Charlie Brown win the contest and be the hero? Or will he be the goat? Given Charlie Brown's vast history of letdowns, I'll give you three guesses. Overall, this is an excellent production! The soundtrack is what adds greatly to the story. The bus rides to New York feature a great musical sequence as the background changes through the windows of the moving bus. Also, Snoopy's personal icecapade on the plaza has a beatiful, soothing music piece that's nestled in between periods fast paced tunes when Snoopy visualizes he's a hockey player. The soundtrack was done by the experienced Vince Guaraldi jazz trio and is available for sale on many sites. This is my favorite Peanuts production of all time. It's perfect across the board!