I'm trying
something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every
day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different
Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of
features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my
Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank
you for joining me in this endeavor. Now it is time for the eleventh
feature. I wonder what it will be.
A Charlie Brown
Christmas (1965)
A Charlie Brown Christmas is a holiday television staple.
It has been running nonstop since it was first aired in 1965 and ABC
still makes a big deal about its airing. That being said, I have
obviously seen this special a number times throughout my life.
However, it has never really been something that has become essential
for my holidays. I recognize its place in history and I appreciate
certain moments from it or references to it but it simply isn't a must-watch holiday special for me. Will this viewing change my opinion?
Stranger things have been know to happen.
Synopsis
A Charlie Brown Christmas opens
with Charlie Brown complaining to Linus that he has trouble getting
in to the Christmas spirit largely because everything seems too
commercial. Linus chides Charlie Brown for worrying too much and the
two then go skating. Later, we find Charlie Brown dismayed at the
fact that he has not received any Christmas cards. He then seeks out
Lucy for her psychiatric advice. She tells him that he needs to get
involved with a project to get in to the spirit of the season and
suggests that he become the director for their Christmas pageant. At
first Charlie Brown is reluctant but he soon acquiesces and takes up
the role.
Arriving at the school theater,
Charlie Brown soon has his concerns over becoming the director
validated. No one is listening to him and they all seem more
interested in dancing and goofing off rather than working on the
Christmas pageant. Charlie Brown decides that what they need to get
them on track and set the mood of the pageant is a Christmas tree.
The others agree and tell him to make sure he get a quality aluminum
one. Charlie Brown and Linus set of to the tree lot and Charlie
Brown sets his sights on a sad, dilapidated tree, figuring that with
the right decorations it can be the perfect tree for their pageant.
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| The dancing in this scene is simultaneously terrible and awesome. |
Upon returning to the school, the
other kids ridicule Charlie Brown for his selection of what is
possibly the saddest looking Christmas tree ever. Charlie Brown has
had enough and takes the tree with him vowing to prove that it can
look good with a little decoration. However, upon reaching home and
putting a single red glass globe on to it, the tree bends low under
the weight and Charlie Brown gives up hope and goes inside.
Inexplicably, the other children now regret treating Charlie Brown
the way that they did and arrive to fix up the tree. After some
brief work with lights, garland, and ornaments the tree is looking
respectable and the children begin to sing. Charlie Brown hears this and
comes outside and sees the tree. He is finally happy and soon joins
with the others in song.
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| I like to imagine that he is reacting to the fact that you can buy a $40 replicas of this tree. |
Final Thoughts
This viewing did little to change
my opinions of A Charlie Brown Christmas. By no means do I think it
a bad special. The animation is passable for television animation of
the time and captures the look of Schulz's strips quite well.
Further there is an undeniable charm to much of the special. I can
see why it has continued to air year after year even if,
were I in control, I probably would pick many things before it. Most
of the issues raised by Charlie Brown in the special seem prescient
given the state of the holiday season now. I found the fact that one
of the commercial aspects of the season that is dismaying Charlie
Brown is a lighting contest highly ironic as, four days after
airing this special, ABC aired the first episode of this year's Great
Christmas Light Fight. Talk about mixed messaging.
Overall, while it is far from my
favorite Christmas special I certainly don't hate A Charlie Brown
Christmas. It was also somewhat weird viewing for me as this is the
first time in a while that I have really watched it rather than just
having it on as background noise. The fact that Charlie Brown's
concerns and inability to get in the holiday spirit because of them
so closely mirror the ones I laid out in the first post of this
marathon is not lost on me. Nor is the fact that Lucy's solution, to
get involved in a project, is exactly what I am doing. Certainly
some weird parallels. I don't really think I need to bother with
recommending this one or not as I am fairly certain that 99% of the
population has already seen this and the other 1% has absorbed it
through osmosis. Though, if you really do need me to sway you in a
direction, I say go for it. There are worse things you could watch
and at least you won't be left out if conversation turns towards it.
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| Honestly, this ending feels rushed and not all together earned. |
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