Product: A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Rating: 5.0
Thank You Linus, even 46 years later.
Americans have known this TV cartoon since it first aired in 1965. But for an immigrant like me, I only saw it for the first time a few years ago. I knew about Charlie Brown and saw some of the half-hour shows when i was younger. But I did not see the Christmas Special until the early 2000s.I am very fond of this Christmas special. From all the beloved characters to the highly original and very festive jazz soundtrack performed by The Vince Guaraldi Trio; a classic in its own right.But the one moment in the show that still moves me deeply is Linus' speech about the true meaning of Christmas. To quote from the Gospel in a cartoon was extremely daring and met with tremendous resistance when the show was to be aired. But Charles Schultz was steadfast in his determination that nothing be changed from his original idea.So I am watching this Christmas special and laugh occasionally, empathize with Charlie occasionally and find the cartoon mildly humourous. Then there is the moment when Charlie Brown cries out for someone to tell him about the true meaning of Christmas.... and then Linus takes center stage.When little Linus takes the stage, he recites the birth of Jesus as written in the Gospel of Luke in a very undramatic but completely innocent tone. Amazingly, it carries more impact than any sermon from the multitude of preachers, televangelists and bible-preaching ministers I have seen in Church or on TV. There is something truly moving in this narrative, whether you are a Christian or not. The matter of fact way in which Linus recites the Bible, describing the birth of Jesus makes the message more powerful and in the context of the show, very moving.It is one of TV's most iconic moments and it is a scene I can watch over and over and never tire of it. So simple and yet it has endured for nearly 50 years.