Product: A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Rating: 5.0
Beloved classic, and deservedly so
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" first aired on CBS in December 1965 ("brought to you by Dolly Madison and the people in your town who bottle Coca-Cola"), and has been revived every year since, most recently on ABC. Even so, this charming animated classic exudes such warmth and genuine holiday spirit that it deserves a permanent place in the collection of anyone who values the true meaning of Christmas and the late Charles M. Schulz's all too human "Peanuts" characters.Schulz once said that his legendary comic strip was never intended for children, and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" may hold greater meaning for adults, especially those who remember it from their childhood. Who can't relate to Charlie Brown and his inability to find joy in the season proclaimed by everyone as the happiest of all? Today, he would likely be diagnosed with SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and put on Prozac to prevent him from wondering what Christmas is all about.But Charles Schulz was wiser than any psychologist, and he recognized Charlie's depression for what it is: a yearning to know life's deeper meaning. He finds it through Linus who shares with him "the tidings of great joy" found in Luke 2:10-11. It's a beautiful moment that may explain why this classic remains so beloved in our increasingly secular, cynical world.But there's a lot to love about "A Charlie Brown Christmas." The child actors who voice Charlie Brown (Peter Robbins), Linus (Christopher Shea) and the entire Peanuts gang capture the personalities superbly, Snoopy is at his radical best, and then there's Vince Guaraldi's jazz score, a jewel of perfection that features the beautiful "Christmas Time Is Here."It's been said that art can heal. There's no better proof of that than the work of Charles M. Schulz whose simple drawings combined with a profound understanding of human nature made him one of the greatest healers of all.Brian W. Fairbanks