Play It Again, Charlie Brown
Encyclopedia
Play It Again, Charlie Brown is the seventh prime-time animated
TV specials based upon the popular comic strip
Peanuts
, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network on March 28, 1971. It was the first Peanuts TV special of the 1970s. It is also the first time someone other than Peter Robbins
voiced the character of Charlie Brown
.
This special was released on DVD for the first time, in remaster
ed form as part of the DVD box set, "Peanuts 1970's Collection, Volume One."
, her infatuation with Schroeder
, and her willingness to do anything to win his affections. In the comic strip Lucy was often seen hanging around Schroeder, wanting him to pay more attention to her, but his unshakable devotion to classical music, Beethoven
in particular, was seemingly impenetrable.
Frustrated in her repeated failures to get Schroeder's attention (by, among other things, demonstrating that Beethoven now comes in spray cans
), she opens up to Sally
and Peppermint Patty
about her situation, and Peppermint Patty comes up with an idea to get Lucy in good with Schroeder: invite him to play his piano in concert at the upcoming PTA
program. Lucy goes along with the idea and goes back to tell Schroeder, who warms up to the idea, and after thanking Lucy begins rehearsing right away.
The mere fact that Schroeder thanks her for the invite is enough to send Lucy skyrocketing into cloud nine, randomly hugging Snoopy
and Charlie Brown
in total euphoria. On her way back home, Lucy runs into Peppermint Patty again and thanks her for the idea, but Patty mentions something she forgot to tell Lucy before: That Schroeder cannot play any Beethoven in the program; the PTA decided they want a rock
concert instead.
Lucy anguishes over this revelation, knowing full well that Schroeder will never agree to it, so she asks Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Pig-Pen
for help. Snoopy comes up with an idea: He brings out a set of drums, an acoustic guitar, an upright bass, and the three start playing with Lucy dancing.
Moments later Schroeder walks by, and Lucy, in an attempt to save face, introduces the combo as his backup band for him for the PTA concert. But Schroeder, still thinking he will be playing Beethoven, insists he can handle it alone, but when Lucy tells him that the PTA wants a rock concert instead of a classical recital, Schroeder backs out, just as expected. But after coercing from Charlie Brown, Schroeder reluctantly changes his mind. During their initial rehearsal, Schroeder cannot bring himself to stomach the fact that he has sold out his beloved Beethoven.
The night of the PTA meeting comes, and the combo is tuning up their instruments for the concert. Schroeder arrives close to show time, but despite Lucy and Peppermint Patty's pleading, he decides to stick to his guns and refuses to perform, reinforcing his belief that playing rock music would be compromising his classical roots. So now it is Patty who has the dilemma—a PTA meeting without a program. But Lucy has a solution: Holding up a spray can, she says PTA meetings now come in spray cans, too.
On the final scene, Lucy visits Schroeder again and somehow offends him about Beethoven not making it in Nashville
and that he did not have the Nashville sound
. Schroeder leaves feeling insulted by this. Lucy then yells out to him, "He probably would not have made it in New Orleans
, either!" Lucy then takes out her radio and happily listens to rock and roll on Schroeder's piano as the credits roll.
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
TV specials based upon the popular comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
Peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network on March 28, 1971. It was the first Peanuts TV special of the 1970s. It is also the first time someone other than Peter Robbins
Peter Robbins (actor)
Peter Robbins is a former child actor best known for his voice-over work as Charlie Brown in the 1960s.-The original Charlie Brown:...
voiced the character of Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown
Charles "Charlie" Brown is the protagonist in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.Charlie Brown and his creator have a common connection in that they are both the sons of barbers, but whereas Schulz's work is described as the "most shining example of the American success story", Charlie...
.
This special was released on DVD for the first time, in remaster
Remaster
Remaster is a word marketed mostly in the digital audio age, although the remastering process has existed since recording began...
ed form as part of the DVD box set, "Peanuts 1970's Collection, Volume One."
Summary
This non-holiday Peanuts special centers on LucyLucy van Pelt
Lucille "Lucy" van Pelt is a fictional character in the syndicated comic strip :Peanuts, written and drawn by Charles Schulz. She is the main bully and the older sister of Linus and Rerun. Lucy is a crabby and cynical eight-year old girl, and often bullies the other characters in the strip,...
, her infatuation with Schroeder
Schroeder (Peanuts)
Schroeder is a fictional character in the long-running comic strip Peanuts, created by Charles M. Schulz. He is distinguished by his precocious skill at playing the toy piano, as well as by his love of classical music and the composer Ludwig van Beethoven in particular...
, and her willingness to do anything to win his affections. In the comic strip Lucy was often seen hanging around Schroeder, wanting him to pay more attention to her, but his unshakable devotion to classical music, Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
in particular, was seemingly impenetrable.
Frustrated in her repeated failures to get Schroeder's attention (by, among other things, demonstrating that Beethoven now comes in spray cans
Aerosol spray
Aerosol spray is a type of dispensing system which creates an aerosol mist of liquid particles. This is used with a can or bottle that contains a liquid under pressure. When the container's valve is opened, the liquid is forced out of a small hole and emerges as an aerosol or mist...
), she opens up to Sally
Sally Brown
Sally Brown is the younger sister of Charlie Brown in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles Schulz. She was first mentioned in early 1959 and throughout a long series of strips before her first appearance in August 1959.-Appearance:...
and Peppermint Patty
Peppermint Patty
Patricia "Peppermint Patty" Reichardt is a fictional character featured in Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts. A freckle-faced auburn/brunette, she is one of a small group in the strip who lives across town from Charlie Brown and his school friends...
about her situation, and Peppermint Patty comes up with an idea to get Lucy in good with Schroeder: invite him to play his piano in concert at the upcoming PTA
Parent-Teacher Association
In the U.S. a parent-teacher association or Parent-Teacher-Student Association is a formal organization composed of parents, teachers and staff that is intended to facilitate parental participation in a public or private school. Most public and private K-8 schools in the U.S. have a PTA, a...
program. Lucy goes along with the idea and goes back to tell Schroeder, who warms up to the idea, and after thanking Lucy begins rehearsing right away.
The mere fact that Schroeder thanks her for the invite is enough to send Lucy skyrocketing into cloud nine, randomly hugging Snoopy
Snoopy
Snoopy is an fictional character in the long-running comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. He is Charlie Brown's pet beagle. Snoopy began his life in the strip as a fairly conventional dog, but eventually evolved into perhaps the strip's most dynamic character—and among the most recognizable...
and Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown
Charles "Charlie" Brown is the protagonist in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.Charlie Brown and his creator have a common connection in that they are both the sons of barbers, but whereas Schulz's work is described as the "most shining example of the American success story", Charlie...
in total euphoria. On her way back home, Lucy runs into Peppermint Patty again and thanks her for the idea, but Patty mentions something she forgot to tell Lucy before: That Schroeder cannot play any Beethoven in the program; the PTA decided they want a rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
concert instead.
Lucy anguishes over this revelation, knowing full well that Schroeder will never agree to it, so she asks Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Pig-Pen
Pig-Pen
"Pig-Pen" is a character in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. He is a young boy who is, except on very rare occasions, very dirty.-History:"Pig-Pen" is a nickname, invariably written in quotation marks in the strip...
for help. Snoopy comes up with an idea: He brings out a set of drums, an acoustic guitar, an upright bass, and the three start playing with Lucy dancing.
Moments later Schroeder walks by, and Lucy, in an attempt to save face, introduces the combo as his backup band for him for the PTA concert. But Schroeder, still thinking he will be playing Beethoven, insists he can handle it alone, but when Lucy tells him that the PTA wants a rock concert instead of a classical recital, Schroeder backs out, just as expected. But after coercing from Charlie Brown, Schroeder reluctantly changes his mind. During their initial rehearsal, Schroeder cannot bring himself to stomach the fact that he has sold out his beloved Beethoven.
The night of the PTA meeting comes, and the combo is tuning up their instruments for the concert. Schroeder arrives close to show time, but despite Lucy and Peppermint Patty's pleading, he decides to stick to his guns and refuses to perform, reinforcing his belief that playing rock music would be compromising his classical roots. So now it is Patty who has the dilemma—a PTA meeting without a program. But Lucy has a solution: Holding up a spray can, she says PTA meetings now come in spray cans, too.
On the final scene, Lucy visits Schroeder again and somehow offends him about Beethoven not making it in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and that he did not have the Nashville sound
Nashville sound
The Nashville sound originated during the late 1950s as a sub-genre of American country music, replacing the chart dominance of honky tonk music which was most popular in the 1940s and 1950s...
. Schroeder leaves feeling insulted by this. Lucy then yells out to him, "He probably would not have made it in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, either!" Lucy then takes out her radio and happily listens to rock and roll on Schroeder's piano as the credits roll.
Voice cast
- Pamelyn FerdinPamelyn FerdinPamelyn Ferdin is a former American television and film child actor, active both in live action and as a voice actress in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s and has since appeared in several voice acting roles as late as 2009...
as Lucy - Stephen SheaStephen SheaStephen Shea is a former child actor most noted for voicing the character of Linus van Pelt in several animated Peanuts television specials, as well as in the feature-length animated film Snoopy Come Home. Shea was born on December 21, 1961, in Los Angeles, California...
as Linus - Linda MendelsonLynda MendelsonLynda Mendelson is a former child actress noted for providing the voice of "Frieda" in several Peanuts animated films during the early 1970s. Later in life she has worked behind the scenes in various capacities within the film production industry...
as Frieda - Chris Inglis as Charlie Brown, Schroeder
- Hilary MombergerHilary MombergerHilary Momberger is a former child actress from the late 1960s and early 1970s, known primarily for playing the part of "Sally Brown", Charlie Brown's little sister in the Peanuts motion picture and TV specials including: A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home...
as Sally - Kip DeFariaChristopher DeFariaChris DeFaria is an American production manager and producer of television and movies, with credits including Cats & Dogs, Watchmen, and Looney Tunes: Back in Action...
as Peppermint Patty - Bill MelendezBill MelendezJosé Cuauhtémoc "Bill" Meléndez was a Mexican-American character animator, film director, voice artist and producer, known for his cartoons for Warner Brothers, UPA and the Peanuts series...
as Snoopy
Production credits
- Written by Charles M. SchulzCharles M. SchulzCharles Monroe "Sparky" Schulz was an American cartoonist, whose comic strip Peanuts proved one of the most popular and influential in the history of the medium, and is still widely reprinted on a daily basis.-Early life and education:Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Schulz grew up in Saint Paul...
- Directed by Bill MelendezBill MelendezJosé Cuauhtémoc "Bill" Meléndez was a Mexican-American character animator, film director, voice artist and producer, known for his cartoons for Warner Brothers, UPA and the Peanuts series...
- Produced by Lee MendelsonLee MendelsonLee Mendelson is an American television producer. He is best known as the executive producer of the many Peanuts animated specials....
and Bill MelendezBill MelendezJosé Cuauhtémoc "Bill" Meléndez was a Mexican-American character animator, film director, voice artist and producer, known for his cartoons for Warner Brothers, UPA and the Peanuts series...
- Musical Score Composed by
- Ludwig Van BeethovenLudwig van BeethovenLudwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
- Vince GuaraldiVince GuaraldiVincent Anthony "Vince" Guaraldi was an Italian American jazz musician and pianist noted for his innovative compositions and arrangements and for composing music for animated adaptations of the Peanuts comic strip...
- Conducted by
- John Scott Trotter
- Beethoven sonatas played by
- Lillian Steuber
- Graphic Blandishment
- Ed Levitt
- Bernard GruverBernard GruverBernard Gruver was best known as one of the original animators of the Peanuts cartoon series. He also was an animation professor at the University of Southern California School of Cinema. He was killed in a car crash in Los Angeles in 1985.-External links:*...
- Evert Brown
- Dean Spille
- Frank SmithFrank Smith (animator)Frank A. Smith was an American cartoon animator and film director. He was the father of actor Charles Martin Smith, and the brother of animator/director Paul J. Smith and animator Hank Smith....
- Rudy ZamoraRudy ZamoraRudy Zamora was a Mexican American animator and a prolific animation director who was a veteran actor in George of the Jungle.-External links:...
- Don Lusk
- Bill LittlejohnBill LittlejohnWilliam Charles Littlejohn was an American animator and union organizer. Littlejohn worked on both animated shorts and features from the 1930s through to the 1990s...
- Emery HawkinsEmery HawkinsEmery Hawkins was an American animator who worked at many studios during the golden age of animation, including Disney, Screen Gems, Walter Lantz, Warner Bros., and UPA. His most famous work is undoubtedly the Woody Woodpecker cartoons that he worked on during the 1940s...
- Al Pabian
- Sam Jaimes
- Beverly Robbins
- Eleanor Warren
- Carole Barnes
- Faith Kovaleski
- Manon Washburn
- Edited by
- Bob Gillis
- Chuck McCannChuck McCannChuck McCann is a film actor, television actor, stage actor, and a voice actor from Brooklyn, New York.-Early career:...
- Rudy Zamora, Jr.
- Sound
- Radio RecordersRadio RecordersRadio Recorders, Inc. was a recording studio based in Los Angeles, California. Famous musicians to have been recorded in the studio include Charlie Parker, Jimmie Rodgers, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and The Carpenters among others. In its prime, the studio was known...
- Sid Nicholas
- United Recorders
- Artie Becker
- Producers' Sound Service
- Don Minkler
- Camera
- Dickson/Vasu
- in cooperation with
- United Feature Syndicate, Inc.
- The End
- "Play It Again, Charlie Brown"
- ©1971 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.