USA, 9 December 1965
25m
35mm, colour, 4:3
mono, English
An American animated fantasy television film directed by Bill Melendez. It was the first animated special based on the comic strip by Charles M. Schulz (who wrote the script) and has since become a seasonal staple on American television. A live theatrical adaptation has also been produced. The initial broadcast was sponsored by Coca-Cola and all references to the company have long since been edited out, including a shot featuring Linus crashing into a Coca-Cola sign.
Plot Summary
Charlie Brown has had enough of the materialism that he believes is destroying Christmas. He takes on the role of director of the school Christmas pageant and tries to instill the Christmas spirit in his classmates. But it’s going to be harder than he thinks.
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Bill Melendez
© 1965 United Feature Syndicate Inc.
A Lee Mendelson-Bill Melendez production in co-operation with United Feature Syndicate Inc.
Executive Producer: Lee Mendelson
Written by: Charles M. Schulz
Graphic Blandishment by: Ed Levitt, Bernard Gruver, Ruth Kissane, Dean Spille, Beverly Robbins, Eleanor Warren, Frank Smith, Bob Carlson, Rudy Zamora, Bill Littlejohn, Alan Zaslove, Ruben Timmins, Herman Cohen, Manuel Perez, Russ von Neida, John Walker
Editing: Robert T. Gillis
Original Score Composed & Conducted by: Vince Guaraldi
Sound: Producers’ Sound Service
Cast
Ann Altieri [Freida]
Chris Doran [Schroeder/Shermy]
Sally Dryer [Violet]
Bill Melendez [Snoopy]
Karen Mendelson [Patty]
Geoffrey Ornstein [Pig-Pen]
Peter Robbins [Charlie Brown]
Christopher Shea [Linus van Pelt]
Kathy Steinberg [Sally Brown]
Tracy Stratford [Lucy Van Pelt]
Alternative Titles
O Natal do Charlie Brown – Brazil
La navidad de Charlie Brown – Argentina
Links
Extracts included in
Here’s to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years (2000)
The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas (2000)
See also
The Simpsons: Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (1989)
