Boy Named Charlie Brown & Snoopy Come Home $4 each @ Wal-Mart

[Jon Cooke]

Wal-marts in my neck of the woods are starting to put out displays loaded with Paramount and Dreamworks DVDs for $4.00 each, among them are A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home. Not a bad deal!

[zavkram]

I wonder if these are cut-outs from Paramount; because they no longer own the rights to the films and they want to sell their remaining stock before WHV releases their own editions?

[Studio Toledo]

I wonder if these are cut-outs from Paramount; because they no longer own the rights to the films and they want to sell their remaining stock before WHV releases their own editions?
In the case of the two movies, CBS still holds the rights to them, while giving Paramount the right to release them on home video (unless they didn't strike some deal with WHV).

[cartoonfan4ever]

Looks like I'll be making a trip to Wal-Mart. I wonder if the one over in my part of town has the DVDs yet?

[wiley207]

I've already bought the two DVDs at Best Buy back in 2006. Each one was roughly $10-12. Not a bad price for me, actually. Believe me, even though they are in cropped widescreen and have no special features (then again, many of Paramount's "Peanuts" DVDs had no special features), the picture quality is EXCELLENT! They obviously did an extensive restoration job on these two films. And when they restored "A Boy Named Charlie Brown," they even reinserted the long-lost footage not seen since the film's 1969 release (including a bit of Charlie Brown being chased by his kite, Charlie Brown chewing on a piece of grass before taking it out and saying "BLEAH!", Lucy pulling the football gag on Charlie Brown and then showing it back via instant replay (this came right after the slideshow scene and was part of Lucy's "treatment"), Charlie Brown attempting to call room service while dazed and studying in his hotel room, and a bit of animation of Snoopy skating as well.)

All in all, great DVD releases, and I do wish that "Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown" and "Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown" (the latter is one of my personal favorites) will also come to DVD as well.

[Studio Toledo]

I've already bought the two DVDs at Best Buy back in 2006. Each one was roughly $10-12. Not a bad price for me, actually. Believe me, even though they are in cropped widescreen and have no special features (then again, many of Paramount's "Peanuts" DVDs had no special features), the picture quality is EXCELLENT! They obviously did an extensive restoration job on these two films.
I didn't have a problem with the widescreen at all, since I felt it probably resembled what it would've felt like seeing it on the big screen anyway despite how they went about doing it for the disc. The soundtrack was also quite a surprise as I didn't think it even had a stereo mix at all.

And when they restored "A Boy Named Charlie Brown," they even reinserted the long-lost footage not seen since the film's 1969 release (including a bit of Charlie Brown being chased by his kite, Charlie Brown chewing on a piece of grass before taking it out and saying "BLEAH!", Lucy pulling the football gag on Charlie Brown and then showing it back via instant replay (this came right after the slideshow scene and was part of Lucy's "treatment"), Charlie Brown attempting to call room service while dazed and studying in his hotel room, and a bit of animation of Snoopy skating as well.)
All of which I bet was fascinating to those who saw it at Radio City Music Hall.

All in all, great DVD releases, and I do wish that "Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown" and "Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown" (the latter is one of my personal favorites) will also come to DVD as well.
You would think Paramount would do that, I guess we'll never know!

[Jon Cooke]

And when they restored "A Boy Named Charlie Brown," they even reinserted the long-lost footage not seen since the film's 1969 release (including a bit of Charlie Brown being chased by his kite, Charlie Brown chewing on a piece of grass before taking it out and saying "BLEAH!", Lucy pulling the football gag on Charlie Brown and then showing it back via instant replay (this came right after the slideshow scene and was part of Lucy's "treatment"), Charlie Brown attempting to call room service while dazed and studying in his hotel room, and a bit of animation of Snoopy skating as well).

Thanks for posting this, Wiley. I was curious what footage was restored for this DVD release.

I watched both films over the weekend for the first time in years (I think the last time I remember watching them was YEARS ago on the Disney Channel). The DVDs do look amazing and it was a treat seeing them in widescreen (A Boy... especially took advantage of the widescreen format, such as during the baseball game sequence).

However, I think Snoopy Come Home was the stronger of the two films. The story flows better, it's loaded with funny Snoopy & Woodstock bits, and the songs by the Sherman brothers are very catchy (I still have "Fundamental Friend Dependability" stuck in my head). I also think it's impossible not to get all choked up during the scene where the gang give Snoopy a going away party.

[CueBallCat79]

I grew up with Snoopy Come Home on VHS in the 1980s and it was always in my childhood movie rotation. I love the hell out of this movie. The songs are so catchy (We got good vibes. Our friendship jives. In our close united status who could ever separate us?) and the story is very well told. Even with the downbeat parts of the story this is still a very joyous film. I applaud Schultz's decision to make this movie more theatrical, even if it meant not using Guaraldi. Some of the sequences (Snoopy fighting Lucy, "Fundamental Friend Dependability", Woodstock trying to reach the mailbox, Snoopy and Woodstock making music together while camping out) are just a whole lot of fun. Did I mention I love this movie?

I didn't see A Boy Named Charlie Brown until it came out on DVD, so no emotional attachment there. Regardless I really like this one too. There are some dead spots (the Schroeder sequence - while beautifully done - stops the film cold) and seeing Charlie Brown getting knocked down over and over again during the first half of the movie does get tiresome. But there's so much imagination here and it's still got that quirky, crude look of the earlier specials that gives the movie a sincere, child-like quality. And it's got some decent songs and a great score. "Champion Charlie Brown" is my favorite reprise. And I love the use of the widescreen image during the baseball game and when Charlie Brown attempts to kick the football. And finally I like how it includes so many forgotten characters. It's neat to see Shermy and Patty get mentioned in the opening credits.

As for the other two films, Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown is mediocre. It's a 22 minute special (It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown sound familiar?) stretched to fill a feature's length. It's slow, meandering and a lot of it feels hopeless and meanspirited. Snoopy and Woodstock aren't very funny, most of the kids contribute absolutely nothing and "democracy" runner with the girls is obnoxious. I saw this one in high school, so that probably explains my feelings towards it. But I LOVE the opening song though. It psyches me up for something that doesn't quite happen.

Bon Voyage Charlie Brown is much better but it's still overlong and get's caught up trying to be an animated travelogue. The plot makes no sense (is the Baron going to kill the kids?), Peppermint Patty is abraisive and oblivious and Snoopy's tennis match was done earlier (and better) in You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown. Childhood nostalgia (I saw this even earlier than Snoopy, Come Home), cool music (Snoopy's theme and the chateau fire) and some pretty funny bits ("Who does he think he is? The Prime Minister?" BONK!!) keep me enjoying this film.

[Mr. Semaj]

CueBallCat79 pretty much summed up my feelings towards the movies, though I'm more attached to A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home by their regular exposure on The Disney Channel during the 90's. Both very colorful and versatile films all the same. I can't recall any other features that used as many cinematographic techniques (viewfinder shifting, colored montages, etc.) as A Boy Named Charlie Brown.

I didn't see Race For Your Life or Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown until they started airing on Cartoon Network in 1995, but even then, both films felt underwhelming compared to their predecessors.

[Studio Toledo]

Thanks for posting this, Wiley. I was curious what footage was restored for this DVD release.

I watched both films over the weekend for the first time in years (I think the last time I remember watching them was YEARS ago on the Disney Channel). The DVDs do look amazing and it was a treat seeing them in widescreen (A Boy... especially took advantage of the widescreen format, such as during the baseball game sequence).
If only the framing was a tad better. They need to adjust the picture just a bit and it would've been perfect I felt. Oh well, CBS tried their best to please us (loved how well the colors on Snoopy, Come Home were, never realized how dull and odd they appeared before on VHS, but I thought the windowboxing of the opening/end credits wasn't necessary).

However, I think Snoopy Come Home was the stronger of the two films. The story flows better, it's loaded with funny Snoopy & Woodstock bits, and the songs by the Sherman brothers are very catchy (I still have "Fundamental Friend Dependability" stuck in my head). I also think it's impossible not to get all choked up during the scene where the gang give Snoopy a going away party.
I now have the soundtrack LP I made MP3's of! So I can have those tunes every time I want!

[Studio Toledo]

I grew up with Snoopy Come Home on VHS in the 1980s and it was always in my childhood movie rotation. I love the hell out of this movie. The songs are so catchy (We got good vibes. Our friendship jives. In our close united status who could ever separate us?) and the story is very well told. Even with the downbeat parts of the story this is still a very joyous film. I applaud Schultz's decision to make this movie more theatrical, even if it meant not using Guaraldi. Some of the sequences (Snoopy fighting Lucy, "Fundamental Friend Dependability", Woodstock trying to reach the mailbox, Snoopy and Woodstock making music together while camping out) are just a whole lot of fun. Did I mention I love this movie?
I think you did. :-)

I didn't see A Boy Named Charlie Brown until it came out on DVD, so no emotional attachment there.
I saw both roughly around the same time in the 80's, mostly thanks to Disney Channel.

Regardless I really like this one too. There are some dead spots (the Schroeder sequence - while beautifully done - stops the film cold) and seeing Charlie Brown getting knocked down over and over again during the first half of the movie does get tiresome. But there's so much imagination here and it's still got that quirky, crude look of the earlier specials that gives the movie a sincere, child-like quality. And it's got some decent songs and a great score. "Champion Charlie Brown" is my favorite reprise. And I love the use of the widescreen image during the baseball game and when Charlie Brown attempts to kick the football. And finally I like how it includes so many forgotten characters. It's neat to see Shermy and Patty get mentioned in the opening credits.
I remember thinking they did some things in this that weren't done in the TV specials made before, and it was an interesting attempt at taking advantage of what could be done in a movie.

As for the other two films, Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown is mediocre. It's a 22 minute special (It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown sound familiar?) stretched to fill a feature's length. It's slow, meandering and a lot of it feels hopeless and meanspirited. Snoopy and Woodstock aren't very funny, most of the kids contribute absolutely nothing and "democracy" runner with the girls is obnoxious. I saw this one in high school, so that probably explains my feelings towards it. But I LOVE the opening song though. It psyches me up for something that doesn't quite happen.
I used to see this film as a kid too, but I didn't know why I liked it at all and saw why that was later on. The film itself could easily have been a TV movie or a hour-long special at that. It didn't really feel like something that should've been wasted on the big screen.

Bon Voyage Charlie Brown is much better but it's still overlong and get's caught up trying to be an animated travelogue.
Strangely the film feels long but is terribly short as well I noticed. Some form of economy was in hand with the story I guess.

The plot makes no sense (is the Baron going to kill the kids?), Peppermint Patty is abraisive and oblivious and Snoopy's tennis match was done earlier (and better) in You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown. Childhood nostalgia (I saw this even earlier than Snoopy, Come Home), cool music (Snoopy's theme and the chateau fire) and some pretty funny bits ("Who does he think he is? The Prime Minister?" BONK!!) keep me enjoying this film.
Plus it also had the nerve to give us a follow-up TV special where the guys had to find out about WWII and WWI through traveling to familiar battle sites.

[Studio Toledo]

CueBallCat79 pretty much summed up my feelings towards the movies, though I'm more attached to A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home by their regular exposure on The Disney Channel during the 90's. Both very colorful and versatile films all the same. I can't recall any other features that used as many cinematographic techniques (viewfinder shifting, colored montages, etc.) as A Boy Named Charlie Brown.

I didn't see Race For Your Life or Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown until they started airing on Cartoon Network in 1995, but even then, both films felt underwhelming compared to their predecessors.
I either saw those films on TV (CBS mostly) or on video in the 80's.