BURBANK, CA (September 3, 2009) – Back in the 70s, when bellbottoms and long hair were in, Snoopy and Charlie Brown starred in some the most memorable Peanuts specials ever to have aired on television. Warner Home Video (WHV) brings a wonderful collection of these delightful specials from the first half of that decade to DVD on October 20, 2009. Titled Peanuts 1970s Collection Volume 1, this volume showcases six heartwarming features, including two that have never been released on DVD before. Peanuts 1970s Collection Volume 1 will retail for $29.98 SRP.
Peanuts 1970s Collection Volume 1 offers consumers a set of six classic Peanuts primetime specials that originally aired between 1971 and 1974, several of which earned either Emmy Award ® nominations or wins. All six features have been completely re-mastered for beautiful picture and sound quality. This is the first time all six specials appear on DVD together. Two of the specials, Play it Again, Charlie Brown and It’s a Mystery, Charlie Brown make their DVD debut.
Featured Specials:
* Play It Again, Charlie Brown (1971) – Nominated for an Emmy Award ®, this special focuses on Lucy’s undying and unreciprocated love for the piano playing child prodigy, Schroeder. In an effort to win Schroeder’s affection, Lucy, under Peppermint Patty’s advice, invites him to perform in a concert at an upcoming PTA meeting. Schroeder accepts and immediately begins rehearsing. Lucy, delighted with Schroeder’s acceptance, thanks Peppermint Patty. Patty however, mentions she forgot to tell Lucy that only rock music will be featured in the program and that Schroeder won’t be able to play Beethoven. Lucy is left in anguish, knowing Schroeder will refuse to perform anything other than classical music and tries to find a way to break the news without his dropping out of the program.
* You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown (1972) – In this Emmy Award ® nominated special, Linus runs for student body president with Lucy and Charlie Brown as campaign managers. He takes an early lead in the polls but suffers a set back when he mentions the Great Pumpkin. Will he blow his chances with voters? This special features the first time Snoopy makes an appearance as his “Joe Cool” alter ego.
* There’s No Time For Love, Charlie Brown (1973) – The entire Peanuts gang is under pressure with homework assignments and exams but no one needs to bring up his grades more than Charlie Brown. His only chance to salvage his grades is by earning an “A” on his report detailing his field trip to the art museum. As if that’s not pressure enough, he must fight off distractions from Peppermint Patty and Marcie, both of whom have feelings for him. During the field trip, Peppermint Patty inadvertently distracts Charlie Brown from his group causing him, Sally, Marcie and Snoopy to end up inside of a Supermarket instead of an art museum.
* A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973) – In this Emmy® Award-winning special, Peppermint Patty invites herself to Charlie Brown’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. Marcie and Franklin are soon added as dinner guests. Charlie Brown admits that his culinary skills are limited to “cold cereal and maybe toast.” Snoopy and Woodstock transform the ping-pong table in the backyard into a dinner table. As the guests arrive, they are each served two slices of buttered toast, some pretzel sticks, popcorn and jelly beans. Patty is outraged at the meal and berates Charlie Brown until embarrassed and dejected, he leaves the table and goes back into house.
* It’s a Mystery, Charlie Brown (1974) – Woodstock’s fancy new nest disappears and Snoopy, donning a Sherlock Holmes outfit, sets out to find it. The accomplices are Charlie Brown, then Lucy and Linus, and finally Peppermint Patty. However, there’s not enough evidence to point the finger at any of them. Back at Woodstock’s tree, Snoopy spots footprints leading from the tree to the elementary school. Through an open window, Snoopy and Woodstock climb into the school and find Woodstock’s nest under a glass display case. Woodstock is overjoyed and grateful to find his home but the mystery is not solved. Who took Woodstock’s nest?
* It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974) – In this Emmy Award ® nominated special, the Peanuts gang prepares for Easter. Peppermint Patty and Marcie make several attempts to dye eggs but they fail every time after Marcie fries, roasts, toasts and even waffles the eggs. According to Linus however, their efforts are a waste of time because he claims the “Easter Beagle” will take care of everything. Lucy plans to have her own private Easter egg hunt and hides her own eggs so she can easily find them on Easter morning. Snoopy, on the other hand, buys Woodstock a bird house, which Woodstock promptly remodels into a hip 70’s pad. Just when everyone thought Easter wasn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, the Easter Beagle (played by Snoopy) makes an appearance, handing out eggs to everyone. Everyone, that is, except for Charlie Brown, who receives an empty basket.
DVD Special Features Include:
³ Woodstock: Creating Snoopy’s Sidekick – A documentary focusing on Woodstock, Snoopy’s best friend. He might be a little yellow bird, but the character of Woodstock has a huge personality. Conceived as a loveable pest to Mr. Joe Cool himself, Woodstock is as much a comedic sidekick as he is a sarcastic thorn in the side of Snoopy. The perfect compliment to Snoopy, is Woodstock that agent of chaos in the calm and organized universe of everyone’s favorite beagle, or was he the device for Charles Schulz to further his social commentary on all things under the sun?
“Releasing these specials decade by decade is a great way to showcase Charles Schulz’s incredible body of animated work,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President, Family, Animation and Partner Brands Marketing. He added, “This is the second Peanuts compilation we’re introducing and we’re certain consumers will embrace it because it’s an easy way to own an extensive collection of some of the greatest animated specials in television history, which we have consolidated into one beautiful package and are offering for a really great price.”
The Peanuts 1960s Collection, which is comprised of all Peanuts television specials from the 60s, is available in stores as of July 7, 2009.