Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown
Genre	Animated TV Special
Created by	Charles M. Schulz
Directed by	Phil Roman
Voices of	Duncan Watson; Melanie Kohn; Stephen Shea; Lynn Mortensen; Greg Felton; Bill Melendez; Linda Ercoli
Theme music composer	Vince Guaraldi
Production
Executive producer(s)	Lee Mendelson
Producer(s)	Bill Melendez
Editor(s)	Chuck McCann; Roger Donley
Running time	30 min.
Broadcast
Original channel	CBS (1975–2000); ABC (2001–present)
Original airing	January 28, 1975
Chronology
Preceded by	It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown
Followed by	You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown
External links
	www.snoopy.com Website

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Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown is the 13th 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 January 28, 1975. It aired annually on CBS from 1975 to 2000, and still airs annually on ABC since 2001.

This was released to DVD on January 7, 2003 by Paramount Home Entertainment. It was re-released on January 15, 2008 by Warner Home Video. Also, the special is available on iTunes, along with It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown and You're in Love, Charlie Brown.

[edit] Plot

Linus is fond of his teacher, Miss Othmar. To prove his point, he buys her a huge heart-shaped box of chocolates. However, Violet warns him it is probably not smart to fall in love with a teacher. But Linus says that he's fond of the "ground she walks on." But when he leaves Sally Brown believes that Linus bought the candy for her, and decides to make him a valentine in return. Later, Lucy goes to a puppet show held by Snoopy. At the concessions stand, Lucy asks for popcorn. However, because Snoopy can't understand Lucy he gives her candy, then soda, and finally popcorn. With Charlie Brown narrating the show in a dark cinema, he tells a story about true lovers.

Valentine's Day then comes and the gang brings valentine cards for everybody. Charlie Brown brings a briefcase hoping he will get lots of valentines. However, after the cards are passed out, it turns out Charlie Brown got none. Linus also never gave his candy to Miss Othmar because she left with her boyfriend. Sally who still believes the box of candy is for her, is dismayed when he attempts to go after the teacher to give her the candy. Both heartbroken, they take their sadness and anger in different ways. Linus throws his chocolate off a bridge while Charlie Brown kicks his mailbox. The next day Violet gives Charlie Brown a used valentine, as an apology, despite Schroder berating Violet for not just buying a card for him the day before and give him a card out of guilt (though this is hypocrisy as he didn't give Lucy a valentine). As Charlie Brown and Linus meet at the brick wall later, Charlie Brown expresses hope that Violet's pity valentine will start a trend, and he'll get even more valentines the following year. After Charlie Brown narrates the show, Snoopy arrives and uses the remote control to rewind the special back to the beginning to watch it. As the credits roll, many cartoon characters arrive to see the special. After the credits, Charlie Brown presses the play button on the remote control and the special begins.

[edit] Sequel

A Charlie Brown Valentine was produced in 2002.

[edit] Notes

After this episode was originally aired, children all over America sent valentines to Charlie Brown out of sympathy.^[1]
At the end credits, puppet caricatures of everyone who worked on the show, including Charles Schulz, Lee Mendelson, Bill Melendez, and the kids (listed above) were shown. Earlier in the special, Snoopy performed a puppet show for the kids.
The scene where kids leave to celebrate Valentine's Day was borrowed from another Peanuts special You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown.
It was the last special for Stephen Shea as Linus and Lynn Mortensen as Sally before being replaced, respectively, by Liam Martin as Linus and Gail M. Davis as Sally.
This was the final appearance of Shermy in the Peanuts world (he makes a cameo appearance), save for an appearance in the "Linus and Lucy" episode of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show and brief non-speaking cameos in later specials like 1992's It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown.

[edit] ABC telecast

When this special aired on ABC, the station cut off the part where Linus had a chat with Violet about a Valentine gift for their teachers as well as Sally's lecture from a Valentine candy. To save room for another special, A Charlie Brown Valentine, the credits are sped up and the music for the Pawpet theatre was replaced by Linus and Lucy.

[edit] Voice cast

Duncan Watson: Charlie Brown
Melanie Kohn: Lucy van Pelt
Stephen Shea: Linus van Pelt
Lynn Mortensen: Sally Brown
Greg Felton: Schroeder
Bill Melendez: Snoopy & Woodstock
Linda Ercoli: Violet & Frieda

[edit] Home video releases

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown was released on VHS in the 1980s by Media Home Entertainment and its Hi-Tops Video subsidiary through the "Snoopy's Home Video Library" collection, then in 1994 by Paramount Home Entertainment. Paramount released the special in 2003 on DVD with You're in Love, Charlie Brown and It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown. It was rereleased on January 15, 2008 by Warner Bros. Home Video in a "remastered deluxe edition" with a new bonus featurette, "Unlucky in Love: An Unrequited Love Story". Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown has also been released on laserdisc.