A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

A Charlie Brown Christmas is a 1965 animated television special based on the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz.

Directed by Bill Melendez. With Ann Altieri, Chris Doran, Sally Dryer, Bill Melendez. Repelled by the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmastime is here. Happiness and cheer. And for Peanuts fans everywhere, it just wouldn't be Christmas without this classic holiday delight. Christmas lights may be twinkling red and green, but Charlie Brown has the Yuletide blues. To get in the holiday spirit, he takes Lucy's advice and directs the Christmas play. And what's a Christmas play without a Christmas tree? But everyone makes fun of the short, spindly nevergreen Charlie Brown brings back - until the real meaning of Christmas works its magic once again

It's bound to be a white Christmas with this classic! From creator Charles M. Shultz and producer Bill Melendez, it's A Charlie Brown Christmas. Not only does this timeless special have the distinction of warming hearts young and old, but it has won both an Emmy and a Peabody Award. Whether you are seeing this holiday masterpiece for the first time or the first time in years, you have doubtless heard of that ol' blockhead Charlie Brown and the little tree that could. Filled with mythology as the gang tries to put on a holiday play, kids big and small will end up with a pretty decent dance party, a lesson for the ages and some good old-fashioned fun. As for the tree -- it's amazing what a little love can do.

Amazon.com: A Charlie Brown Christmas (Animated, 1965) [VHS Video] [Digitally Remastered] [Clamshell Case]: Ann Altieri, Chris Doran, Sally Dryer, Bill Melendez, Karen Mendelson, Lee Mendelson, This television classic features the Peanuts characters in the story of Charlie Brown's problematic efforts to mount a school Christmas pageant., Snoopy, Schroeder, Pig-Pen, but the biggest impression is surely made by Linus, who stops the show with his recitation from the gospels of the story of Christ's birth. --Tom Keogh Everybody's on board: Lucy: Movies & TV

Visit The official A Charlie Brown Christmas online at ABC.com. Get exclusive videos, blogs, photos, cast bios, free episodes and more.

Producer Lee Mendelson on the making of a TV special no one believed in — and why we might need the holiday classic now more than ever.

When Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees amongst everyone during the Christmas season, Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant. Charlie Brown accepts, but is a frustrating struggle. When an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, he needs Linus' help to learn the meaning of Christmas.

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