Peanuts 1970′s Collection Vol. 1 – DVD Review

Written on October 20, 2009 by Marc Eastman in Television

Hitting shelves today, October 20th, it’s Peanuts 1970′s Collection vol. 1. The 2-disc set features some classic episodes, two that have never been on DVD before, and a couple of great bonuses.

As was the case with the release of the 1960′s Collection, this is a great chance to own the show’s that have become holiday essentials, while at the same time getting some of the lesser-known installments which don’t make it to television broadcast very often… if ever. The collection has six remastered TV specials, and you don’t want to miss out.

Play It Again, Charlie Brown – First time on DVD – Mainly focusing on Lucy’s attempts at getting closer to Schroeder, this one features a lot of piano, and very nearly Schroeder’s first rock performance. The gang puts a band together, but at the last second Schroeder refuses to “sell out,” and won’t perform. Definitely one of the stranger, less focused entries in the Peanuts franchise, this one is nevertheless a lot of fun.

You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown – Charlie Brown, but then Linus actually, runs for student body president, and hilarity ensues. From Lucy running polls and call-in radio, to Joe Cool making an appearance, this one bounces around all sorts of gags about schools and elections in general.

There’s No Time For Love, Charlie Brown – Another on the list of stranger shows, and one that doesn’t make it to broadcast nearly enough, this one finds the gang on a field trip to a museum. It’s filled with fun gags about schoolwork, and comes around to Charlie Brown getting an A on his report of his trip to the museum, despite the fact that he actually wound up in a grocery store. The love angle comes by way of Charlie Brown and Peppermint Patty, and is a fun trip through the adventure of the very young.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving – The classic holiday special that everyone is (hopefully) well familiar with, this is one that, despite it being on ever year, everyone should own.

It’s A Mystery, Charlie Brown – First time on DVD – Woodstock gets his first real exposure (on this set) with the first five minutes devoted exclusively to the bird’s encounter with a storm. The rest of the special has Snoopy, in Sherlock garb, and Woodstock tracking down a stolen nest. Eventually, Lucy presides over a trial.

It’s The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown – Another in the holiday classic series, this one has been overlooked in recent years, but it is right up there in terms of the fun delivered. From the trip to the department store, to the repeated egg-cooking errors, there is a wide variety of focus here, and it is one of the better Charlie Brown specials.

Special features include a new featurette, Woodstock: Creating Snoopy’s Sidekick, which finally gives the little guy the treatment he deserves. The roughly 13-minute feature details the introduction of Woodstock, and the role that he played in the comic. A variety of interview snippets drive the feature, along with lots of shots of the comic and clips from the specials. Various cartoonists, historians, and Jean Schulz make appearances, and walk you through the life and times of the ultimate sidekick.

This collection is definitely a winner, and the remastering is well done. More than just an opportunity to own these classics, they really look much improved, especially as compared with what you get watching them on TV.