Peanuts 1970s Collection Volume 2 Review

When it comes to Peanuts television specials, I find myself drawn especially to the ones that are a little more on the lesser-known side. This is even more true when it comes to owning them on DVD, and that makes the Peanuts 1970s Collection Volume 2 a great purchase.

I love the big specials, of course, but those are going to be on every Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and while owning them is a treat, you aren't going to miss seeing them.

This collection brings you some of the rarer treasures, and even if they aren't the ones that immediately come to mind when you think of the Peanuts gang, there are nevertheless Emmy-winning and nominated shows here. More importantly, there are some very cool episodes.

The Collection Features-

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975) – In this Emmy® nominated special, the Peanuts gang make preparations for the upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday.  Everyone has high hopes of having their dreams of love and friendship fulfilled.  Charlie Brown wants to get a Valentine from anyone and patiently waits by his mailbox.  Linus is on a mission to find a perfect Valentine’s gift for his favorite teacher, Miss Othmar.  Lucy wants Schroeder to finally notice her.  Will they be satisfied to their heart’s content or are they headed for heartbreak?

You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (1975) -- Start your engines! Its Motocross season and competing against the likes of Peppermint Patty and the Masked Marvel – aka a certain daredevil beagle named Snoopy – can intimidate anyone. But if Charlie Brown – tagged with unlucky number 13 – can keep the pace slow and steady (as well as hold onto his helmet), he might just win the race! It’s fast and furious fun right up through the finish line with this wonderful Emmy® Award winner.

It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown (1976) – In this Emmy® nominated special, the Peanuts gang undertakes a gardening project to celebrate Arbor Day and wind up turning Charlie Brown’s baseball diamond into a lush garden.  Charlie Brown, who has a game approaching against Peppermint Patty’s team, makes the best of the situation by attaching gloves and caps onto the trees. Curiously, this turns as an advantage for him.  Peppermint Patty’s team is unable to score because all the balls are hit right in the gloves.  Will Charlie Brown’s team win the big game?

What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown (1978) – Charlie Brown is dismayed at Snoopy’s complacent attitude, thinking he’s become too comfortable in his home life. That night, Snoopy dreams he’s an Alaskan sled dog, who is mistreated by his sled master and his fellow sled dogs who deny him food and water.  The comforts of home never seemed so distant and Snoopy reaches his breaking point. Will he take a stand and face up to the fierce pack as they make their way through the snowy wilderness?

It’s Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown (1977)  – It’s homecoming night and Charlie Brown is asked to escort the homecoming queen, who just so happens to be the elusive, little red-haired girl whom he has been pining for all his life. In spite of his trembling from nervousness, he escorts her to the dance floor and somehow summons up the courage to kiss her on the cheek.  This kiss is electrifying and sends him to cloud nine.   However, from that moment forward, everything becomes a complete blur.  Charlie Brown wakes the next morning having no memory of anything that happened.  Did he manage to sweep the little red-haired girl off her feet?

You’re the Greatest, Charlie Brown (1979) – In this Emmy® Award winning special, hard work and team spirit are what Charlie Brown needs to win the decathlon at the school Junior Olympics event.  His competitors are Marcie, defending Decathlon champ Freddie Fabulous and the Masked Marvel (aka, Snoopy).  On the first day, Charlie Brown places third. On day two however, he begins to feel the pressure. He’s faced with having to tackle the high hurdles, pole vault, discus/javelin throw, and other events. Will he emerge victorious and win the Olympics for his school?

Possibly the most recognizable title is the Valentine's Day special, because it actually gets aired and has little competition for the holiday's attention, but the final three are, I think, the most interesting. What a Nightmare is a truly unique, nearly Snoopy-exclusive title, and the storyline is unlike anything you've ever seen before. A treasure for its curiosity value alone, not to mention the fact that you aren't likely to catch it on television, this fun, yet somewhat dark journey through Snoopy's life as a sled dog is one that I think a lot of people will fall in love with.

You're the Greatest is another title that runs a little different than the norm, but also stands out for featuring an Olympic-centered story, and the truly fabulous Freddie Fabulous. Of course, there's a lot to sell It's Arbor Day now, well, because what other Arbor Day special are you waiting for?

While the love of the big Peanuts titles is inescapable, there's something about these later and lesser-known titles. The closer we get to 1980, the more things lean toward a richer storytelling experience, and these are all great efforts.

Also included in this release is the bonus feature -

You’re Groovy, Charlie Brown: A Look at Peanuts in the '70's – This featurette takes a look at the Peanuts in the 70s. From the daily work rituals and comic strip techniques of Charles Schulz, to the environment of Creative Associates, Peanuts is examined in this loving tribute to the comic strip and animation.  This is the story of how Peanuts and the 1970s were the perfect blend.

While this might have been a little longer, this is a true bonus for fans. With interview footage, and a look at the office where Schulz worked, this is a nice featurette that's somewhat difficult to categorize. It's so generically "behind-the-scenes" of the entire enterprise the Peanuts became, that it isn't exactly behind-the-scenes of anything in particular. If you enjoy the gang, you're going to love seeing the world in which they were created, and getting some more insight into the man who did the creating. You may find it difficult to avoid calling him "Sparky" from now on though.

Check out a couple of clips -

Own it on DVD today!

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About Marc Eastman

Marc Eastman is the owner and operator of Are You Screening? and has been writing film reviews for over a decade, and several branches of the internet's film review world have seen his name. His reviews have brought him personal praise from the director of a major motion picture, and have been used as required reading in a course at a major University. These priceless rewards, along with just bags of cash, keep him from straying from freelance writing. He is also a member of The Broadcast Film Critics Association and The Broadcast Television Journalists Association.

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