What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? (1983)
As they begin their journey home from their student exchange term, Charlie Brown and the gang find themselves sidetracked. They have severe car trouble and more importantly, they pass by various monuments to World Wars I & II. With Linus guiding them through these memorials, they learn about the events of the wars and the sacrifices required of the troops who fought them.
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Pretty Good
Don't listen to the negative reviews
This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.
In this 23-minute animated short film from 1983, Melendez and Schulz take on American history the Peanuts way. As usual, it was Emmy-nominated, but I must say I did not really find this a very memorable watch and it was one of the weaker Peanuts films I have recently seen. There is an interesting snippet in here occasionally, but hands down when you want to watch a historic documentary you don't go for Peanuts. I guess they mostly wanted to make this for those who were already Peanuts fans in the 1960s and were grown-up now. This movie starts actually funny with Snoopy's car struggles as the gang travels to France, but the longer it goes the more the fun vanishes and it becomes 100% history information. Maybe you need to be an American citizen to appreciate this one. Certainly, a fairly different Charlie Brown film, but not a good in my opinion. Thumbs down.
This beautiful animated Peanuts Memorial Day Special is a must see for anyone who loves America. This is a sequel to the film Bon Voyage Charlie Brown and takes place right after the gang leaves France. The film is loaded with powerful WWII imagery and also talks about WWI which is also interesting. Linus's speech "In Flander's Fields" is extremely moving. Shultz was a WWII veteran and he delivers an excellent episode that everyone should see.
Like many other Peanuts specials from the 80's, this walks a fine line between educational content and entertainment. However, the special works very well- the education isn't beaten over one's head, while the entertainment isn't frivolous. Unlike many other cartoon specials "celebrating" various things, this one has a message, and it has an emotional impact.As another poster has commented, this is ostensibly a sequel to the feature film Bon Voyage Charlie Brown (And Don't Come Back)- a film that Mr. Charles Schulz found to be disappointing. He more than made up for it with this 1/2 hour special... the events in the feature film are truthfully ignored for the most part; it's just used as a springboard to get the Peanuts gang back into France.I have, over the years, gotten inured to and distrustful of the motives behind most of the glorifying/worshipping films regarding WW2. I'm not much for hero worship, and being beaten over the head with propaganda about how previous generations were better/holier than later generations. However, this special, unlike so many critically acclaimed films, presents the facts and emotions underlying much of WW2- one is left to make one's own judgement. It's one of the most powerful messages about the Allied forces' sacrifices I've ever seen... all presented through the mouths of tiny animated children.
This film is the sequel to "Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (And Don't Come Back!)". Charlie Brown and his crew are travelling along across the French countryside, when they come to Omaha Beach, where the allied forces landed on D-Day. Linus tells them about D-Day and WWII. This is an amazing film. I strongly recommend that you watch this video.