Peanuts 1960’s Collection (Warner DVD Set)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C+     Episodes: B+

 

 

Continuing Warner Bros. reissues of the animated Peanuts catalog, the Peanuts 1960s Collection offers the previously reissued A Charlie Brown Christmas and It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown that were also included in the Deluxe Holiday Collection.  You can read more about them starting at this link:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/7617/Peanuts+Deluxe+Holiday+Collection

 

 

The previously-issued Charlie Brown’s All-Stars is also included, but making their debut are three of the most underrated specials in what is the longest animated series of TV specials in TV history: You’re In Love, Charlie Brown, He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown and It Was A Short Summer, Charlie Brown.  Not only do they feature the original voice casts and have some of Charles Schultz’s most direct influence and input, but feature some of the best scripts and color schemes the show ever used.  Long overdue for release, they are gems and very entertaining.

 

The titles explain it all, but they tend to be more personal and self-reflective like the best Schultz material.  Love is about the red-haired girl who broke “Chuck’s” heart, Dog is about the Chuck/Snoopy relationship and Summer is a smart look at joy and childhood with an honesty you rarely see anywhere.  Now here on DVD, I hope they are rediscovered for the great shows they are.

 

The 1.33 X 1 color image and Dolby Digital Mono on all shows are upgraded, new transfers that look and sound as good as they are going to on this format, as has been the case in all of Warner’s reissues of the Peanuts specials.  A trailer for a Warner Bros. history retrospective and terrific new special Vince Guaraldi: The Maestro Of Menlo Park about the composer of the classic music for the specials including the classic theme songs are the extras, both letterboxed 1.78 X 1.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo