Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown

''Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown'' is the 13th prime-time animated television special based on the comic strip ''Peanuts'' by Charles M. Schulz. It debuted in the United States on CBS on January 28, 1975.

It received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Children's Special at the 27th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1975. It was one of two ''Peanuts'' specials nominated that year, along with ''It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown''. They lost to ''Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus'' (another Bill Melendez production).

Plot

Linus becomes infatuated with his teacher, Miss Othmar, and purchases a large, heart-shaped box of chocolates as a token of affection. Sally misinterprets his actions, assuming the gift is for her, and begins preparing a valentine in return. Meanwhile, Lucy attends a "pawpet" show staged by Snoopy and narrated by Charlie Brown, which explores the meaning of true love. At home, Sally struggles to create a proper valentine, prompting Charlie Brown to demonstrate how to cut a heart shape. However, Snoopy surpasses him by crafting a complex, music box-inspired valentine.

On Valentine's Day, the children gather to exchange cards and candy. Charlie Brown, optimistic about receiving several valentines, arrives with a briefcase. During the celebration, the group distributes their valentines, including a candy heart that—when read by Sally and interpreted by Snoopy—contains the full text of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's '' Sonnet 43''. As the event ends, Charlie Brown receives nothing except a single candy heart inscribed with "FORGET IT, KID!" Linus also faces disappointment, having missed the chance to deliver his gift to Miss Othmar, who has left with her boyfriend.

Frustrated, Linus throws the box of chocolates off a bridge, where it is quickly eaten by Snoopy and Woodstock. Charlie Brown vents his disappointment by striking and attempting to kick his mailbox, injuring himself in the process.

The following day, Charlie Brown checks his mailbox again, hoping for a belated valentine from the Little Red-Haired Girl, but instead receives a surprise kiss from Snoopy. Later, Violet gives him a reused valentine with her name erased. Schroeder criticizes Violet and the others for their insensitivity and advises Charlie Brown not to accept such a pity gesture. Charlie Brown accepts it anyway. As he and Linus reflect at the brick wall, Charlie Brown expresses regret for ignoring Schroeder’s defense but remains hopeful that Violet’s gesture might lead to more recognition the next year. Linus cautions him against such optimism.

Voice cast

* Duncan Watson as Charlie Brown
* Melanie Kohn as Lucy van Pelt
* Stephen Shea as Linus van Pelt
* Lynn Mortensen as Sally Brown
* Greg Felton as Schroeder
* Linda Ercoli as Violet/ Frieda
* Bill Melendez as Snoopy/Woodstock

Music score

The music score was composed by Vince Guaraldi (except where noted) and conducted and arranged by John Scott Trotter. It was recorded by the Vince Guaraldi Trio on December 9, 17, 18, 23 and 30 1974, at Wally Heider Studios, featuring Guaraldi (piano, electric piano, Minimoog, ARP String Ensemble, electric guitar), Seward McCain (electric bass) and Vince Lateano (drums).

The theme song, "Heartburn Waltz" (Track 15) is performed in ten different variations. A mono version of "Heartburn Waltz" (version 6) was released in 1998 on '' Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits'', the first time any music cues from the special received general release. In the mid-2000s, recording session reel-to-reel tapes for seven 1970s-era ''Peanuts'' television specials scored by Guaraldi were discovered by his son, David Guaraldi, resulting in four additional cues — "Never Again", "Heartburn Waltz" (version 8), "There's Been a Change" and "Heartburn Waltz" (aka "Charlie Brown's Wake-Up") (version 9) — featuring on the compilation album, ''Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials, Volume 2'' (2008).

A remastered soundtrack album featuring original recordings and bonus tracks was released on January 17, 2025.Vince Guaraldi's "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (Original Soundtrack Recording 50th Anniversary Extended Edition)" press release
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Television

The special placed in the top 20 for television ratings in its first airing in 1975. It aired annually on CBS from 1975 to 2000.

After the original special aired in 1975, many children sent Charlie Brown valentines via Charles Schulz.

Home media

The special was released on the CED format in 1982 along with ''It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown'', ''He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown'', and '' Life Is a Circus, Charlie Brown''. It was released on VHS in 1986 and 1988, from Media Home Entertainment and its Hi-Tops Video subsidiary, respectively, through the "Snoopy's Home Video Library" collection. That release cut out the opening scene in which Snoopy shoots arrows. It was released again in its entirety by Paramount Home Media Distribution on January 11, 1995, and was re-released in clamshell packaging on October 1, 1996. Paramount released the special on January 7, 2003 on DVD with ''You're in Love, Charlie Brown'' and ''It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown''. It was rereleased on January 15, 2008 by Warner Home Video in a "remastered deluxe edition" with a new bonus featurette, "Unlucky in Love: An Unrequited Love Story". It has been released on laserdisc, and is available on iTunes.

References

External links

DVD Review of Deluxe Edition
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{{Vince Guaraldi

Peanuts television specials
1970s animated television specials
CBS television specials
Television shows directed by Phil Roman
1970s American television specials
1975 television specials
1975 in American television
Valentine's Day television specials
Television shows written by Charles M. Schulz