charlestt-26841 While I loved the Charlie Brown Christmas, I must say I always liked the Great Pumpkin one more. Where else could you get Snoopy really fighting hard in his Sopwith Camel? I also enjoyed the Santa Claus/Great Pumpkin/God angle to Linus, being the character which once more displays his devotion to a superior being, though misguided in this case. He knows there's something greater out there and he reaches for it.I also enjoy all the Halloween artwork within the episode, and as I saw this for the first times, parts of it actually scared me a bit in the old days.The thing I enjoy the most about it though, is a spin I have put on it and this is where my time warp heading comes in. There are a few references not only to Linus having done this in years past, but also Linus is promising to do it again, as the Great Pumpkin devotee. So to me, this is the most poignant example I can think of as a Flying Dutchman episode, without it being made to put such a point across. I like to see it as Linus and company having to relive this day every year. The rest of the year some of the other Charlie Brown specials would apply to their lives of course, but between all of those, they live ordinary lives as kids, with something different always going on. They never age, but this special they must always relive in particular, because Linus keeps making the yearly fool of himself.BTW, the idea that at least three houses carried rocks in their house and had it available to any kids they didn't like is pretty lame. As well, the Charlie Brown kicking Lucy's football is always kind of weird, because despite how much Chuck isn't liked, you would think he could at least get Linus to hold a ball for him, and yet Lucy and him behave as though he will never be able to kick a ball because she will always yank it away. In a sense, the football antics could be another thing that are caught in The Flying Dutchman aspect to Peanuts, as Chuck never gets anybody else to hold it and he never learns much from it.So next year, I will once more watch The Great Pumpkin episode, fully expecting them to be still fully caught in their time warp.

huggibear To have Charles Schultz' peanuts cartoons in present day animation would be awesome because the animations have gotten so good in the present day filming industry. A girl can dream of 'present day animation remakes of all the Peanuts cartoons'. Then we can all all Dr. Seuss' in the same manner. Are there any others we can remake? I wouldn't doubt that we could remake all cartoons in present day animation techniques. Keep the same stories though because that's timeless pieces of these cartoons. What about Tom & Jerry, Scooby Doo, Winnie the Pooh, oh so many to remake in present day animation, huh? I have never reviewed this before, so It's about time I did. I could watch this every year at Halloween. Solid high score of 8 Stars from me!! Come on back Charles Schultz, please? The piano tunes are so token peanuts and very recognizable and memorable! I'm fifty decades old and I still love it.

AaronCapenBanner Third animated special based on the cartoon strips of Charles M. Schulz is also the best, a fondly remembered and still quite popular tale about how Linus decides to forgo trick or treating with his friends to stay in the pumpkin patch to get presents from the Great Pumpkin, a legendary figure who is quite similar to Santa Claus. Meanwhile, poor Charlie Brown gets only rocks in his bag, and mistakenly invited to Violet's Halloween party, where Lucy uses his head as a pumpkin model! Sally's love for Linus is also tested, and Snoopy becomes a WWI flying Ace. Wonderful tale has a distinct Halloween feel to it, and is also both funny and even spooky. A perennial holiday favorite.

ExplorerDS6789 I think the above quote can sum this special nicely. I mean, it wouldn't feel like the holidays without the Peanuts, and I'm sure you are all familiar with this one. This half-hour of classic Halloween fun begins with Lucy and Linus marching into the local pumpkin patch and selecting a nice, big one, which Linus is forced to carry home, or rather roll home with him on it. Once they get it home, the boy is dismayed that Lucy hadn't told him beforehand that she was going to "kill it." The next day, Linus "helps" Charlie Brown and Snoopy rake leaves, then Lucy tries to entice Charlie Brown to kick the football. He doesn't want to fall for it...literally, but then Lucy presents him with a signed document that states she won't pull the ball away again. Chuck surprisingly believes her and tries for a running kick, and predictably falls flat on his back, because apparently the signed document wasn't notarized. Sheesh, how do these guys put up with her? After that, Linus writes a letter to the Great Pumpkin, the Halloween equivalent of Santa Claus, apparently. His friends all balk at this concept, but Linus remains confident. He's sure GP will rise out of the pumpkin patch and gives presents. So come Halloween night, the gang is all dressed up, including Charlie Brown as a Swiss-cheese ghost, and Linus sits in the patch, and waits. He convinces Sally to wait with him, so she misses out on her first trick-or-treat outing to wait with Linus.Snoopy, dressed as a WWI flying ace, has an interesting adventure as the Red Baron shoots down his dog house, leaving him stranded behind enemy lines. While he manages to avoid detection, the kids finish up trick or treating and find they had a successful run...except Charlie Brown who only received rocks. Then it's on to Violet's Halloween party, to which Charlie Brown was surprisingly invited, mainly so he could model for a jack-o-lantern. Snoopy crashes the party, then ventures out to the pumpkin patch. Linus predictably assumes him to be the Great Pumpkin and faints. Sally is furious at being cheated out of "tricks or treats", berates Linus by saying he owns her restitution and leaves with the others. Always the optimist, Linus continues to wait well into the night. At 4:00, Lucy finds her half-frozen brother asleep in the pumpkin patch and brings him inside. Say, where are these kids' parents anyway? So has Linus learned anything from this experience? Maybe that the pumpkin patch in which he waited wasn't sincere enough, and he vows to try again next year, and every year until the Great Pumpkin finally shows up.Classic. I watch it every Halloween, and I believe you all should too. You know what I think makes this such a timeless piece that can be rebroadcast every year? Just that: it's timeless. You could watch it in 1966 or 2013 and it would still fit. Most animated specials today are loaded with cultural references and crude humor, which turn off their audiences and date themselves horribly. The Peanuts specials never did that, they respected their audiences and were genuine. What makes this work is that it's for ANYBODY at ANY TIME. Again, in 1966, 2013 or even in 3066, people will still be enjoying this special, as it's aimed at the kid in all of us. Another Halloween has come and gone, but I still urge you to see It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown...even though this special was more about Linus than CB. Another interesting observation: in the Christmas special, it was established that Linus knows the true meaning of the season, and he apparently doesn't believe in Santa as referenced in the dialog, yet he believes in the Great Pumpkin. But then he IS just a kid.