Our Monthly feature of looking back at Charlie Brown , non-holiday related specials continues with "What have we learned Charlie Brown?"
The events in this special take place right after the ending of the movie "Bon Voyage ,Charlie Brown" (and don't come back , which is kind of mean)
We might have to talk about the movie some day. "What Have learned?" premiered on May 30th 1983 on the network of CBS. The specials events take place as Charlie Brown and Gang are in France still and do a little sight seeing as they were on their way back to the train station. The special starts when Charlie Brown was looking at his photo album with Sally she asks Charlie "What did you learn Charlie Brown?" and it reminds him of what Linus asked him. He then tells the story.
Their rental car that Snoopy is driving (of course Snoopy is driving who do you expect , Marcie?) breaks down a few times where they meet a older French lady who finds out Snoopy was a World War I flying ace, and gives him a new car. (One the Snoopy doesn't mind electrocuting Charlie Brown) They get lost and decide to spend the night at a beach , where in the morning Linus figures out that it's Omaha Beach. Linus then tells the story of the battle of D-Day (including the voice of Eisenhower) Then as they continue their trip they make it to Ypres where Linus talks of events of World War I. To the poppies that are used to mark the battles that happened there. He then gives a rendition of the poem "In Flanders Fields".
Linus ends with "What have we Learned ,Charlie Brown".
The special , as most of the Peanuts ones are, is good it has some funny parts in it , but at the same time gives a real good look at some parts of World Wars I and II with the great visuals and use of footage. The music also fits very well with the moments that fits well with the somber subject that it takes on.
It's a great special to watch and also to share with younger family members that approaches something that Peanuts can do so well compared to many other cartoon characters . I might even use that phrase for when we write about another Peanuts special that also fits well into that.
