Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown - Wikipedia

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Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown
Genre	Animated television special
Created by	Charles M. Schulz
Written by	Charles M. Schulz
Directed by	Phil Roman
Voices of	Duncan Watson Melanie Kohn Stephen Shea Lynn Mortensen Greg Felton Bill Melendez Linda Ercoli
Theme music composer	Vince Guaraldi
Opening theme	"Heartburn Waltz"
Ending theme	"Nocturne in E♭ major, Op. 9, No. 2"
Composers	Vince Guaraldi Frédéric Chopin Johann Sebastian Bach Ludwig van Beethoven John Scott Trotter
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producer	Lee Mendelson
Producer	Bill Melendez
Editors	Chuck McCann Roger Donley
Running time	25:15
Production companies	Lee Mendelson Film Productions Bill Melendez Productions
Original release
Network	CBS
Release	January 28, 1975
Related
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974) You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (1975)

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown is the 13th prime-time animated television special based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.^[1] In the United States, it debuted on CBS on January 28, 1975.^[2]

The special 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, but they both lost to Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus (another Bill Melendez production).^[3]

Linus harbors deep admiration for his teacher, Miss Othmar, and, as a gesture of affection, he purchases an oversized, heart-shaped box of chocolates for her. However, upon his departure, Sally misinterprets his intent and assumes the gift was meant for her, prompting her to craft a valentine in return. Meanwhile, Lucy attends a puppet show—stylized as a “pawpet” performance—hosted by Snoopy, with Charlie Brown serving as the narrator. In this theatrical presentation, Snoopy conveys a narrative centered on the nature of true love. At home, Sally struggles to fashion a proper valentine, leading Charlie Brown to demonstrate how to cut out a heart. However, his efforts are soon overshadowed by Snoopy, who skillfully crafts an intricate, music box-inspired valentine.

On Valentine’s Day, the group gathers to exchange cards and candy. Charlie Brown, optimistic about receiving numerous valentines, arrives equipped with a briefcase in eager anticipation. During the celebration, each member of the group receives their respective valentines and candy hearts, one of which—read aloud by Sally and theatrically interpreted by Snoopy—somehow contains the entirety of Sonnet 43 from Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. However, as the distribution concludes, it becomes painfully evident that Charlie Brown has received nothing, save for a single candy heart bearing the dismissive message, “FORGET IT, KID!” Linus, too, experiences disappointment, as he is unable to present his gift to Miss Othmar, who has departed with her boyfriend.

Both Charlie Brown and Linus respond to their disappointment in distinct ways. In a fit of frustration, Linus hurls the box of chocolates from a bridge, only for each piece to be swiftly caught and consumed by Snoopy and Woodstock. Charlie Brown, meanwhile, vents his frustration by slamming his briefcase against his mailbox and attempting to kick it, inadvertently injuring his foot in the process.

The following day, Charlie Brown, still clinging to hope, checks his mailbox for a belated valentine from the Little Red-Haired Girl. Instead, he is met with an unexpected kiss from Snoopy, who playfully extends his head from the mailbox before promptly shutting the door, much to Charlie Brown’s dismay. Shortly thereafter, Violet, in an act of belated courtesy, presents Charlie Brown with a used valentine, having erased her name from it. Schroeder, perceptive of her insincerity, reprimands Violet, Lucy, Sally, and the others, chastising them for their thoughtless behavior. He strongly advises Charlie Brown against accepting such a token of pity. Despite Schroeder’s admonition, Charlie Brown ultimately takes the valentine. Later, as he and Linus reconvene at the familiar brick wall, he expresses regret for disregarding Schroeder’s defense of him. Nevertheless, he remains hopeful that Violet’s reluctant offering will establish a precedent, leading to greater recognition in the following year. Linus, however, advises against undue optimism.

• 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

The music score for the special was composed by Vince Guaraldi (except where noted) and conducted and arranged by John Scott Trotter.^[4] 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).^[5]

The special's theme song, "Heartburn Waltz" (Track 15) is performed in ten different variations.^[4] A mono version of "Heartburn Waltz" (version 6) was first released in 1998 on Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits, marking the first time any music cues from the special received a general release.^[4][6][7] 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. This resulted 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) — being made available on the compilation album, Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials, Volume 2 (2008).^[7][8]

A remastered soundtrack album featuring original recordings and several bonus tracks was released for the first time on January 17, 2025.^[9]

The special originally aired annually on CBS from 1975 to 2000.^[10] The special placed in the top 20 for television ratings in its first airing in 1975.^[11]

The special aired annually on ABC from 2001 until 2020, paired with A Charlie Brown Valentine starting in 2009. (In this special, Linus attempts to give a valentine to his teacher as Charlie Brown hopes to receive one.) After that, Be My Valentine and other Peanuts specials left broadcast TV for streaming and moved to Apple TV.

After the original special aired in 1975, similar to what happened after It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, many children sent Charlie Brown lots of valentines via Charles Schulz out of sympathy.^[12]

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 part in the opening scene where Snoopy keeps shooting 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 also been released on laserdisc, and is available on iTunes.

• DVD Review of Deluxe Edition
• Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown at IMDb