Customer Reviews

Snoopy Come Home [VHS]

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have seen all the Peanuts movies, and this is the Peanuts movie that really makes me cry no matter how many years I have been watching it for (since around 1979 or so, when I was 5 or 6). It deals with the fact that Snoopy has gotten a letter from his former owner, a little girl named Lila. She is sick in the hospital and asks him to come see her (how did she get Charlie's addresss? Maybe the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm kept the Brown's address, and she asked them for it). He goes to see her, and then comes back. He then tells the rest of the gang (by typing out that he is leaving some of his worldly possessions to them, since he can't speak) that he must return to her. Here's where the sad part comes in--the going away party, and one of the saddest songs you'll ever hear in your whole life. It really hit me hard because my best friend at the time had moved away, and it always makes me think of that. This movie to me deals with losing a best friend, and then them coming back to you, which is what happened with me in real life. Also, you get to learn the story of how Charlie Brown got Snoopy in the first place (an incident on a playground resulted in Charlie's parents going to the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm and picking out Snoopy a their dog). But, as with all the Peanuts movies, there is a happy ending...I think that you could figure out what it is, because even I'm happy in the end after crying my eyes out :)!

I don't even remember seeing this one when I was growing up, but I used to have it on videotape for my oldest daughter. I recently got it on dvd and my youngest daughter was mesmerized (her first intro to Peanuts), my older daughter was thrilled to see it again, and even my husband stopped what he was doing and stood in the doorway for a bit before reluctantly sitting down to watch the rest.

It is done so well, and it's such a good movie!

It starts off with great scenes of Snoopy playing with the Peanuts gang (and Woodstock-- his first appearance anywhere). Snoopy surfing, helping Peppermint Patty build a grand sand castle, just enjoying life as only Snoopy does! But, then he finds himself excluded from the beach the next day as a "No Dogs Allowed" sign appears. And then it seems there are "No Dogs Allowed" signs just about everywhere. Charlie Brown gets angry at Snoopy and Snoopy is a bit unhappy. Just about this time, we meet Lila-- a sweet lonely little girl in a far away hospital. Remembering when Snoopy belonged to her, she writes Snoopy a letter.

When Snoopy receives the letter, he becomes all teary eyed and, with Woodstock, begins the journey to visit Lila.

Though Charlie Brown is sad to see Snoopy go, Snoopy must leave and he and Woodstock find the journey itself to be quite an adventure. And, once he finds Lila, Snoopy has a difficult decision to make. This one is a definite tear-jerker!

Vince Guaraldi's music is absent here-- all the songs are written by Richard Sherman and Robert Sherman. As I remember finding fault in this while watching it on videotape years ago, I was completely happy with the music now. Vince Guaraldi's jazzy piano might be more fun, but the Sherman tunes were truly delightful.

Snoopy Come Home is one of the best Peanuts movies-- completely charming from beginning to end!

I don't know what exactly Lucy was trying to say in her going away speech (and I'm sure she didn't either), but let's face it- Snoopy was more than just a dog. This is the most emotional of all Peanuts efforts (and is Woodstock's animation debut). The plot: Snoopy gets a letter from his original owner, Lila, who misses him and wants him back. This means he would leave the security of the Brown residence. It has his funny parts: the No Dogs Allowed signs everywhere (one of them is just what he needs in the end!), Snoopy surfing, fighting Lucy with 1 boxing glove (on his nose!), fighting Linus for his blanket (Linus retaliates by flinging 1 of his shoes at Snoopy!), the obnoxiously friendly Clara who kidnaps Snoopy (probably inspired Elmira on Tiny Toons), and Linus's classic line: "You got a used dog, Charlie Brown!". Then, of course, are the tear-jerking scenes: poor, sweet Lila begs Snoopy to stay with her, Snoopy's going-away party in which the entire Peanuts gang is in tears (even the crabby Lucy), and Snoopy bidding his final farewell to his pal Woodstock and his long-suffering master, Charlie Brown (who laments "I need more hellos!").

Indeed. My mother, Shelby Flint, sang that saddest song. Decades later just thinking of this tune ("Do You Remember Me") still has an affect on me. My friends and I even now dare eachother to see this cartoon because it is so heartwrenching -- in large part (I think) due to that song! A much-loved story.

What is it about this "children's film" that has repeatedly moved me so deeply over the years? Is it the amusing sight gags embedded into a wonderful production? Is it one of the finest musical score efforts by the Sherman brothers, with their masterpieces of clever lyrics and haunting harmonies? Is it the perfect translation of the Peanuts characters from strip to screen (to video)?

I think the real treasure and power of "Snoopy Come Home" lies in the fact that it touches on a number of psychological issues that are relevant to children. Charles Schulz's usual introspection (he's the writer here, thank God) plumbs the depths of some deep issues -- independence, separation from a familiar environment, loss of a close friend, uncertainty over the welfare of a loved one, encountering the "threat" of a stranger (the aggressively happy girl who captures Snoopy and Woodstock), the renewal of long-forgotten relationships, and loyal dedication to those we too often take for granted. This animated film is truly underrated in its power to move.

Here's to a great "cartoon film" that does a fantastic job of retaining the spirit of the comic strip. It's a wonderful part of Charles Schulz's legacy.

Well, as you see this video tape is fantastic because of his content, when snoopy leaves to find a place where there aren't any signs which say <NO DOGS ALLOWED> so that he could enter in any place he likes. Despite living for this reason, he left for another reason. To visit his ex-owner, Lila. Lila bought snoopy in August but her family couldn't afford keeping him. So, they returned snoopy to the farm they got him. Then Charlie Brown's family acquires snoopy and he tries to forget Lila and begin a new life. Although he forgot her, when he found out she was in the hospital, on the letter he was received, he ran to see her. Finally, Lila convices snoopy to come with her, but snoopy understands how much Charlie needs and he abandones her and goes back to Charlie Brown.

Charlie Brown is continually getting screwed over but this time, it has gone too far. His beloved dog Snoopy, (AKA WWI Flying ACE) has left the comforts of his dog house (Sopwith Camel) in order to try and find his original owner. Apparently all the perks that come with living with the Brown residence just weren't adding up. This film will rip your heart out of your chest and squeeze it dry. Make sure you are equipped with plenty of kleenix because tears are sure to fall as Charlie Brown must deal with not only his terrible luck but also with the departure of his best friend. This film makes "Beaches" look like a comedy. A real tearjerker.

Yeah....me too......I gotta agree with one of the other reviewers. I, too, turn into a whimpering mess when I'm watching certain scenes of this film. I'm 31 as of this writing, and "Lila's Theme (Do You Remember Me?)" still gets me.

Snoopy is the true lead of this movie, and he pulls it off nicely--from the long "hiking" footage, to the classic scene in the library with "The Bunnies". It gets me laughing every time.

But, viewer beware. This film just might be a bit too heavy for a little kid. They really went for the hanky-factor here, and you'd better have a box of them by your side.

While this movie does indeed have its downer moments, on the whole it is just a gem. The Sherman Brothers soundtrack has stuck with me all of these years since I was a wee little kid sitting on the floor in front of the TV with the VHS playing over and over. Hunt down the Soundtrack LP (Columbia Masterworks) to hear the music in beautiful W-I-D-E stereo.

Which brings us to some technical mumbo-jumbo. The DVD soundtrack leaves a little to be desired. OK....there really isn't that much that warrants a 5.0 mix, but they should have just given us the original mono track instead of the newly-yet-poorly-produced (IMHO) Stereo mix that we are presented with. The new stereo track is indeed stereo, but it consisted of a front-up-center voice/singing/dialog track with the music track "chorused" into a stereo effect. It's not bad and far from unlistenable, but when you actually get the chance to hear the original soundtrack LP, you only begin to wish that CBS/Paramount put a little more effort into this and hunted down some of the stereo music.

We don't even get a trailer! This is truly a bare bones disc.

The picture clarity is there, though. As far as colors go, this DVD looks SHARP. Some of the picture is so clear that at times you can actually see some shadowing of the actual animation cells against the background artwork. It looks vivid. They either used a beautiful condition print, or they did some GREAT restoration. Either way, it looks VERY good.

However, with the compliment comes the complaint. While I have not confirmed it yet as of this writing with my packed-away VHS dub, I seem to recall that the original VHS issue was Full Frame, and there are scenes on this DVD which I could swear are missing some picture at the top and bottom. The credit sequences are presented in side-masked Full-Frame, yet the film goes "widescreen" between the beginning and the end.

This movie would get an instant "5" rating, but the sound and the uncalled-for Letterboxing drop it down a notch.

Still.....this is probably all we're ever gonna get on DVD, so buy it anyway. The movie is a must-own....even with the technical blahs.

If this is the full frame letterboxed, I wouldn't know. I don't remember seeing the movie back in 1972.

With that aside, I would say that it has been a long time in coming. I have been hoping for the Charlie Brown movies on DVD in any format. I hope that the other two movies and television specials (It's a Mystery, CB and What a Nightmare, CB for examples) will come out on DVD.

A Boy Named Charlie Brown had additional footage on it that was not on the television broadcast or the VHS / clamshell addition. As for Snoopy, it appears to be the same length and content as the VHS version. I was a bit disappointed by this but not terribly so.

For film that was done it 1972, the transition to DVD went very nicely. It is a classic for kids all the way up to age 99. A long time in coming and well worth being added to one's DVD collection.

I bought the VHS (because it has not been released on DVD) version of this movie for my 5 y/o daughter (an avid Peanuts fan) and myself. I last saw this movie at least 25 years ago, yet I remembered all the songs/lyrics as if I had just watched it yesterday. My little girl was captivated by the movie and the so very sad "goodbye scene" even made her cry (which in turn almost made me cry).