Customer Reviews

This is America, Charlie Brown V. 5 - The NASA Space Station [VHS]

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Volume 8 (The Music and Heroes of America) is another one of my favorite volumes to This Is America, Charlie Brown.

As it begins, Schroeder is reluctant to let Snoopy participate for his report on music in America. So Charlie Brown proposes that if Snoopy behave himself, he be allowed. Both agree and the band features Snoopy on banjo, Franklin on drums, Pig Pen on bass, Charlie Brown on harmonica and trumpet, Linus on guitar and trombone and Schroeder on piano (what else?). The gang plays "Alexander's Ragtime Band", "Yankee Doodle", and "Oh When the Saints Go Marching In",pays homage to John Phillips Sousa with "Stars and Stripes Forever", Irving Berlin, George Cohan with "Yankee Doodle Dandy", and Scott Joplin with "Maple Leaf Rag".

Then Lucy announces that she'd like to combine her report on heroes of America with Schroeder's (naturally, he's furious but the teacher agrees!). She pays homage to Susan B Anthony, Clara Barton, and Helen Keller (even dares to put a Susan B Anthony bust atop Schroeder's piano!). Other heroes mentioned include Eissenhower, Martin Luther King, and Jonas Salk. Peppermint Patty talks about immigration and pay homage to Irving Berlin. There's even mention of Vietnam ("Where Have All the Flowers Gone"). Snoopy dresses up as Franklin D Roosevelt and Elvis.

Franklin gives a report on African American History (paying homage to George Washington Carver and Booker T Washington) and talks about spirituals ("Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen"), and the formation of gospel, ragtime, blues and jazz.

As this episode ends, Charlie Brown is asked what his favorite song is (watch for yourself to find out!). Ed Bogas, Desiree Goyette, and Lou Rawls all contribute to the musical score of this final volume of This Is America, Charlie Brown.

The 1st part of this 7th volume of This Is America, Charlie Brown features the Peanuts gang at the many museums of the Smithsonian Institution. Snoopy gets upset when he see the Red Baron's airplane, Charlie Brown is flattered to see a lunar space module named after himself and Snoopy, Sally wonders if the paintings displayed were "paint by numbers" paintings, Lucy spots a cartoon of herself pulling that football away from you-know-who ("How did we wind up there?", she wonders), and Linus witnesses a big mouth and dares to tell Lucy "We finally found something with a mouth bigger than yours!"

The 2nd part of this video talks about the Presidents. Charlie Brown and Linus go back to 1865 and visit Abraham Lincoln as he's on his way to Gettysburg, PA. Linclon discusses the Civil War and a speech he's currently getting ready to give (known as the Gettysburg Address, of course!). Then the gang goes to 1901 in Yosemite National Park to hear Theodore Roosevelt talk about his plans to conserve wildlife. Finally, they go to the 1930's and witness the Great Depression. Franklin D. Roosevelt is inaugurated and promises aid to those out of work. Dave Grusin provides this video's soundtrack, and selections of it are featured on the CD Happy Anniverdsary, Charlie Brown.

This Is America, Charlie Brown cartoons were very innovative specials that featured the Peanuts characters in important moments in history, and gave kids (as well as parents) a fun insight on how certain historical characters (and their influences) came to be. This episode is about the how the Constitution was created, as well as how the legislative, executive and judicial branches affected the delegates. The special mainly revolved around Linus and Peppermint Patty, but the other usual characters were there as well (although Schroeder was only in one scene, but he didn't have any lines).

I knocked off a star because the idea of Charlie Brown inventing all those sports, like basketball and baseball ("I bet hitting a ball with a stick would make a GREAT game!"), was a little too surreal. But it's all right because the special is still great. These This Is America specials rarely come on television any more, so if you want to see them, click the ADD TO CART button.

Anthony Rupert

Because I'm an armchair railfan, I bought this video for my children; so far it is their least favorite in the series. In telling the story, a number of colorized old photos were used; too much colorization rendered some images hard to distinguish. Also there is a bit much repetitious animation (mostly wielding of hammers and picks) during the musical segments. This video could have been much better, but nonetheless it contains a lot of information on the "transcontinental" (actually just Nebraska-to-California) railroad and is a good educational tool. --- Paul H!

My 4 year old and my 6 year old enjoy this tape very much. They have learned much about the Transcontinental Railroad. This video is packed with a lot of facts, but done in a way that the children enjoy watching. I am well pleased that it is a part of our collection.

Volume 4 of This Is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyages takes us back to 1620. The Peanuts gang witnesses 1st hand the long and dreary ride from England to the New Land on the Mayflower. Charlie Brown gets seasick and Linus tells him to have faith. Lucy quips "A bath and a change of clothes would help too!" When they finally land on Plymouth Rock, they endure their 1st winter. Lucy feels the need to be in charge ("Miles Standish put me in charge because of my pretty face!"), much to Peppermint Patty's resentment. Later, the pilgrims make friends with Samoset and Squanto, who give them agricultural advice and help them get settled into the New Land. Ed Bogas, who composed the music for Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown, provides this volume's film score.

This is one of the best presentations of what the Mayflower pilgrims really went through on their historical voyage to America. It also portrays accurately how hard life was for the pilgrims during their first year in their new country. It is truthful and accurate. A must for any primary classroom.

This movie is a factual cartoon relating the building of the transcontinental railroad across our country. As a teacher, I found this video short and to the point. It is easier for young children to relate to than most of the other movies and videos available on this part of our country's history. Very educational.

In this 1st volume of This Is America, Charlie Brown: The Inventors, Sally gives her report on many of the different inventions in America, with Snoopy demonstrating each one (he gets Sally in trouble for his crazy antics!). Then Linus gives his report on Alexander Graham Bell (it's fun watching Linus go back in time and watch Mr. Bell's telephone invention take off). Peppermint Patty and Marcie give a report on Thomas Edison, inventor of the phonograph and the electric lightbulb (Peppermint Patty also goes back in time and pays Mr. Edison a visit). Finally, Charlie Brown gives a report on the invention of the automobile (then called the horseless carriage; see Snoopy and Lucy race against each other) and Henry Ford's improvements. David Benoit, who would later release Here's to You, Charlie Brown, composes the music.

The NASA Space Station (Volume 5 of This Is America, Charlie Brown) is one of my favorites of the 8 volumes!

It all starts out with Linus building a replica of a space station (will he win?). That night, he dreams that he and the Peanuts gang are part of a crew travelling in space for 90 days. Lucy is Space Commander ("One small step to becoming a queen!"), Snoopy is the space station operator, Linus is the crew's scientist, Peppermint Patty is in charge of exercise (her exercise plan is similar to one of a drill seargant's!), and Charlie Brown is in charge of cooking and photography (he has a hard time keeping his culinary experiments on the ground!). Pig Pen demonstrates how a shower is taken in outer space, but of course, doesn't stay clean for long! Woodstock demonstrates flight in zero gravity but isn't too successful in his own power! Lucy has an experiment of her own- having Charlie Brown kick the football on national television. Can he do it in zero gravity? Suddenly the spaceship hits a meteorite and so it's Charlie Brown and Snoopy to the rescue! Can they fix the damaged panel?

This volume features a delightful musical score from jazz legend Dave Brubeck (known for "Take Five"). This video also predicts: "America's next Space Station will be launched in the mid 1990's" (remember, this was originally aired in 1988).