Posted by Atticus on December 2, 2004, at 22:10:16
In reply to Re: Herbie doesn't like to make toys???!!!! » verne, posted by Gabbix2 on December 2, 2004, at 21:36:27
I have to admit I liked "A Charlie Brown Christmas" even as a little kid in the '70s, but I didn't really get it. It wasn't until I was older, in the '80s, that I came to understand and appreciate its satirical swipe at the commercialization and mindless consumerism that has consumed the holiday season. I always think of the section where Linus raps on a hollow metallic hot pink X-mas tree in a tree lot, listens to the cold, discordant echo, and comments, "This one really rings in the Christmas spirit." I've read that both the sponsors and CBS were apoplectic when they saw the final product, tried to block its broadcast, but were finally cajoled into doing it by Schulz and his producer. It went on to win the first Peabody Award for a TV animated special (a Peabody is the true Oscar of television -- much more prestigious than an Emmy). They actually had to create a new category to accommodate it. I imagine the special was much more piquant and striking when it came out in 1965, but that was five years before I was born, so I'll never know. But really -- how could you not like Boris Karloff's marvelous narration of the original animated "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"? Again, a special that's a rip at toys as being the focal point of the holiday. The Jim Carrey version? Ecch! Atticus
poster:Atticus
thread:423066
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20041202/msgs/423570.html