Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown

"What's 0500?  Noon time?"

"Nope, it's 5 in the morning."

"5 in the morning?  I don't get up at 5 in the morning!  Maybe I should resign"

It's summer and Charlie Brown (Watson) and his friends are heading to Camp Remote in the mountains.  At camp, Charlie Brown immediately runs into the bullies and the vicious cat.  The bullies pick on them and constantly brag about their big win in the annual raft race.

They all have a hard time adjusting to camp life, but are excited about the upcoming raft race.  Charlie Brown, Linus (Martin), Schroeder (Felton), and Franklin build a raft for the contest.  The girls, Peppermint Patty (Brotman), Sally (Davis), Lucy (Kohn), and Marcie (Ahrens), also build a raft.  The girls make decisions about their raft and trip by secret ballot.  Snoopy and Woodstock also make a raft for the competition.  As the race begins, can Charlie Brown and friends beat the bullies?


This is the 3rd Peanuts feature film, after A Boy Named Charlie Brown in 1969 and Snoopy, Come Home in 1972.  Unlike it's predecessors, this film is not a musical.  This was also the first Peanuts feature film to be produced after the death of composer Vince Guaraldi.

The film is a little rambling at times, but is still an enjoyable film.  It begins as the group leaves for camp and ends as they board the bus to go home.  The group interacts as a whole and each person has a moment.  Linus gets to chase away the bullies with his blanket.  Snoopy and Woodstock add the comic relief.  And Snoopy has a motorcycle.  I prefer some of the TV specials, but this was still a fun film.

Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown (1977) 75 minutes
Director: Bill Melendez & Phil Roman
Starring: Duncan Watson as Charlie Brown
Greg Felton as Schroeder
Stuart Brotman as Peppermint Patty
Gail Davis as Sally Brown
Liam Martin as Linus Van Pelt
Melanie Kohn as Lucy Van Pelt
Jimmy Ahrens as Marcie
Bill Melendez as Snoopy & Woodstock
Joseph Biter as Franklin