It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (NR, 1974)

With IT'S THE EASTER BEAGLE, CHARLIE BROWN, creator Charles Schulz takes aim at holiday consumerism much as he did in the better known A Charlie Brown Christmas. This time the Peanuts gang is getting ready for Easter; Peppermint Patty (voiced by Linda Ercoli) is determined to demonstrate the art of Easter egg dyeing to her friend Marcie (Jimmy Ahrens), who seems just as destined to thwart all attempts. Linus (Stephen Shea) has turned his faith from the Great Pumpkin to the Easter Beagle, who he promises will make Easter special for all of them. And Lucy (Melanie Kohn) believes this holiday should be about "getting," a misunderstanding reinforced by scenes set in department stores already decked for the Christmas holidays.

While it's difficult for any Peanuts film to achieve the magic of the Christmas special, with its melding of secular and spiritual themes, this one comes close. It does focus on the "fun" parts of the holiday like participating in Easter egg hunts and buying a special Easter outfit. But it also takes on holiday consumerism and disappointment. Charlie Brown laments that holidays are a time that you look forward to being happy, "but then something spoils it all." Viewers of all ages may relate to that sentiment now and then.

As with every Peanuts film, the message is swathed in terrific humor. The scenes of Marcie's ill-fated attempts to prepare eggs for dyeing will have everyone laughing. Snoopy and Woodstock's wordless interactions speak volumes, especially when Woodstock moves into his deluxe '70s-era bachelor birdhouse.

Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Phil Roman
Cast: Melanie Kohn, Stephen Shea, Todd Barbee
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 25 minutes
Theatrical release: April 9, 1974
DVD release: February 18, 2008
MPAA Rating: NR