Snoopy Come Home

Lila's Tune, which is sung by Shelby Flint seems to get no credit even for it's existence. Thats a shame because it still haunts me twenty years after I first heard it. I wish a soundtrack was available on cd or cassette. I had to jump through hoops just to find out the name of the song, and then to find out who sang it. The show was fantastic even though sad. Sad is a lesson we tend to shield our children from, and when something sad happens in their real lives they don't know how to deal with it.

This feature, as you probably gathered, largely centres around Snoopy, Charlie Brown's dog.

Charlie Brown has been becoming ever more resentful of Snoopy's recent independence (in particular going to the beach to spend time with Peppermint Patty), and, after cutting his thumb while trying to open his can of dog-food, he gives Snoopy a scolding and makes him feel guilty and worthless.

The following day, when Snoopy tries to go to the beach to see Peppermint Patty again as promised, suddenly a sign has been put up saying that dogs are not allowed on the beach. This starts a chain reaction that begins a string of frustration within Snoopy...

More snubbing comes from other members of the Peanuts gang when what started off as being a bit of fun with Linus and his security blanket soon turns sadistic and nasty, once again with Snoopy on the losing end.

Snoopy then has a bit of fun with Linus' elder sister Lucy, who is using boxing gloves, and they have a bit of a light-hearted spar, but again Snoopy pushes things that little bit too far and ends up upsetting Lucy and she spits the dummy at him.

Shortly afterwards, Snoopy receives a letter from a mysterious girl named Lila, who is in hospital and for some reason craves his presence. Snoopy and his bird friend Woodstock (making his animated film debut here) suddenly set off to meet her. Their journey is plagued by quite a few of the famous 'No dogs allowed'-type signs, which again do little to heighten the spirits of our favourite beagle!

Eventually, however, Snoopy and Woodstock reach the hospital where Lila is staying, and her spirit does indeed rise when the dog suddenly appears by her bedside and enriches her enthusiasm. However, little does Snoopy know that she will practically coax her into doing something that will really tug at his heart-strings...

I first saw this film as a boy in my early tens, and even when I watch it now it has lost none of its ability to endear and -- in particular -- choke. There is one particular section that still makes me cry to this day at a party for Snoopy, where poor Charlie Brown is just too choked to say anything. Even just THINKING about that scene induces tears...

As a whole, though, the film is enjoyable fare. It's not a classic, but it's still memorable, and has some actually quite good songs that are not in the least bit intrusive and only add to the overall charm. There is also some spot humour, much of which is caused by Woodstock's erratic flying and Snoopy's constantly being taunted by the 'No dogs allowed' signs permating his venture.

Recommended, but don't expect your eyes to be anything other than moist at some point in the film!

This film rocks. Its funny, its sad, its more touching than any cartoon has a right to be. In it Low-man-on-the-totem pole Chalie Brown cuts himself on a metal dog food can and laments to his ungreatful beast that after "All I do for you I get no thanks". Later in the film Snoopy receives a letter from a mystery girl in a hospital and he rushes to her side. We find out this little girl Lila was Snoopys original owner who had to give him up when her family moved. They had brought Snoop to the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm and the Brown family gotr him for Charlie Brown after he got a mean trick played on him by a kid in a sandbox at the neighborhood playground. Now the question is who will Snoopy end up with: Charlie or Lila? Even though snoopy has never been a character with much depth you can actually TELL he's torn to where his loyalties lie. (Your under the impression that he wants to go home to the PEANUTS but because of Lilas illness he cant bear to leave her either). I remember watching this as a child and thinking the "NO DOGS ALLOWED" parts were very funny. I didn't remember how sad this story is, especially Charle Browns song he sings late at night losing sleep wondering where Snoopy is and if he's really gone for good. The song is about how just as life seems good "IT CHANGES" and something messed up happens and sometimes you just wish that life had more "Hellos" than "Goodbyes"...the song is a true heart breaker and if I could write the lyrics (I don't know them all) I would. It almost reminded me of Ozzy singing "Im Going through CHANGES"...maybe thats just me. Anyway, SNOOPY COME HOME is a true classic that should be in every child's collection. My best friend is pushing 40 has no children and has confessed to me that this was the most touching childhood special he can recall. My mother who is in her 60s watched it once while babysitting my daughter and thanked me for packing that video in the sleepover bag...she held onto it and watched it again stating "That was the best Charlie Brown special i've ever seen!"

I first read the book adaptation of this in 4th grade, when I was 9, about '76. I was crushed, especially by the scene at the farewell party for Snoopy, when Charlie Brown goes to the podium and tries to find the words to say goodbye to his dog, his friend. He cannot. I was choking up really bad, having had a collie for some years at that time, I could not fathom not having him around, so it hit home.

Now when I think of it, I also enjoy the music, the trip the twosome-Snoopy and Woodstock, take, the 'No Dogs Allowed' running themes, the over all melancholy feeling that pervades the film.

I think its the best of the Peanuts flix, and recommend it highly today too.

*** outta ****

When I first saw this on TV at the tender age of 4, I cried my eyes out during Snoopy's going-away party near the end. When I recently saw it again, 20+ years later, I did exactly the same thing. The characters and situations are so genuine that I forgot it was a cartoon.

And I noticed how many brilliant little details are hidden in this gem: the copy of "Sambo" at the library, then Snoopy's reaction to the highbrow humor of "The Bunnies," and Woodstock's assistance in helping Snoopy cheat at chess against Lila. Note my two favorite scenes: when Sally absent-mindedly grabs Snoopy's nose through the library bookcase (and her little smile afterwards), and when Woodstock falls asleep watching the flock of birds pass gracefully overhead.

And the music is on par with anything you'd hear in an old Looney Tunes cartoon. Notice how the carnival music shares its melody with the sad song Charlie Brown sings after Snoopy leaves the second time? Or the zany symphonic freakout that accompanies the chase through Crazy Clara's house? And I love the lyrics to the "Me and you, a two-man crew" song that's used as the duo's song of the open road. And of course the hilarious basso profundo that underscores every appearance of the dreaded "No Dogs Allowed" sign!

Rent it, buy it, love it. This is the real thing!