Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!)

Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!)
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Bill Melendez
Written by	Charles M. Schulz
Based on	Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz
Produced by	Bill Melendez Lee Mendelson
Starring	Arrin Skelley Daniel Anderson Patricia Patts Casey Carlson Annalisa Bortolin Laura Planting Bill Melendez
Edited by	Roger Donley Chuck McCann
Music by	Ed Bogas Judy Munsen
Production companies	Paramount Pictures Bill Melendez Productions Lee Mendelson Film Productions United Media Productions
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	May 30, 1980 (1980-05-30)
Running time	76 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$2 million

Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) is a 1980 American animated mystery comedy film produced by United Feature Syndicate and distributed by Paramount Pictures, directed by Bill Melendez and Phil Roman. It was the fourth full-length feature film to be based on the Peanuts comic strip and the final one produced during Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz's lifetime.

Plot

At Charlie Brown’s school, Linus Van Pelt introduces two French exchange students, Babette and Jacques, to his class. They will be spending two weeks in the United States to familiarize themselves with American culture. In a reciprocal arrangement, Charlie Brown and Linus are selected for an exchange program in France. Upon learning of his selection, Charlie Brown returns home and invites Snoopy and Woodstock to accompany him. Shortly thereafter, he receives a call from Peppermint Patty, who informs him that she and Marcie have also been chosen for the program. Additionally, Charlie Brown receives a letter from France, but he is unable to read it, as it is written in French. This causes him concern about the trip. However, Marcie, who has been studying French, translates the letter and explains that Charlie Brown has been invited to stay at the Château du Mal Voisin (House of the Bad Neighbor). Perplexed, Charlie Brown cannot understand why he has been invited, let alone how someone in France would know him.

The group first arrives in London before traveling across the English Channel to France via hovercraft. Upon their arrival, they acquire a Citroën 2CV, which Snoopy drives, as the children are too young to operate a vehicle. However, his inexperience results in him grinding the gears. Upon reaching their respective destinations, Peppermint Patty and Marcie are welcomed at a farm in Morville-sur-Andelle owned by a boy named Pierre, who immediately captures their attention. While it is evident to most that there is a mutual attraction between Marcie and Pierre, Peppermint Patty remains oblivious and mistakenly believes that Pierre is interested in her. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock arrive at the château, which is owned by an unwelcoming baron. However, the baron’s niece, Violette Honfleur, discreetly provides Charlie Brown and Linus with food.

Determined to uncover the reason behind Charlie Brown’s invitation, Linus explores the château’s attic, where Violette reveals that during World War II, Charlie Brown’s grandfather, Silas Brown, served in the U.S. Army and once assisted her family. However, before further discussion can take place, the baron unexpectedly returns home. In an attempt to conceal Linus’ presence, Violette inadvertently starts a fire in the attic. Charlie Brown rushes to seek help from Peppermint Patty and Marcie, while Pierre alerts the fire department. Meanwhile, Snoopy and Woodstock retrieve an old-fashioned fire pump with a hose from a shed. As the fire spreads, Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, and Pierre work together to rescue Linus and Violette, then assist Snoopy in containing the flames until the fire department arrives.

Grateful for their efforts in saving the château, the baron undergoes a change of heart and welcomes the group inside. There, Charlie Brown learns the true origin of the letter he received from Violette. A villager who had once traveled to the U.S. and received a haircut from Charlie Brown’s father recognized the family name and helped Violette locate Silas Brown’s grandson. As the exchange program concludes, Charlie Brown bids farewell to Violette and Pierre. He, along with Snoopy, Woodstock, Linus, Peppermint Patty, and Marcie, departs to explore more of the French countryside before ultimately returning home to the U.S.

Cast

• Arrin Skelley as Charlie Brown
• Daniel Anderson as Linus van Pelt
• Patricia Patts as Peppermint Patty
• Casey Carlson as Marcie
• Annalisa Bortolin as Sally Brown
• Laura Planting as Lucy van Pelt
• Bill Melendez as Snoopy, Woodstock
• Pascale De Barolet as Pierre
• Roseline Rubens as Violette Honfleur, Violet, Patty, Frieda and Sophie
• Debbie Muller as Flight Attendant
• Scott Beach as Waiter, Baron, Driver, Tennis Announcer, English Voice and American Male
• Schroeder, Pig-Pen, Babette, and Jacques appear but had no lines.

Production

Schulz stated that he conceived the idea for the story while visiting the Manoir de Malvoisine in Le Héron, a location where he had been briefly stationed as a soldier during World War II. The château serves as a central setting in the film.

This production is among the few instances within the Peanuts media franchise — and the sole theatrical film — in which adult characters are both visible and intelligible.

Reception

The film had a mostly positive reception. Although it has no Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has two verified "rotten" reviews and one verified "fresh" review from three critics.

Home media

Paramount Home Entertainment released this film on VHS and Laserdisc in 1995 in 4:3 format, and released it to DVD (cropped to widescreen) on October 6, 2015.

The film was also released on Blu-ray for the first time on March 15, 2022 in the US.

See also

• What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?
• Peanuts filmography

External links

• Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown at IMDb
• Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown at the TCM Movie Database
• Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown at Rotten Tomatoes