| Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) |
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Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Bill Meléndez Phil Roman |
| Written by | Charles M. Schulz |
| Starring | Arrin Skelley Patricia Patts Casey Carlson Daniel Anderson Annalisa Bortolin Scott Beach Bill Meléndez |
| Music by | Ed Bogas Clarence Smith Doris Day Jule Styne The Andrew Sisters Sammy Fain |
| Cinematography | Nick Vasu |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | May 30, 1980 |
| Running time | 77 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2,013,193 |
Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) is a 1980 animated film produced by United Feature Syndicate for Paramount Pictures, directed by Bill Meléndez. It was the fourth and final full-length feature film to be based on the Peanuts comic strip, and was followed three years later by a 1983 television special, What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?, in which the gang sees memorials and places related to World Wars I and II.
Unlike most other Peanuts animated adaptations, this film is one of the few to prominently feature adults in both on-screen and speaking parts, without the use of the signature trombone speech ("wah-wah") sound effect. The four adults that are featured include a London black cab driver who takes Snoopy to Wimbledon, a waiter in a London restaurant (with such a strong Cockney accent that the kids cannot understand him), a French teacher, and the Baron (who is seen only as a silhouette).
In addition, the scene in the classroom involving an escalating confrontation between Charlie Brown and Peppermint Patty, who are forced to share a desk, was based on a series of Peanuts strips originally published in 1975, where Charlie Brown and his friends were sent across town to Patty's school after their own school collapsed (or "committed suicide", as Sally maintained).
The movie has not yet been released on DVD.
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As part of an exchange program, two French students, Babette and Jacques, are spending two weeks at Charlie Brown's school, while he, Linus van Pelt, Peppermint Patty, and Marcie go to France. At the airport, the kids, Snoopy, and Woodstock are seen off by their friends. Lucy van Pelt, who was not invited, tells Charlie Brown not to come back. On the plane, Charlie Brown reveals a letter he received that was written in French. Marcie, who had been studying French, translates and says it is an invitation from Violette Honfleur to stay at the Chateau du Mal Voisin, or The House of the Bad Neighbor. Peppermint Patty asks who Violette could be, but Charlie Brown has no idea. The group first arrives in London and goes on a sightseeing tour downtown, while Snoopy and Woodstock play some tennis at Wimbledon. When he finds himself losing, Snoopy lashes out and gets thrown out. He and Woodstock head to Victoria station and rejoin the rest of the group. They eventually travel to France and head to the farmhouse where Peppermint Patty and Marcie will be staying with Pierre. While Marcie seems to adjust quite well, Peppermint Patty experiences significant culture shock. Charlie Brown produces the letter from Violette who Pierre says is the niece of the Baron who owns the Chateau. He says the Baron is a vile recluse who hates everyone, especially foreigners.
When the boys finally arrive at the Chateau, a thunderstorm forces them to spend the night in an empty stable with nothing but Linus' blanket. That night, Snoopy, in his "World War I Flying Ace" persona, and Woodstock head down to the local pub to down a few pints of root beer. The next morning, Charlie Brown and Linus find that breakfast and warm blankets have been provided by an unknown benefactor. That night, the Baron leaves the Chateau to go to the pub and instructs Violette not to let the boys in. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown and Linus agree to take turns standing watch to identify their mysterious benefactor. During Charlie Brown's watch, Linus wakes up to see him asleep. He sees that the blankets have been fixed and new food has been put out and goes to investigate. He enters the Chateau and eventually finds Violette, who says that her invitation was a mistake. She explains that her grandmother had told her the story of a wartime love affair that she had with Silas Brown, Charlie Brown's grandfather. He was an infantryman stationed in France during World War II, and stayed at the Chateau. When he received his marching orders, he promised to write letters which eventually stopped coming. Violette's grandmother moved on, though she never forgot him. Meanwhile, Snoopy and Woodstock are at the pub playing foosball and overhear the Baron confide in the bartender that knows about the boys and has tolerated them long enough. The Baron returns home to Violette's surprise, and in her rush to get rid of Linus out of the room, Violette accidentally knocks down a candle which causes a fire throughout the house. Linus takes her towards a pair of casement windows, throws them open and shouts for help. Charlie Brown wakes up and runs to the pub. Snoopy and Woodstock rush off to the Chateau and Charlie Brown continues running to the farmhouse. Pierre calls the Fire Department, while Peppermint Patty and Marcie follow Charlie Brown towards the flamed Chateau.
When Snoopy and Woodstock arrive at the Chateau, it is engulfed in flames. Snoopy immediately heads to a shed and brings out an old fashioned fire hose, while Linus throws his blanket down to Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, and Pierre which they use to catch Violette when she jumps from the window. Snoopy moves a barrel of water under Linus who also jumps to safety. He then barks out instructions to work the hose but the intense water pressure spins him around, splashing Charlie Brown. Woodstock pops out of the hose with a violin and begins playing along to the dramatic scene. While Snoopy is working with the hose, a fire truck with three shadowed fire fighters arrives and the fire is finally extinguished. The Baron, thankful they rescue Violette and the Chateau, promises that he will never be so inhospitable again. Charlie Brown learns the full truth behind the mysterious letter he received: many years ago, an American friend of Violette's family stopped in a small village to have his hair cut, and the barber was Charlie Brown's father. She found out about Charlie Brown and wrote the letter inviting him to stay. As the group leaves the Chateau to go home, Violette gives Silas's satchel to Charlie Brown. The group says their goodbyes and gets into their beat-up rental car.
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