MovieChat Forums > Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) (1980) Discussion > What? Was the Baron going to KILL them??...

What? Was the Baron going to KILL them??!!!

posted 16 years ago by movienut710
10 replies | jump to latest

Friends, Just watched this for the first time in a long while, and I must agree with some of the other posts that this was indeed a dark film for children. At least in some spots. Worst of all, I thought, were the threats of the Baron at the bar. I didn't count how many times and ways he spoke of "DRASTIC STEPS" or whatever he said he was going to do about the unwanted American visitors, but his tone had the ring of Murderous intent. Was he a Psycho? I also found Snoopy's indifference to the danger distressing. And in conclusion, rather than be "Happy" the Chataeu was saved, from the glimpse of the Baron I got out of it he would probably execute the little French girl along with Charlie Brown and the whole gang. If anyone thinks I'm overstating the Baron's viciousness, please comment.

[–] syclick 16 years ago

I always wondered that as well. While I doubt he would have killed them, he may have planned to lock them out of the chateau grounds.

You've also got to remember, this was at a bar, and the Baron was probably drunk.

[–] movienut710 16 years ago

Thanks for your reply, junkl-6. I'd like to think you're right, but don't forget a lot of murders are commited under the influence of alcohol. Also, Pierre described The Baron as a "Very violent person". I'll count how many references to this and implied threats there were when I get a chance. And the little French girl (VIOLETE?) seemed AWFUL scared of him. You're probably right, but I wonder why Schulz and Company took this dark route. Maybe to teach a lesson on safety? But then they stay in the Chateau when it could be dangerous. Anyway, love this and "RACE FOR YOUR LIFE CHARLIE BROWN". They really should have a special edition DVD.

[–] novastar_6 16 years ago

Well I always have and always will love Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown...and part of why I loved it so much is because it WAS dark, it did threaten to GO THERE without actually overstepping the boundaries. Now, when I was a kid I was scared of any adult who would yell, and the Baron struck me very much as being borderline that, and that's why when I was younger, part of the reason I thought Violet was scared of him...because that's intimidating to a kid, especially a sensitive one...also, Pierre comments that the Baron was a violent and mean man and he hated everybody, especially foreigners...now I don't think he would've killed them...I don't know, he may have threatened them and maybe chased them off with a weapon of some sort but I don't know. Maybe a lot of it all was heresay of what people THOUGHT he was like and what he was capable of doing...people love to assume the worst in certain situations and it could be a lot of it was just rumors people created to make other people scared of the Baron. Now he was probably a mean man because he didn't take kindly to people from other countries, but let's be honest, WHO wants complete and total strangers from halfway around the world coming to intrude in their home? I don't know what his 'consequences' might have been but I seriously doubt he would've tried to kill them.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] New_York_Gal 16 years ago

I think it's interesting that they featured such a mean, dark character in an animated children's movie. We must remember that this was actually a theatrical-released film and not a made-for-TV movie--hard to believe but yes.

In retrospect, I suppose it can be a little frightening for little kids but we must remember it's only a cartoon. I think a lot of little kids have enough sense to realize that cartoons are just make-believe and not real. I think we need to give these little kids some credit, don't you think? Whether it's the original 1980 viewers or the contemporary viewers we're talking about, we really should give them some credit.

Men are like bank accounts. Without a lot of money, they don't generate much interest.

[–] movienut710 16 years ago

And thanks for your response, New York Gal. I agree with you about most kids realizing it's only a cartoon, and obviously many kids from 1980 who are now adults loved this film and remember it fondly. I just think the Baron's character was borderline psychopathic. I mean they were going to be SLEEPING there, more or less at this guy's mercy, and he sounded dangerous. And how could Snoopy sit there drinking root beer after root beer while the Baron made his insane threats? I always respected Snoopy as an intelligent and loyal dog who would be pro-active in protecting Charlie Brown and the gang. His self-indulgent reminiscing while the Baron spewed his venom was, to my way of thinking, completely out of character. It reminded me of Nero fiddling while Rome burned. Again I say that Schultz and his people made a movie that a lot of kids love, and some people love it BECAUSE it was dark, like Novastar 6, for example. I just think the Baron might have been a little too nuts.

[–] New_York_Gal 16 years ago

by movienut710
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And thanks for your response, New York Gal. I agree with you about most kids realizing it's only a cartoon, and obviously many kids from 1980 who are now adults loved this film and remember it fondly. I just think the Baron's character was borderline psychopathic. I mean they were going to be SLEEPING there, more or less at this guy's mercy, and he sounded dangerous. And how could Snoopy sit there drinking root beer after root beer while the Baron made his insane threats. I always respected Snoopy as an intelligent and loyal dog who would be pro-active in protecting Charlie Brown and the gang. His self-indulgent reminiscing while the Baron spewed his venom was, to my way of thinking, completely out of character. It reminded me of Nero fiddling while Rome burned. Again I say that Schultz and his people made a movie that a lot of kids love, and some people love it BECAUSE it was dark, like Novastar 6, for example. I just think the Baron might have been a little too nuts.

"It reminded me of Nero fiddling while Rome burned."

Wow. You were there? You really are old!!

Men are like bank accounts. Without a lot of money, they don't generate much interest.

[–] novastar_6 16 years ago

I didn't get that either because I thought Snoopy MUST have heard the Baron, but you know, I don't know if they made it seem like he did or not...I don't recall him getting wide eyed at what the Baron says...what it COULD be is one of those situations where people will be in the same place but one person will say something and the other person won't hear it because they're not supposed it, it's only important that WE know what's going on and that's the only reason why some things are said with two people or groups of people in one room but one doesn't hear the other.

[–] angussu 14 years ago

When I first watched this cartoon, I never thought that the Baron was going to kill them, I thought he simply wanted to evict them from the chateau in very violent ways.

[–] pgFiSheYe 8 years ago

Friends, Just watched this for the first time in a long while, and I must agree with some of the other posts that this was indeed a dark film for children. At least in some spots. Worst of all, I thought, were the threats of the Baron at the bar. I didn't count how many times and ways he spoke of "DRASTIC STEPS" or whatever he said he was going to do about the unwanted American visitors, but his tone had the ring of Murderous intent. Was he a Psycho? I also found Snoopy's indifference to the danger distressing. And in conclusion, rather than be "Happy" the Chataeu was saved, from the glimpse of the Baron I got out of it he would probably execute the little French girl along with Charlie Brown and the whole gang. If anyone thinks I'm overstating the Baron's viciousness, please comment.

Personally, I have lived all my life totally convinced that when he meant "drastic measures", he meant he was going to rape them.

Then, after finally satisfying his mundane pleasures, he would have called his drunken french friends and have his way with them, probably gang-banging Charlie Brown, Linus, Patty and Marcie.