RACE FOR YOUR LIFE, CHARLIE BROWN (1977)
Peppermint Patty and Marcie are beloved queer-coded characters from Charles M. Schulz’s “Peanuts” franchise, today’s clip is specifically from the 1977 animated feature RACE FOR YOUR LIFE, CHARLIE BROWN.
Today’s post was selected/written by critic, author and film historian Lee Gambin (@leegambin79 on Instagram) and features an excerpt from his Diabolique Magazine article, “Such Interesting Lives: Celebrating the Cartoon Queer – Part Two.”
“Peppermint Patty is the quintessential tomboy. She loves sport and is very good at it, she knows how to fix things and is completely headstrong and although at one point she had a crush on Charlie Brown, it’s her relationship with Marcie that is far more compelling. Marcie, who refers to Patty as “Sir” is bookish and sycophantic, she is completely obsessed with pleasing the domineering Patty and this is a rare example of female on female buddy relations in cartoons. However, much like Velma from Scooby Doo, Where Are You?, Patty and Marcie are part of a community that includes all kinds of misfits, but namely heterosexual ones. Lesbian cartoon characters are part of a unity dominated by straight counterparts but accepted, admired and loved all the same.
The Peanuts are also children and therefore all the social and personal quirks are accepted with open hearts – Peppermint Patty and Marcie are just as much part of the gang along with the pathetic but loveable Charlie Brown, the artistically inclined Schroder, the bossy Lucy, the sweet imaginative Sally and the forever cool pooch Snoopy. Peppermint Patty and Marcie, lesbians-to-be, are part of the fabric and part of a collective; and Velma is also part of a group of misfit kids that all work together at a common goal.”
Be sure to check out Gambin’s full Diabolique Magazine article for more on queer depictions in cartoons. Linked below!
RACE FOR YOUR LIFE, CHARLIE BROWN
1977. USA.
Directors: Bill Melendez & Phil Roman
Screenplay: Charles M. Schulz
Featuring: Duncan Watson, Bill Melendez, Stuart Brotman, Gail Davis, Liam Martin, Melanie Kohn, Jimmy Ahrens & Greg Felton
RACE FOR YOUR LIFE, CHARLIE BROWN is streaming on Hoopla (Canada/USA) & Tubi (Canada/USA/Mexico/Australia) & for rent/purchase through AppleTV, YouTube and Amazon.
