Roy supports Song of the South release

[Frontierland]

http://songofthesouth.net/news/index.html


February 14, 2004

Roy Disney Supports Song of the South's Release

I recently contacted Roy Disney and Stanley Gold after learning of their decision to resign from Disney's Board of Directors. In my letter I pledged my full support and also took the opportunity to ask Mr. Disney if there was any information he could provide on Song of the South's status. He was kind enough to provide me with the following reply:

Dear Mr. Willis - thanks forr letter of support, and I am sorry to tell you that this is yet another reason to do our best to move Eisner out. He has been - far quite a few years now - totally against (I think AFRAID is a better word) of re-releasing Song of the South, which happens to be one of my favorite of the old Disney films. A number of us have tried, for some time, to change his mind, to no avail.

So that's all I can tell you right now. It would be one of my first acts if I were to come back to the company!

Hope that helps, although I know it's not the best of news...

Roy
Needless to say, it is clear to see where the support lies in the release of this film! So, I highly encourage all of you to take action and support Roy Disney and Stanley Gold in restoring Disney to its original glory! Please take the time to visit SaveDisney.com and see how you can help. This is a crucial step in getting Song of the South released! SaveDisney.com has also kindly added SongoftheSouth.net to their links section.

 

[imagineer boy]

AWESOME! If Roy comes back, I can finally see Sound of the South for the first time.:sohappy:

 

[MouseMadness]

Can the video be found at Blockbuster? I've not seen it since I was but a wee tike. I'd love to show the girls who got to ride Splash Mountain last trip.

 

[Erika]

Originally posted by MouseMadness
Can the video be found at Blockbuster? I've not seen it since I was but a wee tike. I'd love to show the girls who got to ride Splash Mountain last trip.

Nope The video was never released in the States.

I can barely remember it!

 

[General Grizz]

You can just hear the magic in that letter. I'm sure this applies to lost characters, such as Dreamfinder, as well.

Go Roy!! :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy:

 

[MouseMadness]

Why do you suppose he says Eisner's "afraid" to release the film? :veryconfu

 

[General Grizz]

Gregory wrote a great article on it: http://www.disneyinformer.com/database/Columns/ViewColumn.php?id=30

 

[MKCustodial]

Way to go, Roy!!! :sohappy:

 

[MouseMadness]

I don't remember the movie well enough to know if I should be rolling my eyes or not. But it's so hard to tell what will offend people and what won't anymore.

 

[prberk]

Many people are "afraid" to release things that, from hearsay, they think will offend, especially with regard to racial matters. All it would take would be for the spin-happy 24-hour news channels to get one quote from one racial activitist to say that it was "racist" and the repetition of it could hurt Disney. That is the theory.

Ironically, Michael Eisner and others have publically "stood up" to similar criticisms whenever their current products "offended" other groups, especially with regard to the Southern Baptists and Catholics who were offended by pictures that they percieved to be anti-Christian.

I think it is a height of hypocrisy to be this way; and especially hypocritical to continue to use "Zip-A-Dee-Do-Da" out of context. It is O.K., it seems, to have Uncle Remus, in the supposed offensive character, singing this uplifting song, when the movie itself is "offensive" because it harkens back to perceptions of blacks happily singing and caretaking for white children during a time of oppression and slavery (one of the main arguments for those who are offended). The song supports the story. Either it is offensive or it is not. The cannot be held out and sold over and over and over, because it makes money; while the movie is held back as offensive.

I believe that the movie should be seen in two ways:

1. The way it was intended. As a source of truly wonderful storytelling and morality tales told in a fun and historically curious way.

2. As an opener for discussion where there is opportunity for offense. DVD extras would be useful here, including current discussions of the Uncle Remus stories in historical context.

For me, though, I am most confused by the fact that many racial activists resist this movie (with its well-drawn characters and early award-winning portrayal of Uncle Remus by a black actor in a time when blacks hardly got recognition) as OFFENSIVE; yet they say nothing about the constant stream of ______, drugs, and violence in the way the black characters are overwhelming portrayed today, especially in music video. Which would we rather our kids see?

 

[MouseMadness]

Originally posted by prberk
For me, though, I am most confused by the fact that many racial activists resist this movie (with its well-drawn characters and early award-winning portrayal of Uncle Remus by a black actor in a time when blacks hardly got recognition) as OFFENSIVE; yet they say nothing about the constant stream of ______, drugs, and violence in the way the black characters are overwhelming portrayed today, especially in music video. Which would we rather our kids see?

Indeed! I totally agree.