Song of The South Poll

[sublimesting]

I recently "found" a magnificent DVD of Song of the South. The DW and I watched it last year before our trip and I can tell you it greatly enhanced our rides on Splash Mountain. So, should Disney release this "lost" gem or not? After watching it I really don't see the controversy at all. True there are ex-slaves living in harmony with their former masters but does everything have to be grim reality all the time? Does everything have to be a lesson to someone? Do we have to remind our children constantly that slavery happened or is it OK for a child to just sit back and forget about the cold cruel world and watch a classic Disney flick? The stories are very fun and colorful and there is a moral point to the movie.

It always amazes me that Disney actually pushes the periphery things of this movie such as making a ride out of it, having Br'er Bear always in costume in the park (which is odd actually, I never see Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Fox, but Br'er Bear seems to be everywhere) etc. yet children and most adults have never even seen the movie and have no clue what the movie and story is about.

So what do you all think? Bring it back or let it die?

I say bring it back! This isn't the repressed segregated era anymore.

 

[dylan0511]

I agree, bring it back. I have a copy that I got from Europe years ago and absolutely love it. I am with you, after I watched it, I was wondering what the big deal was. There is FAR much worse stuff out there that should be banned before this. I understand that Disney has an image to uphold, but every once in a while a Company needs to stand up and say enough is enough, it's just a movie people.

 

[Disney Stacey]

I agree, absolutely love it. I am with you, after I watched it, I was wondering what the big deal was.
I also agree,That there is by FAR much worse stuff out there that should be banned before this.
The stories are very fun and colorful and there is a moral point to the movie.
We love the songs and thats what the kids are watching.
"Do we have to remind our children constantly that slavery happened or is it OK for a child to just sit back and forget about the cold cruel world."
I think we do as it is part of history and we cant change that, no matter how hard we try.
We can learn from it though.

 

[CThaddeus]

Disney should release all of their films on DVD. If necessary, get Leonard Maltin to introduce the film like he does for the Disney Treasures and make the "attitudes were different back then" disclaimer they use for some of the cartoons. I've personally never found anything offensive about the film. The sad truth is, slavery did exist in the South. Perhaps this movie portrays an unrealistic view of slavery by showing slaves as moderately happy about their lives. You never see anyone getting beaten, and though some will point out that the "Tar Baby" story is inherently racist because of its name, I instead simply see it as a morality and cautionary tale. Perhaps I'm missing something, though. I'm not African-American, therefore, I cannot pretend to know if these images still offend.
What I find most interesting and uplifting about the story is that Uncle Remus is a hero for the children, especially the boy Johnny, who responds only to him at the end...calling his name until he is brought in. Even his parents aren't inspiration enough to snap him out of his delirium. He's also the wisest of the characters. His stories are not only entertaining, but they impart necessary knowledge to the boy that he doesn't appear to get from his family. In the end, the parents accept Uncle Remus' wisdom, and everyone lives happily ever after. How can this be bad?
Ultimately, though, it's all about Disney. Eventually they will realize that movies like "Gone with the Wind" portray a much worse version of slavery - and how many times has that been re-released on DVD or shown on TCM? It's silly, but that's the way it is. In the meantime, all we can do is either wait it out, or buy the decent, but not great, versions of it you can find online.

 

[mickey&me]

Personally, I don't see any more objectionable material in Song of the South than I see in the scene with the crows in Dumbo. Neither of the movies attempts to raise one race above another; they simply portray different races in the characters. Bring 'em back!

 

[KingStefan]

I'm not voting for either of your choices. I understand people's objections, but to deprive our kids of seeing the wonderful Honorary-Academy-Award winning performance of James Baskett, and to allow his legacy to slowly drift off into being forever forgotten is a real shame. I believe that the tribute that a release would be to him far outweighs any objections anyone has.

IMHO, the objections can be handled by a warm sincere heartfelt accompanying pamphlet and/or a Leonard-Maltin-type introduction as somebody else suggested explaining how our views on such things have changed.

Walt Disney greatly admired this man. He would have wanted to make this film available for all so that he could get the imortality he deserves.

The poor man was even unable to attend the premier, because it was in Atlanta, and that city was terribly racist at the time.

He died shortly after winning the Oscar. Releasing this film would be a fitting tribute. I don't know if he had family, but if any decendants or decendants of relatives survive, think of what this would mean to them. Imagine what it must feel like to have his work essentially censored, even though his part in it has nothing really to do with the main objections.

Another idea is that it would go a long way to make just a few edits to improve the situation. Such as replacing those songs that the workers sing when going to and fro the fields with some real historically accurate blues songs. Maybe add some material about how hard the work is, and how poor they are, and how they're trapped in this position and don't see a way to get out. The original scenes would have to be included of course. Perhaps two versions would be appropriate. (ala Beauty and the Beast)

Anyway, I'm all for bringing it back.

 

[WishingOnAStar]

My friend got a copy from overseas and I thought it was fabulous. I find it ridiculous that people are offended by him calling a statue that is made out of tar a Tar Baby. If they had made a statue outta marshmallows and called it a Marshmallow Baby, I wouldn't be offended. They could call it Cracker Baby, Honkey Baby, whatever and it still wouldn't offend me. Ridiculous...

I am going to be in France in March and hope to get a copy of Song of the South while I'm there. Does anyone know if it is easy to find?

 

[KingStefan]

My friend got a copy from overseas and I thought it was fabulous. I find it ridiculous that people are offended by him calling a statue that is made out of tar a Tar Baby. If they had made a statue outta marshmallows and called it a Marshmallow Baby, I wouldn't be offended. They could call it Cracker Baby, Honkey Baby, whatever and it still wouldn't offend me. Ridiculous...

I am going to be in France in March and hope to get a copy of Song of the South while I'm there. Does anyone know if it is easy to find?

As I understand it, it is not officially released on DVD. All those DVDs from Europe are all bootleg. But I hear that the quality is not so bad.

It's not like a digitally remastered DVD like Disney would put out. Just a conversion from a VHS tape, probably. But it's better than nothing if you are interested in seeing what it is all about.

I have a VHS in PAL, which I have not cracked open, which I think is a genuine Disney release, but I can't be sure. I also have a terrible digital copy on a hard drive somewhere, which is the one I have recently watched.

A great film like this deserves better treatment than that. Disney should give it a little TLC, and digitally remaster it and release it. It's a real shame that it hasn't been done already.

 

[marni1971]

If I recall, the film was released on PAL VHS as mentioned, and also a Japanese Laserdisc.

Of course there are places on the web where you can get a great quality download version for free, until such time the Mouse decides it may release it. Just don`t mention YouTube or Google!

 

[WDWFigment]

I wish there were another choice in the poll, these options are a little polarizing. Something like, "I wish they'd release it, but I think it'd do the company more harm than good, from a business standpoint."

 

[jt04]

I wish there were another choice in the poll, these options are a little polarizing. Something like, "I wish they'd release it, but I think it'd do the company more harm than good, from a business standpoint."

Unfortunately the OP appears to want it to be polarizing. It appears J Thick and the OP of this thread are competing to see who can be the most provoking. I got exiled way back for much less. (stated a rumor Kali would be exteded before I found out that was prohibited). Where are the moderators when they are needed?:lookaroun

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I was unaware that Disney had made a musical about the South Poll, is Anne Rticca in it?

 

[sbkline]

I voted "yes", although I would prefer some much stronger wording. :lol: Maybe something like: "yes, they should release it, and all these pathetic bedwetters who cry that the movie is "racist" need to suck it up, get over it and move on."

I'm sure the original Uncle Remus of the books was a former slave. However, from reading the prior posts in this thread, it doesn't appear that anyone has noticed that they were driving automobiles in this movie. The movie seems to be taking place in the 1930s or 1940s So there's no way that Uncle Remus or any of his friends were current slaves. And since slavery ended in the 1860's, it's unlikely that the Uncle Remus of this movie could have even been a former slave. He appears to be in his 60s or 70s at the oldest, and the 1860s to the 1930s would be a good 70 years. So he could perhaps have been owned as property as a baby before slavery ended, but other than that, the setting of this movie seems to indicate that he's living in the South in the 1930s era. Blacks at that time were still second class citizens, although Uncle Remus seems to hold a position of great respect in this movie, even being very much respected by the boy's mother and grandmother...his social status notwithstanding.

But none of that matters with some people. Uncle Remus could be the President of the United States in this movie, and some people would still find something to whine about. :brick:

 

[CThaddeus]

I voted "yes", although I would prefer some much stronger wording. :lol: Maybe something like: "yes, they should release it, and all these pathetic bedwetters who cry "racism" need to suck it up, get over it and move on."

I'm sure the original Uncle Remus of the books was a former slave. However, from reading the prior posts in this thread, it doesn't appear that anyone has noticed that they were driving automobiles in this movie. The movie seems to be taking place in the 1930s or 1940s So there's no way that Uncle Remus or any of his friends were current slaves. And since slavery ended in the 1860's, it's unlikely that the Uncle Remus of this movie could have even been a former slave. He appears to be in his 60s or 70s at the oldest, and the 1860s to the 1930s would be a good 70 years. So he could perhaps have been owned as property as a baby before slavery ended, but other than that, the setting of this movie seems to indicate that he's living in the South in the 1930s era. Blacks at that time were still second class citizens, although Uncle Remus seems to hold a position of great respect in this movie, even being very much respected by the boy's mother and grandmother...his social status notwithstanding.

But none of that matters with some people. Uncle Remus could be the President of the United States in this movie, and some people would still find something to whine about. :brick:

Uh, where were the automobiles? They were all driving horse-drawn carriages. Are you sure you're not watching "The Gnome-Mobile" or something? The stories of Uncle Remus were written by Joel Chandler Harris around 1879 and were set just after the Civil War. He died in 1908. So, while you're correct in the sense that they weren't actually slaves, I'm guessing the treatment back then probably wasn't much better...for the most part.
But yes, it should be released.

 

[sbkline]

I was thinking that at the very beginning of the movie, the mother, father, and the boy drove in in an automobile. I'll have to go put my DVD in and double check...perhaps I'm wrong. :shrug:

 

[MIDisneyFamily]

Disney does not need to spend the money defending the movie and its contents just to make a few dollars. The bad media this would get, all beit over reactionary, would make this way to risky for its release. You cant do or say anything even remotely provocational these days, and not be protested, boycotted, or even sued. I'd have to sadly say, this one is better left over seas, and in the vault, for the financial sake of the Disney Corp. if nothing else. Ill have to rely on You Tube, and the soundtrack to enjoy this one for now.

 

[CThaddeus]

I was thinking that at the very beginning of the movie, the mother, father, and the boy drove in in an automobile. I'll have to go put my DVD in and double check...perhaps I'm wrong. :shrug:

I actually put in my DVD to confirm it because I was sure it was horse-drawn. Ditto for the other transportation in the rest of the film.

 

[raven]

Since I already own the DVD it shouldn't vote but I did anyway. I still think they need to release it.

 

[maggiegrace1]

Uh, where were the automobiles? They were all driving horse-drawn carriages. Are you sure you're not watching "The Gnome-Mobile" or something? The stories of Uncle Remus were written by Joel Chandler Harris around 1879 and were set just after the Civil War. He died in 1908. So, while you're correct in the sense that they weren't actually slaves, I'm guessing the treatment back then probably wasn't much better...for the most part.
But yes, it should be released.

I LOVE The Gnome Mobile..

 

[sbkline]

I actually put in my DVD to confirm it because I was sure it was horse-drawn. Ditto for the other transportation in the rest of the film.

Ya, I just popped mine in and must admit that I stand corrected.

So disregard all that I said about them living in the 1930s. Apparently this was either taking place in the slave era or the post slavery era of the late 1800s.

However, that doesn't really have any relevance to my opinion on the matter. Having a movie depicting slaves in the slave era is about as racist as a movie depicting Nazi soldiers and the holocaust in the WWII era. So I guess, according to the logic of the Politically Correct gang, I need to round up all my WWII movies and throw them in the garbage. :shrug: