Song of the South

Master Yoda

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
the-reason14 said:
Probably because they only took the animated parts of the movie and put them in the ride, and there arent any happy slaves running around on the ride.
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No happy slaves on Splash? Did they make that thing able work without CM's during the last refurb?:lookaroun:lol:
 
the-reason14

the-reason14

Well-Known Member
epcotWSC said:
At the same time, Walt Disney was not racist (although some crazy people like to claim so). Second, half the cast as well as the voices for all three animated characters were played by black actors. Also, the live version of Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear were played by white kids who were made to look dumb.

Yeah the tar baby scene could be seen as racist, but I'm sure that Disney had another reason for that (possibly satire?). Why would so many black actors and voice people sign up to do a movie that was racist against them?
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Probably because during that time, there were no other jobs in movies offered to black actors. The black actors of that time probably had to settle for movies that didnt represent them the best way, and they needed the work. It wasnt like hollywood was trying to cast blacks as leads. I remember the maid in SOTS was also the maid in many other movies during that time period. I mean, the movie SOTS itself, needed blacks to act in it ,obviously, to tell the story. So who would disney ask to be in it other than black actors? And why would they turn it down, if those roles were the only ones available at the time?
 
Vernonpush

Vernonpush

Well-Known Member
marcriss said:
While this is not as bad as other movies or cartoons, you do not see the old Looney Tunes cartoons on the air anymore either. We got a dvd of old cartoons and I was embarrassed for my son to see them, we shut it off right away. How do you explain to a child that these images and portrayals are wrong? For those of us who want a copy, that's what Ebay is for. We got a copy from Germany years ago. We see it for what it is, but there's a lot of people in this country that don't.
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When we went to our nieces's wedding in Dahlonega, GA I had to check out the DVD version of Song of the South being sold in an "Antique Store". They were obviously bootleg copies of the original film being sold under some brand as "Family Theater presents" but watching the monitor in the booth I knew that it was Disney! Yet a preschool gets hauled to court for having Disney cutouts on their walls?:shrug:
 
PhilharMagician

PhilharMagician

Well-Known Member
bgraham34 said:
I watched it not too long ago and I had a hard time sitting through it. I need to locate a better copy. I should go by my friend and watch it on laserdisc.
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They are available online. I bought a copy of the DVD a couple of years ago and the quality is great.
here is one place http://www.onlyclassicmovies.com/songofthesouth.html

Just do a search and others will come up.




It is a really good movie and it would be nice for Disney to rerelease it at some point, but I do not think you will ever see it released in the US ever again. If you want to see then you will have to buy a pirated version.
 
B

bruiser659

Member
donniedisney said:
That wasnt what I meant, I was just saying what I heard people complaining about. I have a PAL version that i had to get converted to VHS, I love the movie.
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I think the bull in the field had more to complain about than afro-american people.I see more controversy on TV after 8:00 than anything in this film.
 
iheartdisney91

iheartdisney91

Well-Known Member
Master Yoda said:
Don't blame Disney, blame all the civil rights groups that would surely go nuts if Disney was to release this movie. I am sure that if the NAACP sent a letter to Disney approving the release of Song of the South it would be in your local Wal-Mart and Best Buy on the very next day.
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i wish!, my brother is like in love with this movie, that would make an awesome Christmas gift. hahaha
 
Mad Stitch

Mad Stitch

Well-Known Member
hwdelien said:
Putting the "tar baby" scene aside, I don't recall anything really that racist about the rest. I know the phrase "tar baby" has racial connotations, but it was only called a tar baby because it was made out of tar. Maybe the animators could update it and make it an Elmer's glue baby (since it has to be sticky) and get rid of the offensive phrase.
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I've always thought it should be changed to a beehive and honey like they did in Splash Mountain.
 
heliumalias

heliumalias

Member
With the exception of the tar baby people are right nothing exceptionally racist happens in the film. The two big problems people have with it are:

1. the positive portrayal of the relationship between white plantation owners and black slaves. (Not dissimilar to the ones in Gone with the Wind)

2. It's a Disney movie aimed at kids. All those other films (and tv shows after 8) that people mentioned are not aimed directly at kids and that makes a huge difference to people.
 
hrcollectibles

hrcollectibles

Active Member
Animaniac93-98 said:
I can go to any DVD store and get a copy of Birth of a Nation, Gone With the Wind and Show Boat on DVD but not Song of the South? There's a flaw in that logic.

Disney should just release it as a WDT set. It's not marketed to kids so the NAACP can't about it "corrupting" children. It would get respectable treatment in terms of PQ and bonus features and would be a limited umber set so if Disney get complaints they can just say "We've already stopped making copies". Plus Leonard Maltin get his introductions where he can put the film int context and all is well. Maybe some minority groups can complain, but they don't have to buy copies if the don't want too.

As for the movie itself, it's good but it's not perfect (in terms of effective storytelling). It's far less racists than other movies of the time.
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Which I believe are available on dvd I just did a search and several are available. Heck there are far worse movies made today.

I really wish they would release this movie. This would be a perfect Walt Disney's Treasure Set. I can see where the Walt Disney Company would be Hesitant with the Sue happy society we live in today. But isn't it said that those who ignore the past, are doomed to repeat it. Also Since when has Disney not wanted to make a buck. This dvd would sell very well
 
trr1

trr1

Well-Known Member
if anyone really wanted to purchase this film they could do a search for it on line like i did it really is a good film and kids dont care if its pc or not
 
Disney4Eva

Disney4Eva

Member
My local county fair always has a location inside one of the tents that sells the movie for $75 every year. That surprised the heck out of me, but in a good way.
Sure, it's pricey, but at least I can see it available out in the open.
 
HMF

HMF

Well-Known Member
heliumalias said:
With the exception of the tar baby people are right nothing exceptionally racist happens in the film. The two big problems people have with it are:

1. the positive portrayal of the relationship between white plantation owners and black slaves. (Not dissimilar to the ones in Gone with the Wind)
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Uncle Remus is not a slave he is hired help for the family. The movie takes place after the Civil War. They could always edit out the tar baby. There was something even more racist in Fantasia and they edited that out.
 
DisneyPirate85

DisneyPirate85

New Member
When I was a much YOUNGER lad.....hmmm
They showed us this movie in Elementery, All 300 of us went to the cafeteria sat peacefully and were just as good as gold while they showed the movie. I remember how amazed I was getting to see a Disney Movie for FREE, in school.
Sadly my children now do not get to see treasures like this....Just a very very good childhood memory of mine:shrug:
 

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