Disney's Song of the South - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian · 10-29-2003, 08:46 PM

Has anybody seen or heard about this movie? When I went to Disneyland for Grad Nite 2003, I got on Splash Mountain twice. I didn't really go on it for the thrills but to try to grasp the storyline. I remember when I was little I asked my father if Disney ever made a movie about it and he said yes but it hasn't been seen in the United States for years. He wouldn't really elaborate on it except to say that it was offensive to African-Americans (I wouldn't say that he was hesitant to tell me because of my age and that I was too young to understand at the time but because he couldn't remember it very well). For years I always wondered about the movie. After Grad Nite and the two trips to Splash Mountain I decided to do something I should have done a long time ago: Research that movie. After doing some looking up, I found that the movie was called Song of the South and it was made in 1946. It starred James Baskett as Uncle Remus and it also starred Disney child star Bobby Driscoll (probably best known for playing Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island and serving as the voice of the title character in Peter Pan) as Johnny. In the movie, Remus tells Johnny three tales about Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, Br'er Bear, Br'er Fox, etc. I learned that it has never been released on VHS or DVD in the US and it hasn't been released in theaters here since 1986 (the 40th anniversary). I found a really good site on the film. If anybody remembers or has seen this film, what did you think of it?

Here's the site I'm referring to.

http://songofthesouth.net/home.html

webuster · 10-30-2003, 09:27 AM

Yeh, I've seen Song of the South- it used to be one of my favourite films- it has a release in the UK, and plays a few times at Christmas. It's actually very entertaining- especially the animated sequences. Apparently it was banned because it almost 'glorified' slavery- and it was supposedly set after the civil war. It glorified slavery cos Uncle Remus was always whistling and singing happily throughout the film while working for white people, and some other stuff. By the way- I've never heard of Splash Mountain- what is it exactly??
Anyway you should try get a copy from the UK if you've got a multi-region vcr- just to see what it's like. The B'rer rabbit and other stories were stories some slaves would tell- no one owned the rights exactly- so Disney could basically do what they wanted. As far as I know they collected the stories into a book- in my primary school they used b'rer rabbit in lots of stories.

Jenya · 10-30-2003, 02:21 PM

I've seen that movie for sale on a Japanese imported laserdisc at Laserland in Toronto a couple of years ago. The price for it at the time was $200. If I would've known that it was not for sale in North America, I would've bought it. Because Japanese video is the same format as U.S. and Canadian video formats (NTSC). That's too bad that these movies are banned. My fiancé has a rare laserdisc box set called The Al Jolson Collection, which is no longer available for sale either for the same reason as Song of the South. I guess those movies in the The Al Jolson Collection Laserdisc box set will never be availabe on DVD or video either.

Central Perk · 10-30-2003, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian
Has anybody seen or heard about this movie? When I went to Disneyland for Grad Nite 2003, I got on Splash Mountain twice. I didn't really go on it for the thrills but to try to grasp the storyline. I remember when I was little I asked my father if Disney ever made a movie about it and he said yes but it hasn't been seen in the United States for years. He wouldn't really elaborate on it except to say that it was offensive to African-Americans (I wouldn't say that he was hesitant to tell me because of my age and that I was too young to understand at the time but because he couldn't remember it very well). For years I always wondered about the movie. After Grad Nite and the two trips to Splash Mountain I decided to do something I should have done a long time ago: Research that movie. After doing some looking up, I found that the movie was called Song of the South and it was made in 1946. It starred James Baskett as Uncle Remus and it also starred Disney child star Bobby Driscoll (probably best known for playing Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island and serving as the voice of the title character in Peter Pan) as Johnny. In the movie, Remus tells Johnny three tales about Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, Br'er Bear, Br'er Fox, etc. I learned that it has never been released on VHS or DVD in the US and it hasn't been released in theaters here since 1986 (the 40th anniversary). I found a really good site on the film. If anybody remembers or has seen this film, what did you think of it?

Here's the site I'm referring to.

http://songofthesouth.net/home.html

Even though I never saw the movie I was obsessed with Song of the South. I think I saw part of it in some sing-along video, and that's what made me like it. In kindergarten I was Br'er Rabbit for Halloween, but nobody knew who I was. Also during that year I went to Disneyworld, and I went on Splash Mountain. The most exciting part for me was seeing all the characters, and not the actual drop. Since all I really cared about was seeing the characters, I don't even think the drop at the end scared me. I'd kind of like to see the full movie, but I can understand how it might be offensive to African Americans.

webuster · 10-31-2003, 09:32 AM

It doesn't really come accross as offensive- it's probably just those REALLY touchy civil rights activists that got it banned- kinda of like the way feminists are now- whining that everything wrong with their lives is because of men. Anyway no- it's not offensive, it's a very very cheerful kids movie- and seriously, would you like to have seen a dull and gloomy Disney musical- Disney musicals aren't reality!

I am Him · 10-31-2003, 11:28 AM

The last time "Song of the South" was released in the United States was back in the 80s. I saw it then. I remembered liking it, but I haven't seen it since.

Disney should release it on DVD. Even if they didn't want to sell it in stores, they should at least have it available for order.

I am Him · 10-31-2003, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by webuster
It doesn't really come accross as offensive- it's probably just those REALLY touchy civil rights activists that got it banned- kinda of like the way feminists are now- whining that everything wrong with their lives is because of men. Anyway no- it's not offensive, it's a very very cheerful kids movie- and seriously, would you like to have seen a dull and gloomy Disney musical- Disney musicals aren't reality!

No, I think that disney is just being overly cautious. After all, "Gone with the Wind" glorifies slavery to an even greater extent, yet the DVD is still available in stores, and no one complains.

musicradio77 · 11-01-2003, 11:19 PM

I've never seen "Song of the South" before. I saw the clip from the first episode of "Disneyland" back in the 50's. I have the song "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" by other artists like the Jackson 5, Bing Crosby and Ray Conniff's Orchestra and Chorus. I didn't get the video or DVD of that movie. That movie was so old. That was one of the first film that it was banned in the US because of black stereotypes. I didn't go to any country to get the movie. What was that all about? Anyway, when I was a kid, I used to have a Disneyland album called "The Story of Uncle Remus". As I said, I've never seen that movie before in my life.

animalcrackers · 11-02-2003, 09:06 AM

I've seen the movie, I liked it. It's an entertaining movie, I liked the characters, the songs, the color and animation were great. Some people I'm sure did find it offensive, but still it's a pretty good movie. Look at all the early westerns still being shown on tv protraying Indians as stiff, non-expressive people who would rather kill you than look at you.

10-29-2003, 08:46 PM	#1
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	Disney's Song of the South Has anybody seen or heard about this movie? When I went to Disneyland for Grad Nite 2003, I got on Splash Mountain twice. I didn't really go on it for the thrills but to try to grasp the storyline. I remember when I was little I asked my father if Disney ever made a movie about it and he said yes but it hasn't been seen in the United States for years. He wouldn't really elaborate on it except to say that it was offensive to African-Americans (I wouldn't say that he was hesitant to tell me because of my age and that I was too young to understand at the time but because he couldn't remember it very well). For years I always wondered about the movie. After Grad Nite and the two trips to Splash Mountain I decided to do something I should have done a long time ago: Research that movie. After doing some looking up, I found that the movie was called Song of the South and it was made in 1946. It starred James Baskett as Uncle Remus and it also starred Disney child star Bobby Driscoll (probably best known for playing Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island and serving as the voice of the title character in Peter Pan) as Johnny. In the movie, Remus tells Johnny three tales about Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, Br'er Bear, Br'er Fox, etc. I learned that it has never been released on VHS or DVD in the US and it hasn't been released in theaters here since 1986 (the 40th anniversary). I found a really good site on the film. If anybody remembers or has seen this film, what did you think of it? Here's the site I'm referring to. http://songofthesouth.net/home.html

10-30-2003, 02:21 PM	#3
Jenya Supervisor Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: Canmore, Alberta Posts: 3,359	I've seen that movie for sale on a Japanese imported laserdisc at Laserland in Toronto a couple of years ago. The price for it at the time was $200. If I would've known that it was not for sale in North America, I would've bought it. Because Japanese video is the same format as U.S. and Canadian video formats (NTSC). That's too bad that these movies are banned. My fiancé has a rare laserdisc box set called The Al Jolson Collection, which is no longer available for sale either for the same reason as Song of the South. I guess those movies in the The Al Jolson Collection Laserdisc box set will never be availabe on DVD or video either.
	Last edited by Jenya; 10-30-2003 at 03:17 PM.

11-01-2003, 11:19 PM	#8
musicradio77 Disney Expert Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 14, 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 6,475	I've never seen "Song of the South" before. I saw the clip from the first episode of "Disneyland" back in the 50's. I have the song "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" by other artists like the Jackson 5, Bing Crosby and Ray Conniff's Orchestra and Chorus. I didn't get the video or DVD of that movie. That movie was so old. That was one of the first film that it was banned in the US because of black stereotypes. I didn't go to any country to get the movie. What was that all about? Anyway, when I was a kid, I used to have a Disneyland album called "The Story of Uncle Remus". As I said, I've never seen that movie before in my life.
	__________________ Musicradio77 Productions

10-30-2003, 09:27 AM	#2
webuster Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 26, 2002 Posts: 2,150	Yeh, I've seen Song of the South- it used to be one of my favourite films- it has a release in the UK, and plays a few times at Christmas. It's actually very entertaining- especially the animated sequences. Apparently it was banned because it almost 'glorified' slavery- and it was supposedly set after the civil war. It glorified slavery cos Uncle Remus was always whistling and singing happily throughout the film while working for white people, and some other stuff. By the way- I've never heard of Splash Mountain- what is it exactly?? Anyway you should try get a copy from the UK if you've got a multi-region vcr- just to see what it's like. The B'rer rabbit and other stories were stories some slaves would tell- no one owned the rights exactly- so Disney could basically do what they wanted. As far as I know they collected the stories into a book- in my primary school they used b'rer rabbit in lots of stories.

10-31-2003, 09:32 AM	#5
webuster Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 26, 2002 Posts: 2,150	It doesn't really come accross as offensive- it's probably just those REALLY touchy civil rights activists that got it banned- kinda of like the way feminists are now- whining that everything wrong with their lives is because of men. Anyway no- it's not offensive, it's a very very cheerful kids movie- and seriously, would you like to have seen a dull and gloomy Disney musical- Disney musicals aren't reality!

10-31-2003, 11:28 AM	#6
I am Him Six Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2003 Posts: 1,529	The last time "Song of the South" was released in the United States was back in the 80s. I saw it then. I remembered liking it, but I haven't seen it since. Disney should release it on DVD. Even if they didn't want to sell it in stores, they should at least have it available for order.

11-02-2003, 09:06 AM	#9
animalcrackers Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 24, 2002 Location: The Backseat Of Fonzie's Bike Posts: 1,603	I've seen the movie, I liked it. It's an entertaining movie, I liked the characters, the songs, the color and animation were great. Some people I'm sure did find it offensive, but still it's a pretty good movie. Look at all the early westerns still being shown on tv protraying Indians as stiff, non-expressive people who would rather kill you than look at you.