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LeeJ
Member Patricius

since 2003-06-19

Posts 13296

0 posted 2007-04-04 01:16 PM

'Song of the South' release mulled despite possible controversy

ORLANDO (AP) — Walt Disney Co.'s 1946 film Song of the South was historic. It was Disney's first big live-action picture and produced one of the company's most famous songs — the Oscar-winning "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah." It also carries the story line of the Splash Mountain rides at its theme parks.

But the movie remains hidden in the Disney archives — never released on video in the United States and criticized as racist for its depiction of Southern plantation blacks. The film's 60th anniversary passed last year without a whisper of official rerelease, which is unusual for Disney, but President and CEO Bob Iger recently said the company was reconsidering.

The film's reissue would surely spark debate, but it could also sell big. Nearly 115,000 people have signed an online petition urging Disney to make the movie available, and out-of-print international copies routinely sell online for $50-$90, some even more than $100.

Iger was answering a shareholder's inquiry about the movie for the second year in a row at Disney's annual meeting in New Orleans. This month the Disney chief made a rerelease sound more possible.

"The question of Song of the South comes up periodically, in fact it was raised at last year's annual meeting ..." Iger said. "And since that time, we've decided to take a look at it again because we've had numerous requests about bringing it out. Our concern was that a film that was made so many decades ago being brought out today perhaps could be either misinterpreted or that it would be somewhat challenging in terms of providing the appropriate context."

Song of the South was re-shown in theaters in 1956, 1972 and 1986. Both animated and live-action, it tells the story of a young white boy, Johnny, who goes to live on his grandparents' Georgia plantation when his parents split up. Johnny is charmed by Uncle Remus — a popular black servant — and his fables of Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear and Brer Fox, which are actual black folk tales.

Remus' stories include the famous "tar baby," a phrase Republican presidential hopefuls John McCain and Mitt Romney were recently criticized for using to describe difficult situations. In Song of the South, it was a trick Brer Fox and Brer Bear used to catch the rabbit — dressing a lump of hot tar as a person to ensnare their prey.

To some, it is now a derogatory term for blacks, regardless of context.

The movie doesn't reveal whether it takes place before or after the Civil War, and never refers to blacks on the plantation as slaves. It makes clear they work for the family, living down dirt roads in wood shacks while the white characters stay in a mansion. Remus and other black characters' dialogue is full of "ain't nevers," "ain't nobodys," "you tells," and "dem days's."

To me and for me, this was a wonderful childhood journey, when I lived in a time of my own world, not realizing race....

I think it is important to keep this movie alive, it depicts art and history

FYI

Sign the petition to free "Song of the South": http://www.songofthesouth.net/

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

1 posted 2007-04-04 01:47 PM

If Disney owns the rights to the property, it is entirely up to Disney what they decide to do with that.

It's pretty much that simple.

For example, you can't tell someone who owns a rare painting that they must show it publically either.

*shrug*

That's just how it works.

LeeJ
Member Patricius

since 2003-06-19

Posts 13296

2 posted 2007-04-04 02:12 PM

yes, but in today's world, I believe they don't want to be sued or looked at as being racists....

seemly and to me, it is part of my childhood, and I loved it dearly, but the songs have left me....and I'd surely love to have a copy for my movie library.

(sigh)

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

3 posted 2007-04-04 02:18 PM

Well, I apologize for not battling the whole racist issue, I just didn't see it as the point.

But if you are really hankering for a copy?

Rumor has it, you can find ANYTHING on the Internet. Now I ain't sayin' you'll be able to find it and download it without breaking copyright infringement laws, but it's probably availabe...somewhere.

But that brings me back to my own point:

Copyright

They own it. They can sit on it.

And that's exactly what I tell my hubby too.

LeeJ
Member Patricius

since 2003-06-19

Posts 13296

4 posted 2007-04-04 02:23 PM

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

5 posted 2007-04-04 02:29 PM

Who ME?

I've got "people" who might know some people who might be persuaded to, *nodding like Tony Soprano* put a little, um, leverage on the situation.

(I really need sound to do my Tony imitation.)

sigh. pout.

and

All strictly legal, of course.

*Soprano nodding again* We got 'dis special system--it's all set up with the corporation, you know how it is, all legal sticky shtuff.

Christopher

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-08-02

Posts 8296
Purgatorial Incarceration

6 posted 2007-04-04 03:33 PM

quote:
If Disney owns the rights to the property, it is entirely up to Disney what they decide to do with that.

Is Disney a privately owned company, then, Karen?

quote:
But if you are really hankering for a copy?

Rumor has it, you can find ANYTHING on the Internet.

Where?!?! I looked. It took me almost an hour just to find zip-a-dee-do-dah (original version).

About 3 weeks ago, I woke up with the song in my head and couldn't get it out. My wife (a bit younger than I) had never even heard of song of the south, so we went on a search and discovered the controversy surrounding it… which i think, personally, is a bunch of mush, with bandwagoneers itching to condemn anything that doesn't conform with their views of the world... I mean, of course we should ban a cultural film that was made earlier last century because it depicts slavery in a light and entertaining manner (because of the yassirs, I guess) while applauding more recent films such as Sin City, which not only fail to uplift with any fables, but promote murder, prostitution and general violence as being cooool... but I pulpit... i mean, digress.

To wit - I couldn'a find nuttin. I signed the petition. So did my wife. We'll see what happens.

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

7 posted 2007-04-04 03:50 PM

Um, C? The movie I was referring to was "poofed", so I take it the request for it was made in jest.

As was of course, my joke that I have "people" in a pirate company.

I DO NOT OWN A PIRATE COMPUTERSHIP.

I am in waste management, of course.

It took me a year to learn how to make a smilie on this thing, and I still type "supergroin" out at times. But I shrug at the petition simply because I feel like it's Disney generated PR, to add interest and suspense to something they fully intend to release at a later date.

I don't think the movie is any more racist than Shirley Temple flicks or Gone with the Wind, just for the record.

I consider it quaint in comparison to some of the newer flicks anyhow.

It will be released, people. Trust your former PR girl. I smell a promo. If you see even more controversy, bank on it.

And C?

Disney did better as a private company.

*laughing*

This just happens to be one of their smarter moves.

It's all smoke and mirrors baby!

LeeJ
Member Patricius

since 2003-06-19

Posts 13296

8 posted 2007-04-04 03:51 PM

Christoper
thanks for your comment, couldn't agree more, and you wrote it with diplomacy and tact. Believe me, I wouldn't have been as kind. Yes, we will see what happens.

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

9 posted 2007-04-04 05:16 PM

I'm still waiting for Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn to be banned....or have they already been?

Christopher

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-08-02

Posts 8296
Purgatorial Incarceration

10 posted 2007-04-04 05:46 PM

I don't know, K, you may be giving Disney a bit too much credit. Last time it was available was when I was a child... and while that wasn't "forever" ago, it was still more than a couple days (*cough*decades*cough*). I just don't see them being that farsighted.

As for its eventual release, however, I agree... when the dollar signs on the side of the meter weighing sales drops deeper than the side weighing potential/likely litigation, I'm sure they'll pump the thing out.

:supergroin:

been there done that myself.

Essorant
Member Elite

since 2002-08-10

Posts 4769
Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada

11 posted 2007-04-04 06:43 PM

Oh well. It's just a movie.

LeeJ
Member Patricius

since 2003-06-19

Posts 13296

12 posted 2007-04-04 07:16 PM

K
I found the movie, can you believe it.  You were not seeing things, it did go poof.  Matter fact, right after I wrote it I typed in a search and much to my surprise, Amazon is selling Formula...so I've ordered it.  But, no, your not going off somewhere in lala land...

hehe

thanks a bunch

and no, it isn't just a movie, but a tribute and honor to childhood, at least mine.  Loved that movie and the songs...
back then...would really like to hear the music again.  I seem to remember Uncle Remus walking among wheat...and butterflies...was it in color, or am I now following along K's path...hehe Seriously, all I remember is lovin that movie.

latearrival
Member Ascendant

since 2003-03-21

Posts 5499
Florida

13 posted 2007-04-06 01:57 AM

I just typed in Song Of The South and found you can easily order a DVD copy of the orginal, also the trailers from the orginal movie.Am I missing something here? martyjo

Christopher

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-08-02

Posts 8296
Purgatorial Incarceration

14 posted 2007-04-06 11:13 AM

can you provide a link, Martyjo? I looked and looked and found nothing!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_of_the_South#Releases_and_availability

Essorant
Member Elite

since 2002-08-10

Posts 4769
Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada

15 posted 2007-04-06 12:51 PM

Here is one I found from a quick google search:

http://www.songofthesouthdvdremastered.com/

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

16 posted 2007-04-06 02:56 PM

I ordered mine ... at a measley $18.00 + shipping .. it's a bargain and a half~

~*The sound of a kiss is not as strong as that of a cannon, but it's echo endures much longer*~
Email - noles1@totcon.com

Poet deVine

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-26

Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley

17 posted 2007-04-06 03:12 PM

In some libraries 'Tom Sawyer' is banned as being racist.

I loved 'Song of the South'!! Visually it was an exciting movie and it never occured to me that it could be racist - as a kid, I just liked the story!!

Innocence is fleeting....

latearrival
Member Ascendant

since 2003-03-21

Posts 5499
Florida

18 posted 2007-04-07 05:24 PM

I think Essorant and I found the same one.I just typed in Song of The South in my microsoft search area.
martyjo

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