Who has seen Song of the South?

[Lazario]

I'm one of those people who have not seen it due to the fact that Disney has decided never to release it on VHS or DVD. But if it was ever released... I'm not sure I'd want it even on that occasion. I would consider purchasing it just because of the fact that it was y'know 'controversial', to support my philosophy that controversy should never stop the release of any film or TV show on home video.

[Andy]

Yeh i seen it when i was younger, actually im sure i must have it on video somewhere in the loft
I just hope we do get a dvd release in the future.......

[Jayden]

Now that depends, I've never seen Holes, however was there meant to be a commentary in there about this kind of behaviour? Because filmmakers in modern times often do that. They include something that looks like racism to prove a point and provide a commentary on that. More than likely, this is what happened with Holes as there was not a huge outcry over it (That I can remember). However, Song of the South's racist depictions are the attitudes of the time and don't provide any positive commentary on the issue. It just depicts African American slaves as being incredibly happy with their lot in life (plus other such nonsense).

Yes I am aware of that, and that is why I was talking about straight out portrayal of racism in Disney films rather than the fact that there is the whole Slavery issue in SOTS. I guess I didn't make it clear.

I for one think that Disney tried to downplay the racism in SOTS for example rather than the slaves being ordered about left right and centre I think they made it look as though they were doing it happily. Kind of a happy medium that made sure all elements of the atory were there. There were slaves but because it was a Disney film they made it appear that they were doing it happily. I think in hindsight that this does stick out, but I do not feel the film was made with any malice. I think it just seemed a way to skirt around the issue that just maybe wasn't though out properly.

Sorry, I guess I didn't quite understand.

Anyways, you're absolutely right, it was not done with Malice. This was the societal attitudes of the time, much like Blackface gags in the early Mickey shorts or the stereotypical portrayal of the African American woman in Pantry Pirate (Sorry, I just finished an essay on discovering societal attitudes by watching Disney Animated Shorts, so I know a lot about them). In fact, the audience HAD to accept this stereotype of the time, because a stereotype can not exist without audience acceptance of it, the audience isn't passively accepting it.

Jayden needs to get a life. Why does he chastize a movie that he hasn't seen in total?? He just wants to be different from the rest of us, I guess.

What I have learned over the years is that the NAACP has put pressure on the Disney people by telling them that the movie shows black people in an unfair light. Well, what is unfair about the truth. Back in those days, they were slaves, and manservants and such. Sure it wouldn't work today, but this movie was made in 1946, c'mon, give me a break.

I own the Japanese LaserDisc copy of the movie and it is fabulous. I just recently transfered it to DVD+RW for my collection. I have heard that it is coming out in the US in the spring of 2006.

Excuse me? Did you not read my post? You obviously missed the section that said, oh let's see......

I've seen it

. I have seen it in full, and I gave my impressions of the movie IN FULL, just as everyone else here did, and I don't see you coming down on them. I'm not trying to be different, I'm trying to be realistic and cut down some of the overly inflated hype surrounding this movie.

If you like the movie, that's great! Wonderful even. However, in my OPINION it was boring as heck, except for the parts that I pointed out as being actually enjoyable.

Anyways, be sure you understand the post before criticizing it in the future

[RobinGoodfellow]

After seeing the movie "Holes for the first time today, I have to say that that shows more racism than Song of the South! As has been mentioned in previous posts the "racism" shown in Song of the South is not really present at all. It alls things such as Toby not being present at the party and stuff like that. Now Disney seems to think that is somehow innapropriate. Yet in Disney's 2003 film "Holes" Sam is murdered because he is a black and kisses a white woman.

Now which of those shows the most racism?

Well, we're talking about 2 works set in a similiar period in history- and made at different times in them. When Sam is murdered by locals, the town's abundant rainfall ceases. The book version by Louis Sachar (also the screenwriter) even asks the reader, "Who do you think God punished?" There is dialogue and actions attributed to characters who think interracial relationships are against God, but in that one reference the author's stance is made quite clear. Stanley ends the family curse by fulfilling his ancestor's promise to Mme Zeroni. It's a story about restitution for inquities blacks have suffered in the past- much like "Fall of the House of Usher" is about the shaky, unsubstainable, and self-destructive nature of slavery.

Now, I do think SotS is Treasures material. I saw the Japanese laserdisc at a school screening about 2 years back. Protests aside- I simply don't think it's appropriate to sell to people who put Disney sequels in their carts, not knowing the difference, any more than it would be for me to put on my uncut Yu-Gi-Oh dvds for a kid cousin who watches the dubbed tv cut.

Then again, Disney seems only concerned with protests because they still released this movie in non-protest or worse, less diverse, markets. And you know what, a big enough marquee like the Haunted Mansion can do well in Japan with a black lead instead of Tim Allen. Maybe Treasure Planet would've as well if Jim Hawkins' original design had remained. (He made to reference sculptures as a black character) These examples hit me hard because I don't need to see white leads all the time and I don't dig those hip-hop movies.

There are nice assimilation aspects to SotS, no doubt. But it's too rooted in an ambigious, happy plantation, Uncle Tom version of Reconstruction being depicted with no mention of this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Am ... s_Congress

[Zoltack]

I've never even heard of it. But it sounds familar. My best guess to find it would be on the web.

[PMcOuntry]

I saw it as a very small child when it was re-released on the big screen in late 70's/early 80's. I can remember sitting on my grandma's lap. I recently ordered it from overseas, and I'm waiting for my copy now. I certinaly hope Disney feels the need to release it on it's 60th anniversary next year.

-Tricia

[karlsen]

Just a little reminder to Jayden and all the others comenting on the movie:

Therefor I have two questions:

1. Have you seen Song of the south
2. If you have seen it, where did you see it (cinema, forign video, laserdisc or bootleg)?

This was the original post. There has been lots of threads here that has been reviews and talks about the movie but this is not one of them. There are only 2 question:

1. Have you seen Song of the south
2. If you have seen it, where did you see it (cinema, forign video, laserdisc or bootleg)?

Please stay within them, and if you want to write more then find one of those other threads that deals with that topic.

[Wonderlicious]

1. Have you seen Song of the south
2. If you have seen it, where did you see it (cinema, forign video, laserdisc or bootleg)?

1. Yes, I have seen Song of the South numerous times.
2. It was released a number of times on video in the UK, one edition of which can be rented in the local video shop. It's also been on TV a few times in England and we taped it off TV a few years ago.

Also, can we stop bashing Jayden? I'll agree that some do overrate this film as they say they adore it when they've never seen it properly.

[Jayden]

Okay, so to answer the questions asked (sorry for diverting from them):
1) I have seen it
2) My parents had a copy when I was a kid, I'm not sure if it was a bootleg or not (More than likely it was). However, I can't find it to confirm whether it is or not.

[Fidget1234]

my friend has one w/ japanese subtitles.... very cute movie!
Uncle Remus & brer rabbit are adorable! i am patiently awaiting a dvd release!

[PMcOuntry]

If Disney ever releases it! Although w/it's 60th anniversary of the film coming next year, maybe they will, there was an article on how it would be big boost for sales and marketing/promotional would be too much for Disney to resist, who knows though.

I bought it on DVD, Region 0, from oversea's, I've been told it's a very nice copy (by someone who bought it), and I'm awaiting it now.

[ZackR]

I saw it in the theaters in 1986. I was in kindergarten and my teacher took us all to see it. It was the limited re-release that year. I have since owned the laserdisc as well as some ummm "unauthorized" releases as well. Can't wait for an official DVD!

[PMcOuntry]

It must have re-relased even earlier than that, because I remember seeing it in like '79?

[Christian]

Just because somebody says they saw it in 1986 doesn't mean that's the only year it's been re-released. Before home video became a huge thing Disney movies were routinely re-released to the theaters every seven years. I believe I first saw Song of the South in its 1972 re-release so it's entirely likely that it also came out seven years later in 1979 then again in 1986. Somebody could contradict my theory but it follows the known pattern.

[Lars Vermundsberget]

1. Yes, I have.
2. On PAL videotape and Japanese laserdisc.

[PMcOuntry]

Just because somebody says they saw it in 1986 doesn't mean that's the only year it's been re-released. Before home video became a huge thing Disney movies were routinely re-released to the theaters every seven years. I believe I first saw Song of the South in its 1972 re-release so it's entirely likely that it also came out seven years later in 1979 then again in 1986. Somebody could contradict my theory but it follows the known pattern.

I wasn't saying they were wrong, I was just saying it was also re-released in late 70's, and as you stated, the early 70's, so apperantly at one time Disney did not have a problem w/showing the film.

[Brer Brandon]

My earliest movie going experience that I can remember is my grandmother taking me to see the 1986 40th anniversary theatrical release of this when I was three.
Also, a few years ago, my dad managed to get me a VHS copy of it for Christmas from a man at my church who had the Japanese laser disc. He even made the cover art and everything.
I would love to have this on DVD, because it is an awesome movie.

[marlan]

One episode from Song of the South is included in the One Hour in Wonderland TV show (Christmas 1950) on Alice in Wonderland: The Masterpiece Edition disk No. 2. Although the TV show is black-and-white, the animation sequences are in colour. The runtime of the show is actually 59'23" and it also contains episodes from the new Alice movie and other classics.

[banjoboy]

Yes. I have watched it several times.
I own a British VHS-tape of it, which cost me an arm and a leg on eBay. It was worth it, though, even if I am still eagerly anticipating an ambitious DVD-release from Disney. The talk of racism is beside the point, if you ask me. I watch a lot of older movies, and SoTS is no worse than many others. It's just a dark heritage we have to face up to, while making sure we're always striving to make things better. Refusing to watch a 60-year old movie is not going to help.

[Jordan]

I have seen it several times since I've been owning it on VHS for like 10 years because in France, the movie did go out on VHS.