More different European covers.

[2099net]

"Song of the South" is really no big issue in Europe. It's been released upteen times on VHS and shown on television a number of times (usually on ITV, but the BBC showed it this Easter).

I'm confident a R2 DVD release will appear before the end of 2004!

[Hennie]

In holland is song of the south not yet released, i hope it will soon

[aosive]

Does anyone have a scan of the UK release of So Dear To My Heart?

[2099net]

It's not been released in the UK yet (or even scheduled) The supplements were passed by the BBFC about 6 months ago, but since then... nothing.

[aosive]

I will be happy with the VHS cover if somebody have it? (a little off topic but......)

[Maerj]

Its not a loss of brain on their part but a fear of a backlash from wacko 'Politically Correct' people and people like Jesse Jackson and other special interest groups.

[The Lizard King]

now why can;t they put Song of the South in America? Disney must have lost it's brain.

The major problem with Song of the South for the American market is that there is nothing in the film that tells the audience WHEN the film is taking place; it is up to the viewer to infer whether Uncle Remus and the rest of the African Americans were slaves or a free men and women. If only Uncle Walt had just put into that opening scene with the introductory text that this story happened during the reconstruction of the new South, then we would know that Remus was a free man, and the film probably would have been released in the U.S. already.

For a more articulate treatise on this subject, see:

<a href=http://www.metrobeat.net/gbase/Expedite ... %3A1811</a>

The serious part of the story is after the "***."

HOWEVER, since Remus was able to freely pack up his belongings and leave the plantation on a horse-drawn carriage at the end of the film (only to come back and help Johnny again), this would indicate that he DEFINITELY was a free man. A slave could not have possibly done that out in the open.

TLK

[The Lizard King]

I'm confident a R2 DVD release will appear before the end of 2004!

Michael Eisner has already publicly stated that the film will NEVER see the light of day on DVD in any region. Perhaps, though, that he only meant on HIS watch as CEO. If Disney actually released the film on DVD (post-Eisner), it would undoubtedly be so butchered and sanitized to render it virtually unwatchable -- a la Make Mine Music.

TLK

[The Lizard King]

In holland is song of the south not yet released, i hope it will soon

I believe that there was a limited run of PAL-VHS tapes in Holland in the late 1990's. As far as DVD is concerned, you will probably have to wait a long while. Read my earlier posts to see why I think that this is so.

TLK

[2099net]

Michael Eisner has already publicly stated that the film will NEVER see the light of day on DVD in any region.

And yet the film was recently purchased from Disney by the BBC and shown on British National television (by the Govenment funded network no less) this Easter? And yes, I know the film was recently purchased, because all previous showings have been on a different network (ITV).

As for political backlash - to be blunt who cares? Especially as all of the protesters arguments can be logically dismissed.

Not wanting to get this thread into a political discussion, fear of a political backlash didn't stop Hollywood making films like "In the Name of the Father" and "Some Mother's Son" which presents a very biased, one-sided view of the "troubles" in Northern Ireland. Hell, even the UK film industry made "Bloody Sunday", another biased one-sided anti-British Northen Ireland film. And I'm not complaining - it's their right to in a free society. It should also be Disney's right to release Song of the South on DVD, just as it's the consumers' right to either purchase it or ignore it.

[The Lizard King]

Not wanting to get this thread into a political discussion, fear of a political backlash didn't stop Hollywood making films like "In the Name of the Father" and "Some Mother's Son" which presents a very biased, one-sided view of the "troubles" in Northern Ireland. Hell, even the UK film industry made "Bloody Sunday", another biased one-sided anti-British Northen Ireland film. And I'm not complaining - it's their right to in a free society. It should also be Disney's right to release Song of the South on DVD, just as it's the consumers' right to either purchase it or ignore it.

There's a fundamental difference between Song of the South and the films that you are referring to here... Song of the South is intended for a FAMILY audience. The "political" films that you are referring to are for mature audiences only. Disney is the ONE studio that is overly concerned (even borderline paranoid) about their family-friendly image, and they will NOT jeopardize that image for Song of the South. Yes, they have MIRAMAX for their mature-oriented films, but Joe Six-Pack doesn't know that Disney owns MIRAMAX. I cannot see Disney, MIRAMAX, or Touchstone releasing the film or licensing it to another distributor to release it. I know that you want them to, but it just plain ain't going to happen.

TLK

[2099net]

May I point you to this line

As for political backlash - to be blunt who cares? Especially as all of the protesters arguments can be logically dismissed.

They could easily film an introduction to invalidate most (if not all) of the complaints. It's called being pro-active instead of re-active, and will put Disney in a much stronger position when the protests start (in fact it may automatically put Disney in a winning position).

I'm not saying we will see an American release, but to hold it off a release in the rest of the world is just silly. If Eisner is worried about copies coming in, than he already has to worry about LD bootlegs and selling the film unedited to the BBC where any ordinary Joe could have taped it and sent it to America (where any photographic store can perform a PAL > NTSC conversion on the tape) makes no sense what-so-ever!

Joe Six-Pack doesn't know that Disney owns MIRAMAX

Strange. In the UK all Miramax DVDs come complete with a Buena Vista Hologram sticker on the packaging (to "stop" bootlegs), complete with Sleeping Beauty's castle. It doesn't take much to put two and two together.

[The Lizard King]

They could easily film an introduction to invalidate most (if not all) of the complaints. It's called being pro-active instead of re-active, and will put Disney in a much stronger position when the protests start (in fact it may automatically put Disney in a winning position).

I think that this is what Leonard Maltin has wanted to do with the film.

I'm not saying we will see an American release, but to hold it off a release in the rest of the world is just silly. If Eisner is worried about copies coming in, than he already has to worry about LD bootlegs and selling the film unedited to the BBC where any ordinary Joe could have taped it and sent it to America (where any photographic store can perform a PAL > NTSC conversion on the tape) makes not sense what-so-ever!

That Genie has already left the bottle. As you probably know by now, I help "distribute" the film world-wide.

Strange. In the UK all Miramax DVDs come complete with a Buena Vista Hologram sticker on the packaging (to "stop" bootlegs), complete with Sleeping Beauty's castle. It doesn't take much to put two and two together.

I have to look at my MIRAMAX releases again, but I'm almost certain that the castle, nor anything resembling Disney, is on the R1 packaging.

TLK

[Matty-Mouse]

I will be happy with the VHS cover if somebody have it? (a little off topic but......)

Here's a link to the UK VHS cover
http://www.blackstar.co.uk/video/item/7000000011873

[aosive]

I'm totally happy with my Song Of The South DVD that I bought at Ebay. I think it's strange that Disney doesn't have more control over what is sold on Ebay, it is a bootleg, but with perfect picture and sound. I also have the UK Vhs edition and the japan LD.

[Sulley]

Question: How much did you get yours for? On my lucky day someone was selling about 15-20 DVDs on eBay for only $38 a piece. They sold like hotcakes and I was fortunate enough to get one. I can't say much for the quality as it was taken from a UK VHS on to DVD-R, but I am overjoyed that I even got to see the film and own it.

It seems the way most sellers are getting around it are by selling UK VHS copies with "backup" All-Region DVDs for VERY high prices. I guess eBay noticed that this person was just selling straight bootleg DVDs as they e-mailed me telling that the entire transaction had been erased from my history without any explanation as to why, not even if it was a bad seller or what (though you and I both know the reason ). Luckily, I paid and printed my receipt as soon as I "Bought It Now" and contacted the seller enough to know that it had shipped before eBay's rude e-mail had been sent.

[The Lizard King]

Question: How much did you get yours for? On my lucky day someone was selling about 15-20 DVDs on eBay for only $38 a piece. They sold like hotcakes and I was fortunate enough to get one. I can't say much for the quality as it was taken from a UK VHS on to DVD-R, but I am overjoyed that I even got to see the film and own it.

Do you want a VERY professionally-authored DVD of SOTS? I will sell it to you for what you paid for your PAL-VHS tape to DVD transfer (yeesh! ). e-Mail me if interested.

TLK

[Hennie]

Hi all,

If you want to sent me your covers you have, i can make something for my site to put on.

thanks

email: info@hiervindjehet.nl

[jesus_brer]

im really diggin the little mermaid cover i hope the re-release dvd cover looks like that.