Song of the South: Too Offensive to Release on DVD?

[ajmrowland]

^Well, I'm thankingg God that, several pages back, I acknowlegded the controversy that would spark because of it.

But, even though I have the movie(albeit, an unrestored bootleg), I still think that effect would be mostly short-term because people will buy the movie out of curiosity and, after much blood is spilled and the raging inferno of zombie parents dies( a year at most) move on with their lives.

[Disney Duster]

Right ajmrowland.

I think this is a case of...it's going to cause controversy eventually, why not get it over with?

Doing it not too long after The Princess and the Frog may actually be a good idea.

[estefan]

Yeah, didn't the same thing happen with Splash Mountain? When it opened, the NAACP complained and now you never hear people upset over the ride (well, maybe except for those lifting their tops at the photograph portion of it ).

[avonleastories95]

This will probably NEVER get a release, thanks to the get mad easily NAACP. Which is a shame beacause Song of the South is one of my favorite Disney movies. It is a great movie, and it desperately is derserving of even a Diamond Edition. But Disney is afraid if they release it, the NAACP will get mad and sue them for every penny the release makes.

[Kraken Guard]

Quick question..


What exactly is so racist about the movie?


Yes, i've never seen the movie before..

[schoollover]

This will probably NEVER get a release, thanks to the get mad easily NAACP. Which is a shame beacause Song of the South is one of my favorite Disney movies. It is a great movie, and it desperately is derserving of even a Diamond Edition. But Disney is afraid if they release it, the NAACP will get mad and sue them for every penny the release makes.

Actually in this wikipedia article about song of the south, they said that the NAACP said that they don't really see any problems with it except that it might present an unrealistic view of former slaves and their managers.

[Wonderlicious]

Quick question..


What exactly is so racist about the movie?


Yes, i've never seen the movie before..

The film basically sugar-coats the situation of black people in America during the Reconstruction Era. The poor black workers seem extremely happy to serve the rich white people, which some would find distasteful, unrealistic and offering little more than an ignorant viewpoint akin to white attitudes of the day.

Call me politically correct for writing that, but I don't want to seem an absolute apologist who denies any sort of racial problem in the film. It is far less racist than a lot of other comparable films (Gone With the Wind, cough), and is artistically very good; I agree that the film ought to be released on DVD/Blu-Ray, even if in limited quantities and with preachy introductions. I really think that Disney themselves are in part to blame for the mess they're in. If anything, I'm surprised Disney didn't even put out a copy on video even before Eisner came along, as it doesn't seem like such a major feature, and even a live-action crown-jewel like Mary Poppins was already available. As far as I know, the reissues in the 70s and 80s didn't attract complete rage and wide scale boycotting of Disney products, nor did the 90s release of the film on video and laserdisc in various European and Asian countries (the UK included, where it's also been shown on TV). By constantly hiding it away, Disney has made Song of the South seem like the most racist thing since Nazism.

[dvdjunkie]

This is the main problem with America itself. Why are still living in the dark ages?

"Song of the South" is a movie, it is not about true life, but life as it was back in the days of slavery. And as far as Disney "sugar-coating" it, that is just all wrong.

The characters in the movie are portrayed fairly, and even the clashes between 'white' folks in this film is done fairly.

The tales of Uncle Remus have been around for years, and why all this fuss about this movie I have never begun to understand.

Disney studios should just take a stand and say "Here it is folks!!! "Song of the South" in its complete and uncensored form for all of you to enjoy".

We don't know how anyone will react until we actually see this movie either on DVD release or, and I am all for this, re-release it to the theaters as a "Classic Walt Disney Production From the Vaults". See what kind of reaction it stirs that way. I personally would pay to see this in the theater, any time, any day, and any where.

[Goliath]

What exactly is so racist about the movie?
Yes, i've never seen the movie before..

Read the posts made by Lazario and me in this thread and you'll know.

[Disney Duster]

Why don't they release it very quietly?

Make the cover only the toons and the title. Show the live actors on the back. Have a little explanatory introduction before the movie plays, maybe even one you cannot skip. However the trasures did it. Hell, release it as a treasure, all limited and everything. Who on Earth but the most avid collectors, fans, and open-minded people would even notice or want it?

[ajmrowland]

^and to add to that idea, give it a crappy title like "The Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Edition"

[KubrickFan]

I post this on the Fantasia thread, but it deserves to be posted here as well. It's Robert Meyer Burnett's (DVD producer for several Disney movies) reaction on the whole Sunflower/Song of the South situation:

The orginal DVD for THE FANTASIA ANTHOLOGY was the very first DVD I ever worked on while employed by Kurtti/Pellerin, once the premiere company for creating DVD Special Features. That was a glorious time and I felt incredibly privlidged to be given such an opportunity.

That said, I am in complete agreement with you. Unfortunately, in our ridiculous, politically correct times, the Corporate decision makers at Disney really have no choice but to try and head off at the pass any kind of publicity nightmare that might blow up in their faces.

Today on thedigitalbits.com, Bill Hunt had this to say and I completely agree with him:

"As some of you may know, the original theatrical version of the film featured a 'black centaurette' character in The Pastoral Symphony sequence. For the previous DVD release, this character was removed via a digital zoom. Our sources tell us that this change is still part of the new Blu-ray, but that with improved digital tools the edit is more seamless. Like some of you, I have mixed feelings about this. I'd love to see some kind of branching viewing option that allows you to see the uncensored version, with some kind of BD-Java option or featurette that addresses the issue head-on. Even a BD-Live option to view the uncensored version or scenes online. In today's PC climate though, I can understand why Disney wouldn't include it. Essentially, the controversy itself would be all ANYONE in the media talked about. Same with Song of the South - in an ideal world, Disney would release it uncensored as a special edition that directly addressed the subject racism in classic Hollywood films head-on. An unvarnished look at the issue and how far we've come (or not) since then, WITH members of the black community involved - historians, etc. And they could donate all the profits to a charity devoted to ending racism. But in today's media climate, some groups would decide to use the release as an opportunity to generate controversy and stir up PR, and even those people who honestly believe the film should never be seen again would campaign on Larry King, and it would be a circus. My take is, you should never sanitize your own history, but rather deal with it head on. But that requires the ability to look at things in context, in more than the time that it takes to write or read a Twitter feed, and our society doesn't seem to have that ability anymore - at least at the moment. So yes, it's unfortunate, and but I guess I do understand Disney's decision. And while it's important to keep all this in mind, it's not going to prevent me from enjoying what should be an otherwise excellent release, much like the previous DVD set."

I believe as a nation, when it comes to such issues, we've become incredibly immature and I think unable to understand the historical context in which these beautiful works were created. At one point, we tried to get SONG OF THE SOUTH released, with the idea of getting black celebs, such as Oprah, Quincy Jones, Morgan Freeman etc. to introduce the film and set up the historical content in which it was made. If you've ever seen SONG in a theater with a predominantly black audience, you can see they don't need it, because they love the film...but those guilty white folks, THEY'RE the ones who will be pissed. For myself, I remember seeing SONG OF THE SOUTH as a little kid and absolutely loving it. I've had the Japanese laserdisc for YEARS and I still love it. I plan on showing it to my kids (If I ever have any).

So, until America (and the Islamic World...where people are killed for drawing cartoons) grows out of its continuing regressive maturity, I don't think there's much of a chance we'll be seeing these films in their original form.

[Lazario]

Suppression of art, history or intellectual property can never lead to true freedom. We must share and learn and grow together openly -- and that means without fear of debate, politics, authors, artists or filmmakers... or innocent old movies! That's how our minds change and grow.

It's not about collecting things on a shelf, it's about encouraging the perspectives of all storytellers, it's about perpetuating historic art for the ages so everyone can enjoy, laugh and learn from these relevant, timeless themes and culturally significant fables.

Time for the rights holders to free Uncle Remus from the Disney vault on DVD and Blu-Ray disc -- and buy extra sets for your friends and family in appreciation!

Lucy in the Skyyyyyy with Diiiiiiiiamonds

"Song of the South" is a movie, it is not about true life, but life as it was back in the days of slavery. And as far as Disney "sugar-coating" it, that is just all wrong. The characters in the movie are portrayed fairly.

Just because it seems nice does not mean it's flattering. And you can't call the movie realistic, even for as you say the days of slavery.


I think you said it all right here, below:

I have never begun to understand.

No offense, especially since sometimes this applies to me as well, but if you want to come in to a discussion like this without reading the prior pages... you can't make generalizing arguments like this. It's too late.

[avonleastories95]

Why don't they release it very quietly?

Make the cover only the toons and the title. Show the live actors on the back. Have a little explanatory introduction before the movie plays, maybe even one you cannot skip. However the trasures did it. Hell, release it as a treasure, all limited and everything. Who on Earth but the most avid collectors, fans, and open-minded people would even notice or want it?

I wholeheartedly agree with your post, Mike! I think SOTS would do and sell very nicely as a Disney Treasure.

[mvd24]

I wholeheartedly agree with your post, Mike! I think SOTS would do and sell very nicely as a Disney Treasure.

I think too that it would be the best way.

They could make a "Disney Rarities Volume 2"
Don't even mention Song of the South on the front cover. Maybe make use of the characters in the artwork, but not even necessary.

A bunch of shorts still missing in the Treasures line on disc 1:
Chip and Dale 3x
Susie the little blue coupe
Casey bats again
Goofy 2x
Scrooge Mc Duck and money
It's tough to be a bird
Maybe the Winnie the Pooh shorts
some Alice's
and the Laugh 'o gram fairytales

And disc 2 entirely devoted to Song of the South with an introduction of course and some bonus features. Maybe even the uncut "Pastorale sequence" from Fantasia.

It would be a very quiet release much similar to the release of "Victory Through Airpower" and still make the collectors happy. And make some money. That's for sure.

[Goliath]

I have noticed that the people who support releasing the film, seriously abuse the unpopular term 'politically correct'. They use it whenever, wherever as an excuse to ignore legitimate worries about the film and its possible release. Instead of listening to people who are sincere in their objections to releasing SotS, they trash these people's feelings with the over-used term 'politically correct'.

The term 'politically correct' has become an excuse for people to not care anymore about how other people feel.

[ajmrowland]

^and yet, they arent abusing the term. overusing it, maybe-but we do live in politically correct times, and we don't ignore the "harm" of this movie being rereleased.

[Goliath]

^and yet, they arent abusing the term. overusing it, maybe-but we do live in politically correct times, and we don't ignore the "harm" of this movie being rereleased.

Yes, you do. And you did it in the very same post, but placing the word 'harm' between brackets, and by, again, abusing the term 'politically correct'. It's never even specified what this term is supposed to mean. Just toss it out and everything suddenly is legitimate!

[ajmrowland]

^*facepalm*

I listen. I just dont hear.

[Super Aurora]

I have noticed that the people who support releasing the film, seriously abuse the unpopular term 'politically correct'. They use it whenever, wherever as an excuse to ignore legitimate worries about the film and its possible release. Instead of listening to people who are sincere in their objections to releasing SotS, they trash these people's feelings with the over-used term 'politically correct'.

The term 'politically correct' has become an excuse for people to not care anymore about how other people feel.

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