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

[Chernabog_Rocks]

I agree with you UncleEd that we the current generation shouldn't be expected to pay for what their ancestors did. What happened in the past is in the past all you can do is just move on and not let it happen again. Kinda like the lesson Simba learned in Lion King

[BackgroundActorman1976]

Here's something that's actually on-topic:

According to DarkHorizons, John Lasseter stated at a press conference (the one that we've been getting The Frog Princess pics from) that due to high demand, they're looking (again) at the possibility of releasing Song of the South to DVD. Of course, they've been "looking" for so long that I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but at least they acknowledge the fact that many people are requesting it. Let's see how this turns out.

That "Press Conference" WAS Actually the anual stock holders meeting
The Hollywood reporter more acurtately reported it from yesterdays stock holders meeting in New Orleans in todays hollywood reporter.
heres the qoute from the hollywood reporter(it can be found both in the print version and the online edition)

"As has been a recurring theme of late, another shareholder pleaded her case for Disney releasing "Song of the South" on DVD, which Iger said last year he would not do because the 1946 animated film is considered by some to be racially insensitive.
This time, though, Iger said that several requests have encouraged him to revisit his decision. "We have decided that we would look at it again,he said."

[castleinthesky]

Very interesting. It shows that even while officially using the supposedly "neutral" term "African American" the focus IS on skin colour.

Same with the term "Hispanic American", which can refer to peoples of many different races (Caucasoid, Monogloid (Asian), Negroid, and American Indian). Asian American as well, which can include Caucasians (Iranians, Armenians, Turks, Saudis, etc). African American itself, we have to remember than the Caucasian nations of the north (Morocco, Libya, Algeria, etc) are also part of Africa.

[RichKoster]

Here's something that's actually on-topic:

According to DarkHorizons, John Lasseter stated at a press conference (the one that we've been getting The Frog Princess pics from) that due to high demand, they're looking (again) at the possibility of releasing Song of the South to DVD. Of course, they've been "looking" for so long that I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but at least they acknowledge the fact that many people are requesting it. Let's see how this turns out.

That "Press Conference" WAS Actually the anual stock holders meeting
The Hollywood reporter more acurtately reported it from yesterdays stock holders meeting in New Orleans in todays hollywood reporter.
heres the qoute from the hollywood reporter(it can be found both in the print version and the online edition)

"As has been a recurring theme of late, another shareholder pleaded her case for Disney releasing "Song of the South" on DVD, which Iger said last year he would not do because the 1946 animated film is considered by some to be racially insensitive.
This time, though, Iger said that several requests have encouraged him to revisit his decision. "We have decided that we would look at it again,he said."

That was no someone, that was my wife! And yes, that was not John Lasseter who responded to Carol Koster's question, it was Bob Iger.

You can hear the question and answer easily on my Disney Echo website by clicking here. I also asked questions: About the world premEAR of Disney's "The Frog Princess" in New Orleans with Disney having a Mardi Gras-style parade through the French Quarter, leading up to a stage show in the Superdome and then the first showing on giant screens inside the Superdome of the movie itself -- just like Disney did with the world premEAR of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." By following that same link and scrolling down the page a bit from where my wife's question is, you'll hear the greatly-appreciated answer to my "The Frog Princess" question as well as my question about adding New Orleans as a port of call to Disney Cruise Line.

By the way, on the Disney Echo we give links to your UltimateDisney.com website all the time and always have to things to say about it. I'm glad to be able to add to the discussions here as well as give y'all a chance to actually hear the questions and answers for yourself.

We also have quite a long discussion that has been going on for some time now about "Song of the South" (click here) which you also might enjoy.

[PapiBear]

Got this amongst my MySpace bulletins this evening. No idea of the source.

Will ‘Song of the South’ rise again?
Disney movie decried as racist for depiction of Southern plantation blacks

ORLANDO, Fla. - 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 provided the inspiration for the Splash Mountain rides at Disney’s 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 to $90, some even more than $100.

Iger was answering a shareholder’s inquiry about the movie for the second straight year 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, 1980 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. (An honorary Oscar to James Baskett for his portrayal of Uncle Remus.)

‘Tar Baby’ phrase, dialogue at issue

Remus’ stories include “The Tar Baby,” a phrase Republican presidential hopefuls John McCain and Mitt Romney have been 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’s 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 dayses.”

“In today’s environment, ‘Song of the South’ probably doesn’t have a lot of meaning, especially to the younger audiences,” said James Pappas, associate professor of African-American Studies at the University of New York at Buffalo. “Older audiences probably would have more of a connection with the stereotypes, which were considered harmless at the time.”

Pappas said it’s not clear that the movie is intentionally racist, but it inappropriately projects Remus as a happy, laughing storyteller even though he’s a plantation worker.

However, Pappas said he thinks the movie should be rereleased because of its historical significance. He said it should be prefaced, and closed, with present-day statements.

“I think it’s important that these images are shown today so that especially young people can understand this historical context for some of the blatant stereotyping that’s done today,” Pappas said.

From a financial standpoint, Iger acknowledged last year that Disney stood to gain from rereleasing “Song.” The company’s movies are popular with collectors, and Disney has kept sales strong by tightly controlling when they’re available.

Christian Willis, a 26-year-old IT administrator in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., started a “Song of the South” fan site in 1999 to showcase memorabilia. He soon expanded it into a clearinghouse for information on the movie that now averages more than 800 hits a day and manages the online petition.

Willis said he doesn’t think the movie is racist, just from a different time.

“Stereotypes did exist on the screen,” he said. “But if you look at other films of that time period, I think ‘Song of the South’ was really quite tame in that regard. I think Disney did make an effort to show African-Americans in a more positive light.”

Though Willis is hopeful, there’s still no telling when — or if — the movie could come out (beyond its copyright lapsing decades from now).

[UncleEd]

It's from Yahoo. I meant to postthat too but hadn't gotten around to it yet.

[tdickensheets]

Q: When we see Song of the South on DVD?

USA

[CJ]

tdickensheets, Again please use the search button, and read the rules and guidelines thread before making anymore topics. I've merged your thread to this one, as it is the one that best fits your question. Read the replies to this thread, and you will get a better understanding of why Song of the South hasn't been released, and why a dvd is unlikely to happen.

[musicradio77]

Thanks for the article about the film "Song of the South" not being release on home video. I just want to say, I went to a website called "Bobby's Kids" and I found a link to go to the movie section under "Disney and More" they had a link to the entire film "Song of the South" which is now being shown Bobby's Kids website. This movie was considered a bootleg I think or maybe not.

I've been said this many, many times over the "Song of the South" debate that this entire film was found on Bobby's Kids, a site dedicated to kids songs and movies, mostly Disney.

I've seen parts of the film online from the beginning right to the end, this film I have never seen since the last one was reissued back in 1986. I guess they should not get credit to this film on other sites like YouTube and other source. Don't watch this movie on Bobby's Kids website. Avoid it at all costs.

[Big Disney Fan]

This just in:

Rumor: Song of the South Preview on Upcoming Sleeping Beauty DVD?

It has been reported that a Wikipedia page on Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty has a reference to a Song of the South "Sneak Peek" in the upcoming 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition DVD release, scheduled for October 7, 2008:

A 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition release of Sleeping Beauty, as a 2-disc DVD & Blu-ray Disc, is currently scheduled for October 7, 2008. This release will make Sleeping Beauty the first entry in the Platinum Edition line to be released in high definition video. The Blu-ray version will feature BD-Live, an online feature, and the extras will include a virtual castle and multi-player games. (The sneak peek includes Pinocchio, Bolt, The Princess and the Frog, WALL-E, Song of the South and Tinker Bell.)

No additional information has been found on this claim, so it has been labeled a rumor. The DVD is available for preorder on Amazon.com. Has anyone else out there heard anything about this? If so, let me know.

Me, personally? I'm going to take that piece of information with a grain of salt until more news develops.

[PeterPanfan]

It's Wikipedia..I can bet you it's fake.

[Big Disney Fan]

I'm still going to take a wait-and-see approach with this whole thing.

[Lazario]

I'm sorry if this is something Ultimate Disney members never talk about because maybe The-Corporation is listening in... But I'm watching Song (or - parts of it) on YouTube right now (if it's okay, I'll post a link to where I found it, but just search for it and you'll find it easily).

And...

I can't believe my ears. This movie is so offensive, I can't believe what I'm hearing! Every second is like pain. Pure pain. This is the most stereotypical, irritating series of cliches I've ever witnessed. Even the animated sequences were terrible! The voices are people acting stupid. Slow-talking, every word is mispronounced, all the black people are smiling like they're insane.


There's no doubt in my mind the Disney Team are making the correct decision and that every Black Person in America who finds this offensive is more than jusitified in thinking that.

[merlinjones]

In my view, Walt Disney's "Song of the South" is a joyful, beautiful celebration of the healing power of imagination and storytelling to bridge any gap, be it race, age, social or economic.

It is about a critical friendship that has no boundaries - - between a black man and a white boy. I learned only inclusive messages from it as a child. Despite some stereotypes of the period, it's far too innocent at heart to convey the negative messages implied by PC folks (many of whom have never even seen it).

Check out my lengthy article on the subject, "In Defense of Disney's Uncle Remus," originally published at savedisney.com and now archived at songofthesouth.net:

http://www.songofthesouth.net/news/arch ... fense.html

Art should never be suppressed. We must learn from history and from the creations of the artists that have gone before us in order to grow as a society. Debate is good and healthy.

[drfsupercenter]

Yeah, I don't think it's the least bit offensive. For the time it was actually treating black people with too much respect... remember, it was made back when America was still segregated!

Granted, I haven't seen it start to finish, but I've seen bits and pieces. Maybe I'll get out my bootleg copy later and watch the whole thing.

[disneyfella]

I'm a huge supporter of releasing "Song of the South", but I also totally see all the ignorant racism and inappropriate stereotypes that so many fans of the film don't. Sometimes I wonder if they don't see the falseness of Uncle Remus's happiness because they have fond memories of seeing the animated segments as a kid. Perhaps, they fear acknowledging the racism in something that brings them so much joy.

I think "Song of the South" should be released and preserved in American culture for several reasons. First, I don't believe in censorship. The film was a product of its time and any effort to censor or supress it will only justify the claims that it IS in fact racist, rather than simply ignorant.

Second, we should never pretend that something as awful as human slavery or bigotry never existed in America, or that it 'wasn't that bad'. Besides condemning it, however, it is academic to recognize that a big part of our country's survival depended on slavery!

Third, "Song of the South" could be a teaching point for many families to discuss what happened after the slaves were 'freed' and before the Civil Rights Movement in the 1970s. The Emancipation Proclamation didn't magically make black people the equal of whites. There were decades of lynchings, bigotry, murders, and unjust trials. There was NOT a happy relationship between black people and their former 'owners' (like "Song of the South" would make you believe). Blacks were NOT like extra members of the family, and often they would have liked nothing more than to live in peace without any white people. The hatred came from both races, and it has taken over 100 years for us to get to where we are today.

Lastly, it is a wonderful little film with happy songs and fun animated segments. As a kid, there are lessons to learn from Uncle Remus, but there are also some lies about life in the South at that time that need to be pointed out....lest we forget or downplay those embarassing moments in American history. If people forget how truly despicable some things about those times were, then it is only a matter of time before history somehow repeats itself.

I know I get a lot of flack for saying that, yes, I do see damaging lies in this film. However, it is important for Disney to hear that even people who say this film is false, or racist, STILL want this movie available.

Just my two cents.

[Lazario]

Well, I understand that nobody who would buy this movie isn't already a fan or whatever.

But as a member of an honest-to-God minority here, I have a problem with anything being mass-marketed to people that in any way perpetuates offensive stereotypes of any minority or group of people who have ever been oppressed. It's painful and bothersome.

I can say beyond any doubt right now, that the Black People who are offended by this movie are not being overly touchy. This is an offensive movie. And if you don't admit that (not just you - anyone), you're being naive.

Disneyfella - I completely understand what you're saying. But it just so happens that most parents in America today are not smart enough to use the film to teach their kids anything. In fact, this film is also in a position to offend a huge number of white people. Which I don't care about. But you can't rely on other people to get your message.

I probably shouldn't have brought Disney up in my comments about the film. When I know there is no chance this film will ever be released. Not based on what I saw of it.

[Flanger-Hanger]

Maybe they should just release SotS in Canada. I mean here we don't do idiotic forms of censorship like banning To Kill a Mocking Bird or Tom Sawyer from schools.

Still a WDT set is the most logical way to do it, and they more Disney puts it off, the more ridiculous they look. If I can buy Birth of a Nation at HMV I should be able to do the same for SotS. A WDT set would not be marketed to children and the issue of them seeing it and corrupting their minds would be rendered laughable. Remember, you don't have to buy it if you don't want to! My only suggestion to a WDT set would be to keep in in print like a standard DVD and not put a 39,500 limit on the number of copies made or something.

[Lazario]

Still a WDT set is the most logical way to do it

Oh yeah... Until Scalpers steal or buy up every copy and sell them on eBay for $100 a piece or more.

[Flanger-Hanger]

My only suggestion to a WDT set would be to keep in in print like a standard DVD and not put a 39,500 limit on the number of copies made or something.

See above, Laz.