Song of the South on TV!!

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 5:06 am

I'm sure it will be the same as what they showed last Easter. I didn't detect an upswing in pirate DVD sales then.

AwallaceUNC · Post by **AwallaceUNC** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 9:22 am

Alex and DisneyUnlimited, as I understand the film and its 'controversy,' I agree with you. But again, I haven't seen it.

-Aaron

alex.robinson · Post by **alex.robinson** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:01 am

disneyunlimited wrote: Richer Sounds in the UK (and Europe) are selling standalone DVD recorders for just 139.99 GBP - about the same as what you'd pay for a decent video recorder!

Thanks for that, for that price it'll be a lot easier to convince them. Looks like a trip to Richer Sounds is in order.

MutantEnemy · Post by **MutantEnemy** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 9:42 pm

There really isn't any reason I can think of that is stopping them from releasing it, except for the ignorant people who take things out of context and assume once we watch it, we will say slavery is ok, b/c look at the happy slaves. EVERYONE except KKK members, knows slavery is wrong.
Sorry about lond-winded post:)

reyquila · Post by **reyquila** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 3:12 pm

Slavery is wrong ?? Says who ??

AwallaceUNC · Post by **AwallaceUNC** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 3:26 pm

reyquila wrote:Slavery is wrong ?? Says who ??

Oh dear.

-Aaron

Uncle Remus · Post by **Uncle Remus** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 5:58 pm

awallaceunc wrote:
reyquila wrote:Slavery is wrong ?? Says who ??
Oh dear.

-Aaron

Same here. Lets not start with that discussion or else this topic will be one of those topics that will be locked from posting. Anyways back to the topic: Still I'm very mad

I still can't understand why Disney wont just release the three animated shorts from the movie on DVD. I mean I don't see anything wrong with those scenes. Does anyone find the animated scenes wrong in any way or what?

Escapay · Post by **Escapay** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 11:54 pm

Uncle Remus wrote: Does anyone find the animated scenes wrong in any way or what?

I don't see anything wrong with them, but some people may take offense at the rather extreme southern "blackcent" that the three Br'ers use. Also, there's the tar baby, which was changed into a honeycomb at Splash Mountain just to be PC.

Also, semi-OT here, but does anyone else imagine the NesQuik rabbit whenever they see Br'er Rabbit?

Escapay

Uncle Remus · Post by **Uncle Remus** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 5:30 am

Escapay wrote:
Uncle Remus wrote: Does anyone find the animated scenes wrong in any way or what?
I don't see anything wrong with them, but some people may take offense at the rather extreme southern "blackcent" that the three Br'ers use. Also, there's the tar baby, which was changed into a honeycomb at Splash Mountain just to be PC.

Also, semi-OT here, but does anyone else imagine the NesQuik rabbit whenever they see Br'er Rabbit?

Escapay

Oh

I never knew that the Tar Baby was originally supposed to be in Splash Mountain. I still thought the beehive idea was good. And no I don't imagine the NesQuik rabbit when I see Brer Rabbit.

pinkrenata · Post by **pinkrenata** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 8:46 am

MutantEnemy wrote:There really isn't any reason I can think of that is stopping them from releasing it, except for the ignorant people who take things out of context and assume once we watch it, we will say slavery is ok, b/c look at the happy slaves. EVERYONE except KKK members, knows slavery is wrong.
Sorry about lond-winded post:)

Actually, unless I'm mistaken, Song of the South takes place after the Civil War, so Uncle Remus isn't even a slave!

Kram Nebuer · Post by **Kram Nebuer** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 10:53 am

pinkrenata wrote:Actually, unless I'm mistaken, Song of the South takes place after the Civil War, so Uncle Remus isn't even a slave!

That's right. I think that's probably why they don't want to release it. It looks too much like the pre-civil war times and it really is after the civil war. Disney is probably too worried that a lot of people won't realize it and they'll be reprimanded.

I think the should release it on two different DVD editions. One for collectors and one for kids. Note: Don't get too excited, it's just an idea.

SotS Children's version (single-disc):

The Tales of Brer Rabbit
~ The one for kids will only have the animated segments since that's all they're interested in anyway. When I was a kid, I really didn't care for the live-action part of Mary Poppins; I just liked the Jolly Holiday animated sequences.
~ Zip-a-dee-doo-dah SingAlong
~ Set-top game
~ Virtual Splash Mountain Ride (CGI of course.)
~ Splash Mountain advertisement (hey, if some of the Lion King DVD screams go to Animal Kingdom, this could too[Splash Mountain that is].)
~ Buying this edition, parents won't have to worry about what they may consider offensive.

SotS Collector's Edition (2-discs):

Song of the South
Disc One: Family Disc
~ This will have the entire movie, remastered, unedited and uncensored.
~ Maybe a reminder of what exactly it is they are watching. (most likely will have Leonard Maltin)
~ In case the parents don't want to censor the movie from their children and want this edition, it is only fair to include the aforementioned games and features.

Disc Two: Backstage Disney (If there are such features in the vaults)
~ Disneyland Episode?
~ Old Behind the Scenes feature?
~ New Making of Feature
~ The Music of Song of the South
~ Radio Spots
~ Theatrical trailers
~ Promotional Features Image gallery
~ Production stills
~ Character Design Galleries
~ The Making of Splash Mountain
~ Splash Mountain opening day stills
~ Splash Mountain Imagineers concept art
~ Interview with Imagineers

Anyhow, that's what I'd like to see when/if they release Song of the South on DVD. Maybe they could make it a Disney Treasure?

Uncle Remus · Post by **Uncle Remus** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 11:03 am

great idea Kram Nebuer. by the way I am wondeing if you took that idea about Tales of Brer Rabbit from me because it was either here or somewhere else that I came up with that idea. oh well. but still nice idea.

MickeyMousePal · Post by **MickeyMousePal** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 1:39 pm

That's a good idea Kram Nebuer but Disney wouldn't still sell two versions of Song of the South.
I hope that fantasy becomes a reality because I have never seen the whole movie of Song of the South.

Kram Nebuer · Post by **Kram Nebuer** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 1:46 pm

Uncle Remus wrote:great idea Kram Nebuer. by the way I am wondeing if you took that idea about Tales of Brer Rabbit from me because it was either here or somewhere else that I came up with that idea. oh well. but still nice idea.

Oh! Sorry. I guess I read about it here before a long time ago and remembered it and reiterated it. Kudos to Uncle Remus!

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 2:26 pm

I think they should release Song of the South and call it "Melody of Middle America" (just to downplay that awkward Southern vibe). While they're at it they could digitally replace Uncle Remus with a 3D animated "Uncle Sam" complete with patriotic red, white and blue costume, top hat and white beard. The could also have Hilary Duff and Frankie Muniz revoice the kids, redo the cartoons segments so Brer Bear and Brer Fox could win sometimes (you know, equal opportinities and all that) and have a "Kids, Just Say No to Drugs" message flash on the screen during the Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah sequence (just in case anybody gets the wrong idea). The only flaw in this is that some scenes would still be in the film showing black people working on the farm, so perhaps Jeff Bennet could be brought in to voice a quick "I think slavery is bad" line here and a "After the American Civil War, I'm now a free man working for my own living" there.

Then, just then, Disney may release <strike>Song of the South</strike> Melody of Middle America.

AwallaceUNC · Post by **AwallaceUNC** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 2:55 pm

^

Kram, I think that's a great idea. I don't think it would have to be 2 releases, though. On the 1st disc of the Collector's Edition, there could be the "Tales Of Brer Rabbit," which would just use branching to skip most or all of the live-action. They wouldn't be able to admit it was for censoring purposes, though.

In Disney's eyes, though, the uncut film would still be out there, so I don't know that any criticism (again, in Disney's mind, bc I don't think there would be much criticism at all) would be deflected.

The features you mentioned would be awesome!

-Aaron

Lars Vermundsberget · Post by **Lars Vermundsberget** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 4:29 pm

2099net, that would have been a lot of fun. Really.

Christian · Post by **Christian** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 12:34 am

I like 2099net's idea. A friend of mine and I used to come up with ways that they could make the POTC ride even more PC after the changes they made a decade or so ago. For instance, they could replace the pirates with mannequins from The Gap, (though I guess now that chain is just called GAP). And the prisoners could be offering the dog a bone just because they are nice and not because they are trying to get the key. And the pirate is chasing the woman because she dropped her purse and he wants to give it back to her without any thought of reward, monetary or otherwise.

Surely it won't be shown unedited? Or maybe this is Disney testing the water for a DVD release?

I hope so.

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 2:51 am

Christian wrote:
Surely it won't be shown unedited? Or maybe this is Disney testing the water for a DVD release?
I hope so.

As I said before, don't read too much into a UK showing on tv. It's been shown off and on for decades. And as far as I know unedited each time (although I have nothing to compre it to). As for a DVD release, Yes, I think it will get one in non-US territories. We have a video release as recently as the middle of 2000 (America has never had a video release as far as I know). There's no logical reason for Disney witholding a home video release in the UK, when they are quite happy to sell the film to television networks. (ITV used to show it, but last year the BBC got the rights, indicating a new contract negotiation with Disney).

Loomis · Post by **Loomis** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 5:22 am

awallaceunc wrote:Does this surprise anyone else? Surely it won't be shown unedited? Or maybe this is Disney testing the water for a DVD release?

Doesn't surprise me at all.
I have it on tape here, from the constant Disney Channel Australia screenings. I don't think it has ever been an issue outside the US.

As for being unedited, I think that misses the point. People are not concerned with BITS of the film, the argument is that the whole thing is a "Uncle Tom" portrayal, demeaning to black Americans everywhere. (This is a silly argument, as pinkrenata pointed out, Remus was a free man in the film, who told a bunch of stories).

The fact remains - the first Academy Award to a black man was given to this film, and the technical achievements were impressive. The average kid today - who Disney are presumably worried about - wouldn't read any subtext into the film, they would simply see a black man telling stories to a bunch of white kids, which is racial harmony if ever I saw it. However, if that same kid was told the picture was bad, he may be led to believe it is because of that racial interraction. As a wise man said (2099net), by holding the film back Disney has made a monster. SOTS is only bad so long as it is not in the public domain. Look at 'Birth of a Nation'. At least 5 DVDs are available of this film, and as a result, most people can discuss it maturely, knowing that we can all recognize the "bad" bits to the film.

I would not be surprised if this DVD does surface within the next year or so. Disney would be mad to not take advantage of a guaranteed free promotion from protest groups.

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Song of the South on TV!!