Song of the South on Dvd Discussion & Speculation Thread

Escapay · Post by **Escapay** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 10:30 pm

Cameron wrote:you guys got ripped....i payed 8 bucks....one of the few boots i own, and will gladly replace it for an official release

Bwahaha, I can beat you by $0.50! Though I can't beat four dollars...

Escapay

bennyb98 · Post by **bennyb98** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 12:14 am

If you want to get REALLY technical, part of SOTS was released on the Alice in Wonderland Masterpiece Edition DVD. But that is a stretch...

memnv · Post by **memnv** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 1:27 am

I think the Title of this thread needs to be fixed

Christian · Post by **Christian** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 8:59 am

to not have it released on video just because the black people's lives in that movie were "unrealistic" is ridiculous considering there are much more racist films that are able to get released

It's especially ridiculous since there is absolutely nothing racist about SOTS. There is nothing racist about Pocahontas or Peter Pan either. Pocahontas may not be entirely accurate in depicting native Americans and Peter Pan flagrantly stereotypes them but that still doesn't add up to racism.

Lars Vermundsberget · Sun Sep 11, 2005 11:55 am

SotS is very harmless IMO, but neither am I American nor does my skin have much colour, so how would I know anyway...

As long as enough people make such a big deal about this movie, I guess Disney is going to stay a bit scared of what might happen if... if...

BTW, I've got an official disc of SotS myself.

Lazario · Post by **Lazario** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 2:54 pm

This is excellent news. And it might be the first Disney DVD I buy for keeps.

eric89 · Post by **eric89** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:25 am

While reading about "Song of the South"'s possible release in Fall of 2006, I decided to look up the past rumours about "Song of the South" being released and the recent marketing possiblities by Disney Co.

We know that Eisner does not want "Song of the South" released. We don't know if that's out of fear, marketing advice, or personal opinion. (Hey, you have to give the guy credit for doing a pretty awesome job while being CEO regardless of his mistakes!) We do know that Roy Disney wants "Song of the South" released to the public. With Eisner stepping down that started a huge amount of rumors. But think about it, Eisner wasn't the only man with this opinion inside Camp Disney, he must have had a group of high-level execs. who felt the same way. To be honest, I think it might be possible for a release, but a very VERY limited one unless Roy and those around him can change those people's minds.

But, if you look at recent "Treasure" releases and "Anniversary" material for Disney Animation, Disney Theme Parks, and Disney Pictures you'll see that a little more of "Song of the South" (Brer Group in particular) has been placed than ever before. For example the new edition of "Who Framed Roger Rabit?" includes some promotional material for "Song of the South" in it's Special Features, The Disney "Treasures" is rumoured (though I haven't seen it) to have a clip of the movie in one of it's installments and Disneyland/Word seems to be putting out a lot more "Song of the South" collectables as the 60th Anniversary for this movie draws near. A hopeful mind, like mine, could guess that Disney is "testing the waters" to get a little taste of public reaction. We know we have good chances for this movie being released due to the fact that there are no recorded complaints abot the '86 re-release on file.

I am hopeful, but highly doubt, that "Song of the South" will be released as soon as the rumors say (Fall of '06). But, I see Disney out there possibly promoting this movie a little more to get the public looking for that movie and when un-able to find it, that "Demand" sets in that needs to be there for a DVD to be released in the first place. (Supply and Demand ya know?) Anoter reason I don't see "Song of the South" being released in Fall of '06 is because Disney is going to be pushing "The Little Mermaid" around that time, but we might see a "Song of the South" release around the spring/summer of '07 because for some odd reason there is no solid schedule for The Platnium Edition DVDs after "The Little Mermaid". Could this maybe be Disney getting prepared for "Song of the South" to get the platnium treatment? I mean, they only have to release this one time and they could get the bootleggers to really be crushed and the public happy. Just some of my thoughts...

Roger Rabbit · Post by **Roger Rabbit** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 12:10 pm

The longer they wait the more the bootleggers profit because the customer demand is there and Disney hasn't wanted to release it.

Of course Michael may not be the only one who doesn't want SOTS released, but since he's the top dog, he can continue to say "no" as many times as its brought up and that's the end of it. Doesn't matter how many don't want it so long as one person holds the cards as to say if it gets released or not.

I think they may go for an '06 release. Why not? The internet has sturred up a nice rumor and got people talking and now waiting. Instant sales. They'd be foolish not to. Plus I don't think the Little Mermaid will do anything to hurt SOTS since they're very different films.

eric89 · Post by **eric89** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 12:24 pm

It's just a fact, that the Platnium Editions get the publicity. If "Song of the South" goes into compitition with "The Little Mermaind" Platnium Edition, "The Little Mermaid" would get most of the promotion. And since "Song of the South" would be marketed as "First Time Ever Released!" Disney needs it to be their season seller.

Post by **Luke** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 12:30 pm

eric89 wrote:It's just a fact, that the Platnium Editions get the publicity. If "Song of the South" goes into compitition with "The Little Mermaind" Platnium Edition, "The Little Mermaid" would get most of the promotion. And since "Song of the South" would be marketed as "First Time Ever Released!" Disney needs it to be their season seller.

I don't think Song of the South would get or need a big marketing campaign to put up big sales numbers on DVD. The Treasures take Disney's vintage material, with very little (if any) marketing, and are able to sell hundreds of thousands of copies as a profitable niche line. Sleeping Beauty was released within a month of The Lion King's DVD release and one assumes both sold fine - with The Lion King setting records for a catalogue title. Some DVDs will be able to put up impressive numbers with or without advertising behind it. Last year, the "Gargoyles" DVD release seemed as if Disney was consciously NOT trying to promote it in any way - it still rose up Amazon's charts and is bringing a second release in the same fashion. "The Muppet Show" was announced only a couple of months before release and it was a Top 10 seller its first week. Certain things can create interest themselves, simply by keeping the Internet abuzz, climbing up Amazon's charts, etc., and Song of the South has as much of a curiosity/interest factor as any Disney title released or not released, in that regard.

eric89 · Post by **eric89** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 12:40 pm

That's true. But, I would like to see Song of the South get Platnium or even Masterpiece honors.

Roger Rabbit · Post by **Roger Rabbit** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 12:51 pm

You'd need commentaries to do that, and I'm not sure who's left thats alive that would do it. Offhand, I forget his name, but I would suspect only the servant boy is still alive. I know the one who played Johnny isn't alive anymore. Just wouldn't be easy.

Post by **Luke** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 12:56 pm

Roger Rabbit wrote:You'd need commentaries to do that, and I'm not sure who's left thats alive that would do it. Offhand, I forget his name, but I would suspect only the servant boy is still alive. I know the one who played Johnny isn't alive anymore. Just wouldn't be easy.

The boy who played Toby died last year. I'm not sure if any of the cast are still alive, but an audio commentary by Leonard Maltin or John Canemaker could easily be pulled off, or even another Inside Walt's Story Meetings, if transcripts exist (and only four years away from Bambi, I'd think they do). There is no way that Song of the South will be released as a Platinum Edition, however. Those are the marketing pillars of BVHE's schedule and I don't think you'll find too many advertisers clamoring for some kind of special relationship on this film's DVD the way they do for Cinderella or The Lion King.

eric89 · Post by **eric89** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 12:58 pm

There's a rumor that they will use a black celebrity to introduce the film and talk about it's importance. Why not have that person do it? Or even better, Leonard Maltin and various other Disney Historians telling the story.

Class316 · Post by **Class316** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 1:31 pm

eric89 wrote:There's a rumor that they will use a black celebrity to introduce the film and talk about it's importance. Why not have that person do it? Or even better, Leonard Maltin and various other Disney Historians telling the story.

I'd prefer no one "introduce" it, but if anyone does it better be Maltin!

Roger Rabbit · Post by **Roger Rabbit** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 5:54 pm

eric89 wrote:There's a rumor that they will use a black celebrity to introduce the film and talk about it's importance. Why not have that person do it? Or even better, Leonard Maltin and various other Disney Historians telling the story.

I think they wanted to use Maya Angelou at one time and she downright rejected it and that's one of the reasons why its never been released to the home video market. Gee I wish I could remember where I read that. I'm sure Luke has the answer. (He always seems to)

Mr. Toad · Post by **Mr. Toad** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 6:24 pm

Well Ruth Warwick and Glenn Leady died recently enough that maybe they got some extra material done. Maybe even Luana Patten.

According to IMDB the only cast member still alive is one of Luana Patten's brothers from the movie. Not very relevant.

Post by **Luke** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 6:32 pm

Roger Rabbit wrote:I think they wanted to use Maya Angelou at one time and she downright rejected it and that's one of the reasons why its never been released to the home video market. Gee I wish I could remember where I read that. I'm sure Luke has the answer. (He always seems to)

You read that at JimHillMedia.com, which as always requires a grain of salt, since it is based on unverified insider claims.

Timon/Pumbaa fan · Post by **Timon/Pumbaa fan** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 6:49 pm

Mr. Toad wrote:Well Ruth Warwick and Glenn Leady died recently enough that maybe they got some extra material done. Maybe even Luana Patten.

According to IMDB the only cast member still alive is one of Luana Patten's brothers from the movie. Not very relevant.

Well Ollie Johnston is still alive!(He animated Br'er Fox)

The DeCastro Sisters could still be alive(uncredited as bird voices)

Also even if all the cast members/workers died, Disney could still easily think of something to put on the DVD. I mean most of the people interviewed for Bambi were mainly credited as "Animation Historians". Not to mention they could also use old clips.

Also they can even do a mini-documentary on Splash Mountain. Nick Stewart(the voice of Br'er Bear) died only about 5 years ago and he provided the voice for Br'er Bear on Splash Mountain. So there are most likely chances that they have interviews of him.

EDIT: As for a black celebrity, how about Bill Cosby. There have been Urban Myths that he bought the rights to this movie so it couldn't be shown again, but of coarse it was false. Alse he did express his feelings about black people so which to me sounded like he would like the film to be released.

Roger Rabbit · Post by **Roger Rabbit** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 7:39 pm

Ah, yes, Jim Hill...I go there often so I guess that makes sense.

I did forget Ollie was still alive. (better slap myself) I'm sure he could offer some input on the live action/animated sequences...how they worked on that. Certainly not a new technique but nowhere as advanced as today either.

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Song of the South on Dvd Discussion & Speculation Thread

"Song of the South"...My Commentary on the Rumors.