DVDizzy Forum

C3PO wrote:Here's an idea:

Maybe Disney Home Entertainment should produce a TRUE limited, special edition of Song of the South DVD -- maybe a lot of 500,000. This volume could be sold exclusively from Disney online, limiting 2 copies per family while supplies last.

This edition could include an intro and featurettes by Leonard Maltin and a few Disney historians, all stressing the cultural climate in which this movie was produced, "... and how far we've come."

musicradio77 wrote:DJ Mega Mat X was saying that the movie is not even available on DVD yet and they're coming out on DVD this year in other countries, but it's not release in the US as Bob Iger would say in last month's shareholder's meeting.

Escapay wrote: Also, if SOTS were getting a non-R1 legitimate release, UD would have heard about it long before some DJ Mega Mat X.

musicradio77 wrote:

Escapay wrote: Also, if SOTS were getting a non-R1 legitimate release, UD would have heard about it long before some DJ Mega Mat X.

Did you listen to the electronica version of "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" as featured in "DDR: Disney's Rave" video game? It's the song that Mega Mat X played on the SKTS podcast.

Escapay wrote:What's considered inappropriate in the US (at least according to Iger) won't be any less inappropriate in Europe to merit a release.

Escapay wrote: What the hell does listening to an electronic version of a song have to do with the likeliness that some podcaster has exclusive Disney news and UD doesn't???

Robin Hood wrote:I think they should release SOTS as a WDT and have only like 100,000 copies produced and then everyone's happy.

musicradio77 wrote:What the hell does listening to an electronic version of a song have to do with the likeliness that some podcaster has exclusive Disney news and UD doesn't???

Next up, Brer Rabbit's Foot writes in to ask:

Jim:

What exactly is going on with "Song of the South"? About a year ago, you wrote a story that said that Buena Vista Home Entertainment would be releasing "SOTS" on DVD in 2006, just in time for this film's 60th anniversary. But last month, I heard that Disney's new CEO had decided not to release the "Song of the South" DVD. Supposedly out of concern about what people might say about the film's racial content.

So does this mean that Disneyana fans have finally lost their one real chance to get their hands on a legitimate copy of "Song of the South"? Should I now start bidding on those illegal copies on eBay?

Dear Brer Rabbit's Foot:

Well, if you have to own a physical copy of "Song of the South," then -- yes -- I'd suggest that you go ahead with purchasing one of those illegal dubs of the Japanese "SOTS" laser disc.

On the other hand, if you can wait a few years ... Well, I've been hearing that the Mouse is now planning on making "Song of the South" -- along with many other rare Disney movies, shorts & TV shows -- available for viewing via the Net. For a price, of course.

As I understand it, the Walt Disney Company (in the not-so-distant future) reportedly plans on setting up a heavily encrypted web site where Disneyana fans & film buffs will then find a wide variety of extremely appealing content. We're talking about the same sort of stuff that used to air as part of the Disney Channel 's old "Vault Disney" programming block. 50-year-old episodes of the "Disneyland" TV show, "True-Life Adventures" films. There's even been talk that this site would be a showcase for all of those old Oswald the Lucky Rabbit shorts that the company recently acquired.

And among the many films that would be available for viewing on this Disney-owned web site will be "Song of the South." Now please note that I used the word "viewing," rather than "downloading." The whole point of heavily encrypting this site is that Disneyana fans will not be able to record any of the movies, shorts or TV shows that they're viewing. More to the point, every time that you want to see one of the programs that are on file at this web site, you're going to have to pay for the privilege.

The beauty of this plan is ... Disney gets to eat its cake and have it too. The studio gets to take all of these old titles that it currently has in its film library -- movies like "Song of the South," which haven't generated any real income for the company in years -- and turn them back into earners. But -- at the same time -- Disney gets to keep "SOTS" away from easily-offended types. You know, those thin-skinned consumers who would scream bloody murder were they to ever spy this allegedly racist motion picture for sale at their local Walmart.

The downside of this plan is ... Well, given that Disney is only now getting ready to launch the two month trial of its new download-ABC-programs-for-free web site (You know, the one that will allow you to view full episodes of "Lost" & "Desperate Housewives" -- complete with commercials -- on your home PC?) ... Well, it will likely be a couple of years before the company is actually ready to launch the Net version of "Vault Disney."

So -- when you factor all that in -- we're probably talking 2010, 2011 before this actually happens. Which would be just in time for "Song of the South" 's 65th anniversary.

So as I said earlier, Brer Rabbit's Foot ... If you can just wait a few years, chances are that you'll finally have access to "Song of the South" as well as a slew of other Disney rareties. Here's hoping that the price that we have to pay for access to this "Vault Disney" web site isn't all that expensive.

Bebopgroove wrote:Here's some news from Jim Hill's "Why For" column:

Karushifa wrote:

Bebopgroove wrote:Here's some news from Jim Hill's "Why For" column:

While somewhat tantalizing, I can think of some downsides to this plan:

First, if Disney is planning on rolling out full-length movies on their website in a few years, I can almost guarantee that someone will have found a way to bootleg material off of their "heavily encrypted" webcasts by then. This sort of thing seems to me like just the sort of challenge that the more obnoxious hackers would crave. So by 2010, Disney may well have opted to go more the route of pay-per-download than pay-per-view. The former is still more financially feasible than printing hard copy material for low-profit properties, and would probably make more Disneyana fans and collectors happier anyway.

Second, for Song of the South at least, it seems to me like a huuuuuge cop-out of sorts, if this is the only way that Disney would ever consider releasing it to the public. It's been said before, but it needs to be said again: Disney, grow a freaking backbone already. Out of all the potential webcast candidates that Jim Hill listed in his article, SotS I'd wager is the least obscure, and if this were a film made by anyone but Disney, it would have been out on DVD long ago. I kid you not, you can go to Amazon and pay money for a legitimate DVD copy of Birth of a Nation, and it takes CONSIDERABLY more brass to offer that for sale than a relatively harmless family film that is only questionably offensive. We're talking Gone With the Wind questionable, not Triumph of the Will questionable (also available on DVD...) .

Sure, there's the argument that Disney has a lot of baggage being in the family entertainment business and all, and maybe different things are expected of them than of other companies. But the best thing to do to rise to these expectations, IMO, is not to sweep a controversial film under the rug and waffle back and forth over what to do with it. The very best thing for all involved would be to issue a special edition DVD with commentary from various Disney staff, civil rights leaders, etc., as to how times have changed since SotS first came out and what it represents in the context of today, blah blah blah. Acknowledge that it's a controversial film instead of simply an outright offensive one, as some would claim, and spark some discussion instead of fan angst. Let the people make up their own minds for a change. And let the collectors have something to ice their DVD stockpile cakes with.

So sorry for the rant there. Bebopgroove - thanks for the heads up on this development, I know a part of me should be happy with news like this, but frankly I'm not. Whether Disney plans to follow through on this or not, it still pushes any potential release back a few more years, and makes the fans even less happy

Karushifa wrote:So sorry for the rant there. Bebopgroove - thanks for the heads up on this development, I know a part of me should be happy with news like this, but frankly I'm not. Whether Disney plans to follow through on this or not, it still pushes any potential release back a few more years, and makes the fans even less happy

Bebopgroove wrote:Disney needs to take the frickin risk and release the thing. They're a big company. It's not like a few whiney soccer moms can stop them.