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

[Duckburger]

Magic, Magic, Magic, Magic, Magic?

[2099net]

Goliath is right about Politically Correct. There is nothing wrong with the notion because it encourages us to think of others. However, like all things, there can be an excess. And an excess of anything is bad. There can be issues or concepts addressed in a way too politically correct, just as such things can also addressed with no thought what-so-ever to people's feelings or concerns. Both would be - I'm sure you would agree - bad for society as a whole.

As for Song of the South, I don't really care if its released or not. Because its not a very good movie. At the end of the day, the bulk of the film does not entertain me, and I don't think it would entertain a modern family audience either.

However, it is an important movie and those not wanting to see it released are somewhat shooting themselves in the foot I feel. Rightly or wrongly, the film itself has become history - and its wrong to deny history. Just as those people consider the film's portrayal of that period of history wrong, its wrong to ignore the film itself in my opinion.

It shouldn't be difficult to release really. All it needs is a little thought. With special release notes in a pack-in booklet, and documentary or two on the actual disc, all the issues raised by those who have legitimate issues (or politically motivated issues which I suspect a large number of issues are) can be addressed by Disney whenever they are brought up. Nothing would quell the complaints more than a Disney representative sitting in on any TV interview and saying "Yes, that issue is dealt with in the documentary" or "Yes, we highlight this in the booklet included."

Don't get me wrong. I am sure that there are a number of people who do have genuine and legitimate issues with the release of the film. By releasing the film I do not say we should demean or ignore their views. But its a fact that it is impossible to please 100% of the people 100% of the time. I think a release which respectfully acknowledges the faults with the film and addresses each issue would not, in anyway, be a snub to people with such concerns.

[Goliath]

I completely agree with Netty!

[Disney Duster]

Me too!

[merlinjones]

Very interesting page by page reproduction of the original "Song of the South" premiere program:

http://www.wrensnestonline.com/blog/194 ... the-south/

[merlinjones]

A nice little article from 2007 reminding us that Roy E. Disney really wanted to see "Song of the South re-released:

http://www.filmbuffonline.com/News/2007 ... eSouth.htm

>>“[Song Of The South] is a wonderful film that deserves to be back out in the public,” stated Disney. “All it needs is context. Some of that animation is stunning, even by today’s standards.”<<

[Lazario]

It's over, MJ.

Time to let it rest!

[merlinjones]

No rest for the free of heart and mind and imagination.

So long as the film negative and prints of "Song of the South" still exist (and there is good money to be made!), the art and storytelling will live on in our hearts and Uncle Remus and Br'er Rabbit will have hopes of greeting the public once again.

Despite dour voices that would suppress freedom of expression and freedom to view historic works, to absorb, learn and decide for ourselves, the discussion will continue until the film is available once again, no matter how long that takes.

It's been 24 years since the last domestic reissue and the demand for the film's availability has only gotten stronger over time as new generations become curious about the movie and the nostalgic miss it more.

Things change, but history can't be erased. : )

[Lazario]

No rest for the free of heart and mind and imagination.

Oh, I know what you mean. However, human beings without the aid of drugs, do get a little tired of something that should have died a long time ago (this discussion and your endless parade of SotS butt-kissing quotes and links) continuing weeks and months after it was last, rightly, abandoned.

Which begs the question... Are you, not a human but instead, a robot? And if not, what medication are you on (where do you get that fabulous acid that makes your world so simple and with the pretty fake things everywhere)?

So long as the film negative and prints of "Song of the South" still exist (and there is good money to be made!), the art and storytelling will live on in our hearts and Uncle Remus and Br'er Rabbit will have hopes of greeting the public once again.

You mean- for the few people who've seen it?

Despite dour voices that would suppress freedom of expression and freedom to view historic works, to absorb, learn and decide for ourselves, the discussion will continue until the film is available once again, no matter how long that takes.

And you accept this awesome mission all on your own? That's right! I forgot; you're really a superhero in disguise. And here, all this time, I thought you were just an anonymous stranger on an internet message board. Easy mistake to make, you know. But then, you must get that all the time.

It's been 24 years since the last domestic reissue and the demand for the film's availability has only gotten stronger over time as new generations become curious about the movie and the nostalgic miss it more.

Things change, but history can't be erased. : )

Not even with a REALLY, REALLY big pencil??

[merlinjones]

"And if now, in "Song of the South" we have succeeded in measure to perpetuate a priceless literary treasure - my co-workers and I shall indeed be very happy." -- Walt Disney

Let's continue to positively encourage the rights holders to carry out Walt's dream for future generations! : )

[Lazario]

I think it's time someone called the men with the whitecoats. They have a pickup to make.

[dvdjunkie]

With the availability of the quality "bootlegs" of "Song of the South" out there I think we should all just calm down, put out some cash and buy one of these.

I own two different bootlegs. One is sort of bare-bones, it just has the original trailer and the re-release trailer and the hidden Easter-egg of "Coal Black & the Sebben Dwarfs" cartoon. This single disc set cost $12.99.

The other is a two-disc, digital remastered print of the movie that looks spectacular on my LG Blu-ray player. There are so many extras on it I wonder if we would ever see any of these ever again.

One disc one is the original movie trailer for SOTS, along with a re-release trailer. Then there is a black-and-white introduction to the film from Walt Disney himself (have no idea when this was shot, but looks like sometime in the 50's because it has the original Disneyland Theme Park drawings in the background. The feature itself is pristine in its color and sound presentation.

Disc two contains in full color "Coal Black and the Sebben Dwarfs" complete with the Warner intro, which I had never seen before. Then there is the missing "Hatfield/McCoy scene" edited from "Melody Time". Then there is the original "Pecos Bill", unedited and looking beautiful as ever. Then the next bonus features suprised me with their quality. 10 of the original "Ant and The Aardvark" cartoons, "Donald Duck at War" cartoons, and "Dance of the Hours" unedited from "Fantasia". This deluxe two-disc set only set me back $18.

If you search and look closely for these deals they are available, heck one of them even advertises on the UD site. So to heck with Disney, evidently they don't want the money, so why not give it to someone who does.

[jpanimation]

I wonder why Disney just doesn't set up a fake identity as a "bootlegger", who just "happens" to get his hands on a brand new restoration with a plethora of extras (could claim it was from a planned but cancelled release of Song of the South), and sell it that way. When they feel they've maximized the sales potential of the movie, Disney (the company) can sue this "bootlegger" for all the money he's earned and put out a cease and desist letter (which works like the vault). This way Disney (the company) can still claim to be aware of the sensitive nature of the content (avoiding all negative PR that would come with it), while still lining their pockets (making them happy) and getting the movie out there (making fans happy).

[Lazario]

Then there is the missing "Hatfield/McCoy scene" edited from "Melody Time".

I think you mean The Martins and the Coys, from Make Mine Music.

and "Dance of the Hours" unedited from "Fantasia".

They edited that one too?? The one with the alligators and the elephants (and hippos and ostriches)?

[Animalia]

I wonder why Disney just doesn't set up a fake identity as a "bootlegger", who just "happens" to get his hands on a brand new restoration with a plethora of extras (could claim it was from a planned but cancelled release of Song of the South), and sell it that way. When they feel they've maximized the sales potential of the movie, Disney (the company) can sue this "bootlegger" for all the money he's earned and put out a cease and desist letter (which works like the vault). This way Disney (the company) can still claim to be aware of the sensitive nature of the content (avoiding all negative PR that would come with it), while still lining their pockets (making them happy) and getting the movie out there (making fans happy).

One word... Genius.

[Margos]

I wonder why Disney just doesn't set up a fake identity as a "bootlegger", who just "happens" to get his hands on a brand new restoration with a plethora of extras (could claim it was from a planned but cancelled release of Song of the South), and sell it that way. When they feel they've maximized the sales potential of the movie, Disney (the company) can sue this "bootlegger" for all the money he's earned and put out a cease and desist letter (which works like the vault). This way Disney (the company) can still claim to be aware of the sensitive nature of the content (avoiding all negative PR that would come with it), while still lining their pockets (making them happy) and getting the movie out there (making fans happy).

Jpanimation... it's official. You're bloody brilliant. You win the thread, and you need to work for BVHE.

Bravo, an excellent idea!

[Escapay]

I wonder why Disney just doesn't set up a fake identity as a "bootlegger"

That's been my theory for years. I've always felt that Disney is covertly running one or two of the many many bootleg SOTS DVD sites out there, as they figure "if people want it that badly, we can release it in a sub-par way without having to officially besmirch the company name!"

From what I remember of the SOTS DVD gossip over the years, there was a planned-but-canceled release in the early 2000s. Among other things, it would have featured a prominent African-American to host the set, helping to put it into the context of its time and basically say "and look how far we've come since then." The 2000 short "John Henry" was to be included (as the example of how far they've come). They approached Maya Angelou, who not only refused to host the set, but told Disney that if they ever release, she would be active in protesting its release. It scared Disney so much that they decided not to release it at all, and "John Henry" was then scuttled off to Disney's American Legends, a less-than-hourlong compilation "movie" hosted by James Earl Jones (now why didn't they ask HIM before Angelou?) and also featuring Disney's "Paul Bunyan", "The Brave Engineer", and "Johnny Appleseed" shorts.

There was then speculation that Song of the South would be released sometime in 2004 or 2005 thanks in part to the clip featured in "One Hour in Wonderland" on the Alice in Wonderland: Masterpiece Edition. Many fans speculated that since Disney went to such efforts to restore that one clip in the bonus feature, that they must've also restored the entire movie to be prepped for a release. Nothing came from that either, though I'm sure the new restoration was used in the BBC Easter airings during that time.

Later on, Jim Hill stirred up more SOTS DVD gossip when he claimed/suggested that Disney was holding back on Song of the South and planned to release it to promote The Princess and the Frog, again giving the "look how far we've come since then" spiel, but using TPATF instead of "John Henry" as the example of how far they've come.

I think since then, Disney has always maintained the "no, we won't release it" mantra. Before Iger, it was always "we're looking into it" but since Iger, it's always "No."

Unfortunately, a casualty of the cancellation of Song of the South on DVD (the first time) was the cancellation of So Dear to My Heart (in R1), which would've been released with the film as well. Instead, we had to wait until Disney Movie Club released it several years later (and in the process, removed a 25-minute "Lost and Found" featurette to include two cartoons ).

albert

[mvd24]

With the availability of the quality "bootlegs" of "Song of the South" out there I think we should all just calm down, put out some cash and buy one of these.

I own two different bootlegs. One is sort of bare-bones, it just has the original trailer and the re-release trailer and the hidden Easter-egg of "Coal Black & the Sebben Dwarfs" cartoon. This single disc set cost $12.99.

The other is a two-disc, digital remastered print of the movie that looks spectacular on my LG Blu-ray player. There are so many extras on it I wonder if we would ever see any of these ever again.

One disc one is the original movie trailer for SOTS, along with a re-release trailer. Then there is a black-and-white introduction to the film from Walt Disney himself (have no idea when this was shot, but looks like sometime in the 50's because it has the original Disneyland Theme Park drawings in the background. The feature itself is pristine in its color and sound presentation.

Disc two contains in full color "Coal Black and the Sebben Dwarfs" complete with the Warner intro, which I had never seen before. Then there is the missing "Hatfield/McCoy scene" edited from "Melody Time". Then there is the original "Pecos Bill", unedited and looking beautiful as ever. Then the next bonus features suprised me with their quality. 10 of the original "Ant and The Aardvark" cartoons, "Donald Duck at War" cartoons, and "Dance of the Hours" unedited from "Fantasia". This deluxe two-disc set only set me back $18.

If you search and look closely for these deals they are available, heck one of them even advertises on the UD site. So to heck with Disney, evidently they don't want the money, so why not give it to someone who does.

Could you tell me where I can find this 2-disc set, if still available? How do I know it's the same set?

[Wonderlicious]

There was then speculation that Song of the South would be released sometime in 2004 or 2005 thanks in part to the clip featured in "One Hour in Wonderland" on the Alice in Wonderland: Masterpiece Edition. Many fans speculated that since Disney went to such efforts to restore that one clip in the bonus feature, that they must've also restored the entire movie to be prepped for a release. Nothing came from that either, though I'm sure the new restoration was used in the BBC Easter airings during that time.

I think that the restoration of Song of the South was done in the 90s. I think that the "One Hour in Wonderland" master originated from the "Archive Collection" laserdisc from the 90s, around the same time that Song of the South started being shown on the BBC every few years. So I don't think it was a brand new restoration, but it goes to show that Disney actually put some effort into a restoration/remastering of sorts somewhere down the line.

I remember there was also talk of Disney releasing Song of the South when the Platinum Edition of Cinderella was released back in late 2005. Walmart (or Target, or Best Buy, or whatever) bundled a copy of the DVD with a free CD of classic Disney songs. "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah" was one of the songs on the CD, and an older stock picture of Uncle Remus and some animated characters featured as part of the cover. If Disney allowed its most controversial character to appear on a CD cover bundled with a DVD likely to have through-the-roof sales, it seemed natural for Song of the South to come out in the near future, no? Especially as the film's diamond anniversary was round the corner. Shortly after at the shareholders meeting in early 2006, though, Iger reported that he watched the film and decided against it being shown.

[Spottedfeather]

I'd love to get this on an official dvd. I don't get why people say it's racist. It doesn't have anything to do with slavery. It takes place afterwards. I've always though it was strange that Disney continues to make money off the Zip A Dee Doo Dah song and has or had several rides and sections of Disneyland and Disneyworld but refuses to acknowledge the movie they got it from. Strange.