Disney's " Song of the South"

[romantico]

Okay, whats up with this film? I saw it many years ago. My Dad had a friend who got him a bootleg tape of it. I was just a kid. My brother & Sister & I watched it & LOVED IT! IMO, it was right up there with "Dumbo", "Bambi", "Snow White", "Fantasia", "Pinochio", etc.

This also happens to be Whoopi Goldberg's favorite film. She said something interesting about this film. Whoopi said, "Song of the South is the illegitimate bastard black child of the Disney film. They just want it to go away & would rather not be reminded that their related!" I thought that was pretty harsh yet right on the money.

So, howcome they don't release it on dvd? There is such a demand for it it would make Disney a ton of money! I can't imagine people thinking it was racist. How is "Song of the South' racist & then 'GOne with the Wind" or "Cabin in the Sky" is not? IMO, I thought Uncle Remus was a positive role model for the children & loved the man who played him!I don't get it. Maybe I'm missing something. I'm not sure if its true or not but I thought I read somewhere Spike Lee said the film was mean & racist.(by the way, I LOVED Spike Lee's 'Bamboozled' & thought he made a very painful point with it!)


http://www.songofthesouth.net

So, anyone else here think its time for Disney to own up & recognize this film?

[Dem Agog]

1. I have it on DVD

My mother-in-law gave us a bootleg DVD she bought somewhere. She said it was really a rarity for Disney. I haven't watched it though, but i know it's based on Uncle Remus' tales, right?

[liberalpragmatist]

2. Worried it'll come off as Racist

I think they should release it, but they're probably worried they'll be seen as Racist.

[romantico]

3. A big rumor is

that the NAACP filed a claim about it being racist. Turns out nothing could be further than the truth. Its the #3 most requested dvd on AMazon & according to a message board on another forum, its mostly African Americans who are requesting the film! Go figure!

[FeelinGarfunkelly]

4. Brer Rabbit forever

I know I know. .. Uncle Remus racial stereotypes. But Brer Rabbit is like if Bugs Bunny had been from Atlanta instead of Brooklyn.

[Sequoia]

5. They have that splash ride

at Disney Land that has those characters stationed throughout the ride. At least it was still there 5 years ago when I was there last. And the Chandler guy, who penned the stories based on what he heard from ex-slaves as a kid, is from Atlanta.

[SoonerShankle]

10. Yes, Splash Mountain is still there, but...

the tar baby has been changed to honey in a bee hive.

[starroute]

6. Mister Bluebird's on my shoulder

It's a fact, it's actual
Everything is satisfactual


I always loved that song.

[rustydog]

7. Never been to splash mountain at Disneyland I see

the boat trip up to the waterfall is zippity doo dah all the way through!
Disney shows Brer Rabbit, Fox and Bear to millions of people.

[Pithlet]

8. I loved that movie as a kid.

I haven't seen it since I was little. I wouldn't have necessarily picked up on any racist tones it may have had, so I don't know. The only thing I remember from the movie is the rabbit getting stuck in a briar patch, and Zippity Doo Da.

[alphafemale]

9. The guy who wrote down and profited from the tales was white.

The stories are from Gullah/Geechee culture.

And they've never profited. That could be part of it.

Who knows. Cultural appropriation is a BIG thing to many people.
Disney may be treading lightly or they may be planning a re-release or even a remake.

They do create scarcity you know. They have always kept their video/DVD products available for only limited periods of time.

[romantico]

11. Whats surprising is

Disney has to know this could make a ton of $$$ for the company & they're just writting it off.