Topic: Song of the South

[carterhawk]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038969/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_of_the_South
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splash_Moutain


Song of the south is an old film, from 1946, and is one the earliest technicolor films to combine live action and animation. Its not a bad movie if you watch it, it has an interesting story and lots of musical numbers, a disney classic. Its such a well done movie that the ride Splash Mountain at the disney parks is themed after it. Why then hasnt it ever been released on video or dvd in america? because its set in the south. The deep, confederate, cotton plantation south. Before the civil rights movement, before the civil war. Now being a Disney movie it is not in any way overtly racist or discriminatory, it does however reflect the times, with blacks shown as being subserviant to whites. There is nothing hateful or mean or evil about it, although it may put the segregation in a more positive light that was ever true. So the question comes, have we as a society gotten far enough past the race issue to be able to handle this film without some kind of outrage? Is it still too soon for something controversial like this film to be available?

[Elizabeth Rose]

It should definitely be put on DVD.  If we aren't able to accept Song of the South, then I don't know why the heck we regard Gone with the Wind as a classic.

[bub1028]

I think it should.

[IZ]

Yes, I do think it should be released. America is too afraid to ever admit their mistakes, and people are expected to go on acting like nothing ever happened.

[IceFox]

It should definitely be put on DVD.  If we aren't able to accept Song of the South, then I don't know why the heck we regard Gone with the Wind as a classic.

[snapback]285732[/snapback]

Yes, I do think it should be released. America is too afraid to ever admit their mistakes, and people are expected to go on acting like nothing ever happened.

[snapback]285761[/snapback]

[Rocko]

We should release it. America needs to realize this is what the world used to be like, and we shouldn't act like it never was. You don't see Germany cover up Hitler, like nothing happened.

[Snowthrower]

People (especially children) need to learn that America did make mistakes and just because the movie is Disney, thats no reason not to release the movie.

[VulturEMaN]

hmmm


I think that they're concerned that if it were released, that some americans would sue them for being racist, even though the movie is old.

I would like to see it released tho.

[Snowthrower]

hmmm


I think that they're concerned that if it were released, that some americans would sue them for being racist, even though the movie is old.

I would like to see it released tho.

[snapback]286665[/snapback]

They cant get sued for freedom of speech.

[Elizabeth Rose]

hmmm


I think that they're concerned that if it were released, that some americans would sue them for being racist, even though the movie is old.

I would like to see it released tho.

[snapback]286665[/snapback]

They cant get sued for freedom of speech.

[snapback]287145[/snapback]

Not true.  I am pretty sure I could be sued if I stepped up and attacked Tom Cruise or someone and made a nation-wide scandal.

[IZ]

hmmm


I think that they're concerned that if it were released, that some americans would sue them for being racist, even though the movie is old.

I would like to see it released tho.

[snapback]286665[/snapback]

They cant get sued for freedom of speech.

[snapback]287145[/snapback]

Not true.  I am pretty sure I could be sued if I stepped up and attacked Tom Cruise or someone and made a nation-wide scandal.

[snapback]287149[/snapback]

That's different. He's got the power of Xenu on his side.

[Snowthrower]

hmmm


I think that they're concerned that if it were released, that some americans would sue them for being racist, even though the movie is old.

I would like to see it released tho.

[snapback]286665[/snapback]

They cant get sued for freedom of speech.

[snapback]287145[/snapback]

Not true.  I am pretty sure I could be sued if I stepped up and attacked Tom Cruise or someone and made a nation-wide scandal.

[snapback]287149[/snapback]

Thats libel; thats a completely different story.

[DiE HaRrD PuNk]

it should...its like being racist or something if its not being allowed to come out..

[enigmawing]

Now that many older cartoons are being released with politically correct "warnings" by Whoopi Goldberg and Leonard Maltin, I see no reason that Song of the South couldn't be handled in the same way.  I've heard uncomfirmed rumors that it may be release as a "Treasures" set in the way that other politically-incorrect Disney material has been released in recent years, especially since the WWII propaganda films with other racist undertones are now available.

I saw the film in its last theatrical release (1986) and have since aquired a . . .copy of the laserdisc  Being that it's a period piece that takes place *after* slavery was abolished, there is no depiction of the "idylic slave-master relationship" as a famous reviewer once claimed.

And sadly enough, the symbolism of Uncle Remus is completely lost on those set against the film.  The original stories (before adapted by Walt) were supposed to be a positive inspiration to slaves seeking their freedom.  For example, the Tar Baby story was a warning for run-away slaves to be careful of getting caught because their appearance (yeah, it gets more involved than that).

Anyway, people should be allowed to see it for themselves and learn from our past rather than sweeping it under the rug and pretending it never existed.

[VulturEMaN]

^ I second that statement