Song of the South - Orlando Sentinel

[Maleficent's Dad]

Despite controversy, Disney could unlock 'Song of the South'

Travis Reed | The Associated Press
Posted March 24, 2007 PHOTOS

"Song of the South" memorabilia (SANDY HUFFAKER, ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Mar 22, 2007
STORY GALLERY

Christian Willis, "Song of the South" memorabilia collector (SANDY HUFFAKER, ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Mar 22, 2007

Walt Disney Co.'s 1946 film "Song of the South" was historic. It was Disney's first big live-action picture and produced one of the company's most famous songs -- the Oscar-winning "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah." It also carries the story line of the Splash Mountain rides at its theme parks.

But the movie remains hidden in the Disney archives -- never released on video in the United States and criticized as racist for its depiction of Southern plantation blacks. The film's 60th anniversary passed last year without a whisper of official rerelease, which is unusual for Disney, but President and CEO Bob Iger recently said the company was reconsidering.

The film's reissue would surely spark debate, but it could also sell big. Nearly 115,000 people have signed an online petition urging Disney to make the movie available, and out-of-print international copies routinely sell online for $50-$90, some even more than $100.

Iger was answering a shareholder's inquiry about the movie for the second year in a row at Disney's annual meeting in New Orleans. This month the Disney chief made a rerelease sound more possible.

"The question of 'Song of the South' comes up periodically, in fact it was raised at last year's annual meeting ..." Iger said. "And since that time, we've decided to take a look at it again because we've had numerous requests about bringing it out. Our concern was that a film that was made so many decades ago being brought out today perhaps could be either misinterpreted or that it would be somewhat challenging in terms of providing the appropriate context."

"Song of the South" was re-shown in theaters in 1956, 1972 and 1986. Both animated and live-action, it tells the story of a young white boy, Johnny, who goes to live on his grandparents' Georgia plantation when his parents split up. Johnny is charmed by Uncle Remus -- a popular black servant -- and his fables of Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear and Brer Fox, which are actual black folk tales.

Remus' stories include the famous "tar baby," a phrase Republican presidential hopefuls John McCain and Mitt Romney were recently criticized for using to describe difficult situations. In "Song of the South," it was a trick Brer Fox and Brer Bear used to catch the rabbit -- dressing a lump of hot tar as a person to ensnare their prey. To some, it is now a derogatory term for blacks, regardless of context.

The movie doesn't reveal whether it takes place before or after the Civil War, and never refers to blacks on the plantation as slaves. It makes clear they work for the family, living down dirt roads in wood shacks while the white characters stay in a mansion. Remus and other black characters' dialogue is full of "ain't nevers," "ain't nobodys," "you tells," and "dem days's."

"In today's environment, 'Song of the South' probably doesn't have a lot of meaning, especially to the younger audiences," said James Pappas, associate professor of African-American Studies at the University of New York at Buffalo. "Older audiences probably would have more of a connection with the stereotypes, which were considered harmless at the time."

Pappas said it's not clear that the movie is intentionally racist, but it inappropriately projects Remus as a happy, laughing storyteller even though he's a plantation worker.

"Gone with the Wind," produced seven years earlier, endured the same criticism and even shares a common actress (Hattie McDaniel, who won an Oscar for "Gone" for playing the house slave "Mammy").

However, Pappas said he thinks the movie should be rereleased because of its historical significance. He said it should be prefaced, and closed, with present-day statements.

"I think it's important that these images are shown today so that especially young people can understand this historical context for some of the blatant stereotyping that's done today," Pappas said.

From a financial standpoint, Iger acknowledged last year that Disney stood to gain from rereleasing "Song." The company's movies are popular with collectors, and Disney has kept sales strong by tightly controlling when they're available.

Christian Willis, a 26-year-old IT administrator in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., started a "Song" fan site in 1999 to showcase memorabilia. He soon expanded it into a clearinghouse for information on the movie that now averages more than 800 hits a day and manages the online petition.

Willis said he doesn't think the movie is racist, just from a different time.

"Stereotypes did exist on the screen," he said. "But if you look at other films of that time period, I think 'Song of the South' was really quite tame in that regard. I think Disney did make an effort to show African Americans in a more positive light."

Though Willis is hopeful, there's still no telling when -- or if -- the movie could come out (beyond its copyright lapsing decades from now).

For this story, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Disney's distribution arm, issued a statement: "Song of the South is one of a handful of titles that has not seen a home distribution window. To this point, we have not discounted nor committed to any distribution window concerning this title."

[DizneyFreak2002]

I hope Disney releases Song of the South. I watched a copy I got from eBay, and instantly fell in love with it. This is a classic worth a DVD release.

[PAYROLL PRINCESS]

I would buy it in a heartbeat! I know my 17 year old nephew wants a copy too!

[battle beast]

Doesn't Iger know what a goldmine he's sitting one? Just letting the word out that it's finally comming to dvd would bring a rush of pre-orders. Come on, if Snow White could sell 2,000,000 copies in the first day, just think what this one would do. It boggles my my to think how fast it would sell.

Really, think about it.

[JPL]

They know they are sitting on a goldmine but they are afraid it's attached to a powder keg of negative press and opinions of the company this is the great debate.

[Figment!]

Moderator Note

Just a word of precaution.

Let's focus responses in the thread to the newsworthy notion that the Walt Disney Company may release Song of the South.

There is currently a thread on-going in the Movies forum about the Song of the South controversy/availability in general.

Currently, this thread is being kept open under the intent for it to assimilate the news item in question and not be a duplicate discussion of the general controversy/availability topic.

In order to keep this thread open, please put any general comments about the movie's perceived controversy and/or comments on whether or not it should be released in the Song of the South thread in Movies.

Thank you.

[disneygeek18]

I would pre-order it in a heartbeat! Just the possibility of this excites me, and I think it shows a good foot forward for the new Disney Exec. Team!

[c&d]

Keeping my fingers crossed that they will release it.

[battle beast]

If/when they do release it, I'll buy three spoies becauswe no doubt it will be a limited availability...b ut this is still good news to mine own ears!

[jakeofwildwood]

I, and every member of my family, would order this in a second. Every once in a while you need to say what the heck and just do something that feels right. Releasing what Walt said he waited his whole life to create is right.

[Goofster]

This same AP article ran in the Detroit News today. Here's hoping for a rerelease!!

[brad192]

This article made it to the MSNBC website where they posted a poll as to whether "Song of the South" should be released. As of today, an overwhelming 73% of voters want it released unconditionally. 23% said it should be released on DVD with extra features discussing the history, racial stereotypes, etc

I hope Disney pays attention to this poll...

[Boost]

Disney should release it. Let's all stop being such a politcally correct society....