Do you still play the Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah in your home?

[Kennywood]

The movie itself is set in the post-Civil War Reconstruction era. To ignore this film because of negative stereotypes does a grave disservice to James Bassett. He was awarded an honorary Academy Award for his portrayal of Uncle Remus. He was the first African-American male to receive an Academy Award.



By ignoring the movie, James Baskett's ground-breaking accomplishment and talent are often forgotten. He deserves so much better than that.

I have a bootleg copy of "Song of the South", simply because you can't get an actual copy in the U.S. As for the song, it's a wonderful, uplifting piece of music.

 

[Moliphino]

My, my, my. The Dave Clark Five even covered it in 1664. It's on YouTube if you care to listen.

Wow, how'd they get a recording that old?!

 

[wabbott]

Wow, how'd they get a recording that old?!

Good catch. 1964. Or maybe they just wrote out the lyrics like Brother Dominic did in the old Xerox copier commercial.

 

[Mysterian]

Never played it, never was a big fan. Same goes for Supercalifragilistic. Old timey Disney songs I like include When you Wish Upon a Star, Once Upon a Dream, and A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes.

 

[Mysterian]

The movie itself is set in the post-Civil War Reconstruction era. To ignore this film because of negative stereotypes does a grave disservice to James Bassett. He was awarded an honorary Academy Award for his portrayal of Uncle Remus. He was the first African-American to receive an Academy Award.

The first African American to receive the Academy Award was Hattie McDaniel for Gone With the Wind, which predates Song of the South.

 

[goofyernmost]

I mean, I do agree with you generally speaking, but there are those who don't and I can totally understand why Disney would take the actions that it is taking. I can't make others feel the same way about it.

Those that don't are not taking time to be informed of the song or the general good intention of the movie that was not really politically correct at the time because it was to positive and had the primary character the wrong shade for the time. It was done when the culture was different and really believed all the crap about race. If they want to change the entire concept of the attraction, an argument that is at least real, is worthy of discussion but to connect the attraction to something racial is a major stretch and seems deliberate for whatever reason. Unfortunately so many generations have been able to continue with those uninformed thoughts.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I don't listen to the song at home. I don't know anyone that does TBH. I do understand why Disney is retheming Splash as they don't want to be associated with the movie but I always found it weird how Disney has never released it to home video in the US and is instead burying its head in the sand rather than acknowledging that it exists. They could use it as a learning tool like how Warner Brothers does with it's old Looney Tunes shorts. Also it's not like Song of the South is the only film with questionable elements in it. Peter Pan has an entire chunk of the movie along with a song that has negative stereotypes and no one is asking for Peter Pan's Flight to be changed.

Also it's important to point out that even when this film was released, it was criticized at the time for having negative stereotypes. So it wasn't recently that these criticisms began. It wasn't on the same scale as today but it did happen.

 

[Mysterian]

I don't listen to the song at home. I don't know anyone that does TBH. I do understand why Disney is retheming Splash as they don't want to be associated with the movie but I always found it weird how Disney has never released it to home video in the US and is instead burying its head in the sand rather than acknowledging that it exists. They could use it as a learning tool like how Warner Brothers does with it's old Looney Tunes shorts. Also it's not like Song of the South is the only film with questionable elements in it. Peter Pan has an entire chunk of the movie along with a song that has negative stereotypes and no one is asking for Peter Pan's Flight to be changed.

Also it's important to point out that even when this film was released, it was criticized at the time for having negative stereotypes. So it wasn't recently that these criticisms began. It wasn't on the same scale as today but it did happen.

I forgot about Peter Pan. When re-watching it, Disney now has a disclaimer in the beginning. Same for some of their short cartoons on Disney Plus. I haven't checked to see if any of their controversial WWII cartoons are on the service though.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I forgot about Peter Pan. When re-watching it, Disney now has a disclaimer in the beginning. Same for some of their short cartoons on Disney Plus. I haven't checked to see if any of their controversial WWII cartoons are on the service though.

I know a few other films that have disclaimers on them as well such as Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp and the Aristocats. I would even argue that Pocahontas should have one too but with Disney removing the Pocahontas scene from Fantasmic, I think they want to remove any potential controversies that come from some of their more divisive movies.

I'm not at all saying that it's wrong to like these movies. Far from it. I just think it's important to acknowledge that all of these movies have negative stereotypes in them.

 

[Mysterian]

I know a few other films that have disclaimers on them as well such as Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp and the Aristocats. I would even argue that Pocahontas should have one too but with Disney removing the Pocahontas scene from Fantasmic, I think they want to remove any potential controversies that come from some of their more divisive movies.

I'm not at all saying that it's wrong to like these movies. Far from it. I just think it's important to acknowledge that all of these movies have negative stereotypes in them.

I agree, and I think it's good for Disney to keep many of these movies available, as both a general Disney archive but also educational purposes. If someone was doing a presentation or essay, they still have access to these films.

 

[wabbott]

I know a few other films that have disclaimers on them as well such as Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp and the Aristocats. I would even argue that Pocahontas should have one too but with Disney removing the Pocahontas scene from Fantasmic, I think they want to remove any potential controversies that come from some of their more divisive movies.

I'm not at all saying that it's wrong to like these movies. Far from it. I just think it's important to acknowledge that all of these movies have negative stereotypes in them.

Just about every movie ever made has negative stereotypes of something or someone. Just about every book ever written, too. And short story. If if is decreed that nothing "bad" can be said, written, portrayed, or done, the entire history of mankind will have to be erased, and freedom will vanish. The logical progression of this hysteria will be that all the "bad" people will have to be exterminated. For their own good, of course.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Just about every movie ever made has negative stereotypes of something or someone. Just about every book ever written, too. And short story. If if is decreed that nothing "bad" can be said, written, portrayed, or done, the entire history of mankind will have to be erased, and freedom will vanish. The logical progression of this hysteria will be that all the "bad" people will have to be exterminated. For their own good, of course.

Uh okay? It's important to acknowledge that these films depict negative stereotypes of minority groups rather than ignore it. These films don't need to be buried away in the Disney vault. The same is true for Song of the South as well. Not sure how that is hysteria or getting rid of freedom.

 

[firefly_ris]

I have it on a playlist that plays in the car sometimes. We also have the movie.

 

[wabbott]

Uh okay? It's important to acknowledge that these films depict negative stereotypes of minority groups rather than ignore it. These films don't need to be buried away in the Disney vault. The same is true for Song of the South as well. Not sure how that is hysteria or getting rid of freedom.

Because that's the way the phenomenon often called 'cancel culture' always progresses. Statues torn down, books banned, thought crimes prosecuted, etc. Human history is replete with examples. Listen to the lyrics of Zip-A-Dee-Doh-Dah. There's not one single word about race or gender, or war, or killing, or any other human malady. Simply a happy song about how wonderful life is. Yet DIS has banned its use in the parks, save at Splash Mountain. And soon that will be gone.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Because that's the way the phenomenon often called 'cancel culture' always progresses. Statues torn down, books banned, thought crimes prosecuted, etc. Human history is replete with examples. Listen to the lyrics of Zip-A-Dee-Doh-Dah. There's not one single word about race or gender, or war, or killing, or any other human malady. Simply a happy song about how wonderful life is. Yet DIS has banned its use in the parks, save at Splash Mountain. And soon that will be gone.

I think there's some confusion here. I said I understand why Disney is getting rid of Splash but I find it odd that Disney is essentially pretending that this movie doesn't exist. I think it's very counterintuitive. I also think that the ride itself is distant enough from the movie it's based on. As a kid, I had NO idea that Splash was based on a film and I guarantee that kids today have never heard of this film before in their life. Disney is removing the ride so they can avoid future controversy, similar to removing the Pocahontas scene from Fantasmic. I doubt Disney actually cares about being progressive. They're doing it to avoid backlash.

 

[wabbott]

I think there's some confusion here. I said I understand why Disney is getting rid of Splash but I find it odd that Disney is essentially pretending that this movie doesn't exist. I think it's very counterintuitive. I also think that the ride itself is distant enough from the movie it's based on. As a kid, I had NO idea that Splash was based on a film and I guarantee that kids today have never heard of this film before in their life. Disney is removing the ride so they can avoid future controversy, similar to removing the Pocahontas scene from Fantasmic. I doubt Disney actually cares about being progressive. They're doing it to avoid backlash.

No doubt. My fear is that it will simply embolden the people who want the issue to never go away, and encourage them to demand yet more concessions. What next, removing the Yeti from Expedition Everest because the species is negatively portrayed? And what about Snow White? Why are witches always portrayed as female. Pretty soon, we may have to close entire parks because someone somewhere is perpetually offended.

 

[kimmar067]

I never played it in my home. I only ever hear it on Splash Mountain. It's playing on repeat in my brain now though, so thanks for that, Buzz.

....brain-worm.

 

[Kennywood]