Song of the South

[goofy&tigger2]

We were just at an Expo and they were selling a DVD copy of Song of the South for $39.99. Did Disney authorize the release of it or is it a bootleg copy? I thought this movie would never be released because of it's content.

 

[daber]

The answer is maybe. Disney released SOTS in Europe and Japan, not in the US. So legitimate copies have migrated. However, since demand is higher than supply, there are plenty of pirated copies.

 

[iheartdisney]

I wish Disney would get over it and let it out of the vault!
I bought some Looney Tunes DVDs, and they have a PSA at the beginning by Whoopi Goldberg saying that while the things in some of the cartoons were inappropriate by today's standards, they are an important part of our history and so were not excluded or edited. Kudos to Looney Tunes. ever since I first watched it, about 2 years ago, I've been waiting for Disney to do the same thing, no luck.
I know this is OT, but I've never seen the movie...what is so bad? They don't show the KKK or anything like that do they? Is it on par with old Looney Tunes shorts?

 

[pixiewings71]

I have a copy, DBF got it for me for Christmas a couple years ago. I love it!!!!! That was always one of my favorite movies. I really didn't think it was bad at all, yes there are slaves but that was part of our history, why hide from it? We learned from it, we should continue to do so. Anyway, we've watched it, the girls enjoyed it and we had a few good conversations that started with "so Mom, I was thinking about xxx happening on Song of the South the other night and......." so IMO it's well worth it. I don't know where DBF got this movie, but mine is on DVD.

 

[daber]

The answer is maybe. Disney released SOTS in Europe and Japan, not in the US. So legitimate copies have migrated. However, since demand is higher than supply, there are plenty of pirated copies.

Rereading the OP, it is bootleg. SOTS NEVER came out in DVD format, only VHS.

From what I've read, the problem is that there are slaves and they are shown as being happy in their condition. What they don't take into account is that the movie is set in post Civil War and the slaves are more like employees, just as the railroads and coal mines, who lived and worked together and had most if not all needs met by their employer. Not the best arrangement no matter what race, or ethnic background.
Yes, IMHO, put into context with the proper opening, I think Disney should release it from the vault. It was the first instance of color animation and live action. It has some great songs.
Compare this with Gone With the Wind, which there is no critical uproar and set in the Civil War. But I seriously doubt this movie will ever see the light of day again. We just have to be happy with Splash Mountain.

 

[wdwgirl03]

We were just at an Expo and they were selling a DVD copy of Song of the South for $39.99. Did Disney authorize the release of it or is it a bootleg copy? I thought this movie would never be released because of it's content.

Were you by chance at the Wisconsin State Fair? Because we were there yesterday and saw someone was selling Song of the South DVDs for $39.99!

 

[DisneyPeanut]

how did those of you that have the movie get it? I would love to have this one. it was one of my favorites.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

how did those of you that have the movie get it? I would love to have this one. it was one of my favorites.

My mother-in-law is British and bought the VHS version for us a few years ago in England (legitimately) and then had it copied to DVD.

 

[crocko]

I have a copy.

I want to say I bought it for $20-$25. This was a couple years ago in Canton, TX.

 

[DisneyPeanut]

well dang, i want a copy...

 

[pixiewings71]

DBF got mine, I don't know where he got it. My suggestion would be to do a search for Song of the South DVD, but know that you're likely purchasing a pirated copy. I asked him and he said they told him it was a "legitimate" copy but who knows?

 

[pinkblush]

Rereading the OP, it is bootleg. SOTS NEVER came out in DVD format, only VHS.

Hi, just wondering, did it come out on laserdisc too? I can only find bootleg DVD formats, but was just wondering about the laserdisc format.

DBF got mine, I don't know where he got it. My suggestion would be to do a search for Song of the South DVD, but know that you're likely purchasing a pirated copy. I asked him and he said they told him it was a "legitimate" copy but who knows?

I have a DVD copy of SOTS, which I *hated* doing, but I didn't know how else to obtain a way to watch the movie! Anyway, where I got it from was very fast and the copy is very good, so if I can help, please pm me and I'll let you know where I got it from. If this is not appropriate, let me know and I will edit my post.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Hi, just wondering, did it come out on laserdisc too? I can only find bootleg DVD formats, but was just wondering about the laserdisc format.

Yes, it was released on laserdisc. I was w/ my sister when she bought it. I forget which store it was at as this was eons ago. And SotS is exactly why she won't get rid of her laser disc player (even though it is not hooked up).

 

[goofy&tigger2]

Were you by chance at the Wisconsin State Fair? Because we were there yesterday and saw someone was selling Song of the South DVDs for $39.99!

Yes this is where I saw it. I was very surprised to see it and on DVD.

 

[bosuch]

You can find it as a free download on the various BitTorrent sites as well... it's still every bit as bootleg, but at least this way nobody is profiting from it...

Bill

 

[pixiewings71]

I asked DBF last night, he said he got it from Canada and after customs it was around $20-25. He didn't remember where it came from but he said they did say it was not a bootleg copy, altho since we've watched it we don't agree. Our DVD has lines that would occur on VHS tapes, these lines don't happen on DVDs. According to DBF the website he got it from said something like "we do not sell bootlegs, these are officially licensed for sale in Canada by the Disney company"......

 

[WI WDWGIRL]

I have a copy from a crazy guest who was shopping in my store one night. He said he had a laserdisc and wanted to give me a copy on account he was the only guest in my store and I was able to spend a lot of time with him answering in-store pin questions (that just shows how long ago this was). He showed up a few hours later and gave me a copy saying he wanted to make sure I would get a chance to see it. He was a very old man with no family and I only saw him once after that night. It is an excellent movie. I am white and my husband is black and even he feels that it was a part of history and the human race has moved forward.

 

[yitbos96bb]

The answer is maybe. Disney released SOTS in Europe and Japan, not in the US. So legitimate copies have migrated. However, since demand is higher than supply, there are plenty of pirated copies.

Disney has NEVER released a DVD copy of the film. The european and japanese copies are either video or Laserdisc.

If its DVD, it was a bootleg and an overpriced one at that. I own a bootleg copy and paid half that (and no I have no guilt at all for buying the bootleg either... you aren't willing to put out a copy, I have no qualms in getting it elsewhere)... you can find them ALL over the Internet.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I have a copy from a crazy guest who was shopping in my store one night. He said he had a laserdisc and wanted to give me a copy on account he was the only guest in my store and I was able to spend a lot of time with him answering in-store pin questions (that just shows how long ago this was). He showed up a few hours later and gave me a copy saying he wanted to make sure I would get a chance to see it. He was a very old man with no family and I only saw him once after that night. It is an excellent movie. I am white and my husband is black and even he feels that it was a part of history and the human race has moved forward.

The people who run Disney are cowardly... That much is clear. What kills me about SOTS is that they won't release it but WILL release other movies with blatant racism. Ignoring Lion King, which I always found a ridiculous claim... Dumbo has several racially insensitive sections... The work hands, the crows, etc. Peter Pan... or is it ok to portray American Indians as racial stereotypes.

Now I have no issues with these, and think most people get that it was back then... if worried, all it takes is a featurette on the issue like Disney did for the WWII cartoons (with their japanese stereotypes) to put it into context.

Its hypocritical and its a terrible business decision. I wish someone would point out Iger's hypocrisy to him... Arrogant jerk would still miss it, but maybe the rest of the sheeple will get it.

 

[seobaina]

The answer is maybe. Disney released SOTS in Europe and Japan, not in the US. So legitimate copies have migrated. However, since demand is higher than supply, there are plenty of pirated copies.

It was only released in Europe on video, not DVD. I've worked for the company here for 15 years and you've not even been able to get it on video for at least ten of those. Not that it matters at all but I'm white, my brother is black and personally I never understood why the NAACP had such a problem with it and not with things like Gone with the Wind. After all, Uncle Remus is the smartest person in the movie!