Song of the South?

[Briarmom]

Does anyone own it? How did you get it? I have seen some websties that have the DVD for sale and say that it is ok for American DVD players, but I am skeptical!

 

[RyMickey]

It's not available on American DVD yet. Rumor is that Disney is going to release it in 2006. Once it gets released, we'll finally be able to recognize why Splash Mountain has the theming that it does.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Does anyone own it? How did you get it? I have seen some websties that have the DVD for sale and say that it is ok for American DVD players, but I am skeptical!

Those are bootleg DVDs. They probably will play in your player, as they won't be reigon coded - only pressed DVDs are generally coded because of reigion control issues and it's not an encoding of the DVD video itself but a "tag" on the DVD instead. Non-offical DVDs don't have the tag at all (and should be "reigion free" or "reigion 0" - same difference).

That said, be careful buying unoffical merchandise.

N.E.D.

 

[CarolinaBlue]

I have a VHS tape that my dad gave me a few years ago. He got it from a guy that buys old movies. It is a pretty good copy, but it does have some Japanese subtitles! It will have to do until Disney decides to release it.

 

[disnutt]

I have a DVD copy with Japanese subtitles. It took some time to figure out how to turn them off since I can't read Japanese. It's a bit grainy but good enough. I'll be much happier once the official movie is released.

 

[Daxx]

Daxx's Wife here. Our friend has SotS on laser disc and made a dub for us on VHS. It's a good copy except for the Japanese subtitles which pop up every now and then! Unfortunately, we can't turn them off ... but we'll live, I'm sure!

As for rerelease ... this is an on-going rumor and the year just changes. I remember in 2000, there was a rumor it was supposed to be released by 2003. There are a lot of people who feel this movie is racial and I think that's a big reason as to why Disney has not rereleased it.

However, if people are able to get copies, whether it be on laser disc, British format or bootleg, obviously, there are people interested in purchasing it ... who are not buying it for its racial tones but for pure enjoyment b/c it is a Disney classic ... as are the tales of Uncle Remus. And, in my opinion, SotS is no worse than Gone With The Wind and you can walk into any store and buy that movie.

If you can't get the movie, try reading some of the Uncle Remus stories ... then you'll understand the theming of the ride.

 

[smoochie]

I have Disney's Greatest hits Volume I. Its on there. That is if you mean the zip a dee doo dah song

 

[smoochie]

Duh, you meant the movie. Sorry

 

[skiingwife]

There are some SotS dvd's for sale on ebay. The sellers say they will play in american dvd players and do not have the japanese subtitles. There was also one that said Disneyland Paris on the label. They look official, but has anyone ever bought one of these from ebay and did it play?

 

[seashoreCM]

The Japanese (12") laserdisc of Song of the South is still readily obtained on eBay and the picture quality is very good. You do need a laserdisc player which is hard to find, but if you have a friend who has such a player he could copy the program onto a VHS tape or DVD for you.

A DVD or tape with Japanese subtitles (during the musical numbers) was copied from one of these laserdiscs.

DVD's without subtitles are of questionable quality. With one exception they would have had to be copies of a PAL (European format) tape and doing the PAL to NTSC (U.S. format) conversion usually results in considerable picture quality loss. The one exception is a copy from an extremely rare laserdisc from Hong Kong.

Video hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/video.htm

 

[smoochie]

http://altfarm.mediaplex.com/ad/ck/...com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6391970330
I hope I did this right, but I went to half.com and found this. Good luck

 

[bytheblood]

http://altfarm.mediaplex.com/ad/ck/...com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6391970330
I hope I did this right, but I went to half.com and found this. Good luck

That is a bootleg copy. Disney has not released this movie in the US. The last theatrical release was in the 80s. I believe it was 1986. SotS was released in several formats in several foreign countries, but not the US. In 2001, the movie was withdrawn worldwide. The only format that this was available on for the longest time was PAL. (UK Format)


The movie was never released here due to "controversial content" in the movie which was referred to as racial. There is rumor that the movie was banned, however the truth is that Disney has not released the movie because the NAACP showed strong disapproval.

I remember my dad taking me to see this when I was a little girl (I am in my early 30s) and I loved this movie. I cried and cried. It was a wonderful movie. I look forward to seeing it again some day and my daughter seeing it as well. I do hope the rumors of release are true.

There is a really good website dedicated to this movie. http://www.songofthesouth.net/home.html

 

[eeyore45]

http://altfarm.mediaplex.com/ad/ck/...com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6391970330
I hope I did this right, but I went to half.com and found this. Good luck

I didnt think I understand half.com, it looks like a regular auction to me!! I too would love a copy of this to explain to dd the theming of Splash Mountain! Disney should just try and make a movie based on Splash Mountain...

I also tried to get a book from the library to read to DD about Brair Rabbit, and the briar patch...

 

[Metro West]

As for rerelease ... this is an on-going rumor and the year just changes. I remember in 2000, there was a rumor it was supposed to be released by 2003. There are a lot of people who feel this movie is racial and I think that's a big reason as to why Disney has not rereleased it.

That's what I always heard too. Don't you just love the PC world we live in today?

 

[twotoohappy]

I have a dvd copy. A friend of mine got the VHS copy and I put it on DVD. There isn't any close captions either.

I can see why Disney would not release it. True it's what part of our past was, but it is very degrating and racially stereotyping. Here's an example, Uncle Remus lives in a run down shack, no plumbing, etc. His "employer" is white and lives in a large white plantation with servants. The movie fades in and out of Uncle Remus's real life and the story he's telling about. When he tells the story, then it goes to cartoon.

The story by Joel Chandler Harris can be found at http://www.ongoing-tales.com/SERIALS/oldtime/FAIRYTALES/tarbaby.html

Here's some other info and a possible release date http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_of_the_South

 

[Briarmom]

Daxx's Wife here. Our friend has SotS on laser disc and made a dub for us on VHS. It's a good copy except for the Japanese subtitles which pop up every now and then! Unfortunately, we can't turn them off ... but we'll live, I'm sure!

As for rerelease ... this is an on-going rumor and the year just changes. I remember in 2000, there was a rumor it was supposed to be released by 2003. There are a lot of people who feel this movie is racial and I think that's a big reason as to why Disney has not rereleased it.

However, if people are able to get copies, whether it be on laser disc, British format or bootleg, obviously, there are people interested in purchasing it ... who are not buying it for its racial tones but for pure enjoyment b/c it is a Disney classic ... as are the tales of Uncle Remus. And, in my opinion, SotS is no worse than Gone With The Wind and you can walk into any store and buy that movie.

If you can't get the movie, try reading some of the Uncle Remus stories ... then you'll understand the theming of the ride.

LOL, I am not THAT young!! I saw SoS in the theatres (on a rerelease I think) when I was a kid. I get the theming of the ride, but would like to watch the movie, especially since Splash Mtn is one of my ds' favorite rides.
Don't know how dd Briar will handle all the 'briar patch' talk, but I figure she'll get that in school maybe.
Thanks for all the info. I know it hasn't been released here and that these are all bootlegs, just was wondering about the quality, and if I should get one to 'tide me over'.

 

[brer rabbit 28]

ebay in the UK have a constant stream of people selling genuine copies of SOTS on VHS.I don't know if they will play on US recorders though.

 

[mikesluss]

My dear father purchased this online for our kids before one of our trips and the kids loved it \
alot easier to explain splash mountain and yes it did work in our dvd player
don't know where he purchased but it has a menu and scenes and like clip art and release posters on menu also some radio commercials on special features

 

[keishashadow]

Last I heard it was being released by Disney for Xmas this year.

The copy we purchased from eBay (DVD bootleg) is of horrible quality. It will play on one of my computers, and for small periods of time before freezing on DVD players. We've tried it on 5 different brands without being able to watch the whole movie.

As for being insensitive & racially offensive, Disney obviously has no problem with it theming their very popular Splash Mountian ride. Regardless of injustices commited in the past, to whatever groups of people, ignoring them doesn't make it go away. "Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it". How hypocritical to ban it from US distribution. Guess it's PC to sell it in in PAL versions to be purchased in other countries, just can't offend the sensibilities of the folks back at home.

 

[SteveInOmaha]

We just borrowed a copy from a friend and watched it this weekend. No subtitles, great image, not grainy at all. He's sending me the info on where he got it, and I'll post that here when I get it.

Steve in Omaha