What's your opinion of Song of the South?

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by Disfan1
I love this movie! If a "legal" copy were available, I would buy it. As it is, the only way I could get a copy was from someone who "didn't know" where the copies came from. I don't understand why this movie is so "bad" when people go ga-ga over "Gone With The Wind" (which I also love!)

I hate Gone With the Wind.

I remember my parents making us watch it with them when I was a kid. My mom could watch that movie all day, I just don't get it.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I also like the movie- and I still find it completely ironic of sorts that one of the most popular rides at the Disney parks is based on a movie not very many have seen....

Personally I think eventually we'll see it released- Prob as a Maltin introduced treasure. I think if it gets handled carefully that there wouldnt be that big of a stink over it-


Personally I was more offended at things I saw in other disney movies that are currently available than what I saw in Song-

-em

 

[~*Belle 2003*~]

Wish we could get it here as I'd love to see it.

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.songofthesouth.net/faq/index.html#1

 

[Disfan1]

Thanks Dan- you have the neatest links!

 

[DocRafiki]

I have it. I like it. There is absolutely nothing racist or derogatory in it.

Originally posted by meeko_33785
From what I've seen it's pretty cute, perhaps a little un-PC, but you have to understand what the time the film was made in when you watch it. I think that's the major problem with re-releasing the entire film- people are not educated with how people percieved other races, nationalities, and groups in the past.

I don't see how it's un-PC other than the fact that the overly-PC nazis want to delete any mention of race, which I find to be racist, ironically.

I don't see how the time the film was made has anything to do with the story. It's not like the film was made before the civil war. You don't have to believe that slavery was a good thing in order to make a movie about slaves. I think showing the slaves as REAL characters worthy of love and respect is about as far from "racist" as you can get.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Just bought my copy! Thanks for the links everyone!!!

 

[BHFan25]

I don't understand the controversy either. If anything I think it shows the Africian Americans in a good light. Like someone else said, they are the heros of this movie! The wisdom that Uncle Remus has is just wonderful to watch. I love this movie. (It was the first movie I saw w/o my parents. My cousin and I went alone. Back when you could...)

 

[meeko_33785]

Originally posted by DocRafiki
I don't see how the time the film was made has anything to do with the story. It's not like the film was made before the civil war. You don't have to believe that slavery was a good thing in order to make a movie about slaves. I think showing the slaves as REAL characters worthy of love and respect is about as far from "racist" as you can get.

True the film was not created during the time of slavery, but I think that young viewers should know about the segregation that was still a part of America at the time of the release and the fact that all black actors of the time, including the man who played Uncle Remus, was still under the happy servent/ Rodchester stereotype of the time. I think that anyone who views films like this or Gone with the Wind or the Jazz Singer should know things like this in order to understand the often one-dementional portrayal of African Americans in film at the time.

 

[Brer_Papa]

I haven't seen the movie in many, many years....but, "Song of the South" has always been one of my favorites. I guess it was no surprise to me that Splash Mountain became my favorite ride @ WDW. The morals and compassion taught in the film were carried over to a fun-filled musical theme park ride.

I suppose I lke the film, at least partly, for the same reasons I like the classic novels like Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, etc....it seemed like such a less complex world back in those days.

Not that they weren't troubling times. They were. Every era of America, indeed, the world, had their own troubles. Some were unique to that era and have become part of history.....part of Americana.

The film has it's own unique place in Americana too I feel.

I truly hope my thoughts on this are understood in the way I mean. Even in the most troubling and controversial of times, somehow hope and laughter can survive.

 

[olena]

I've never seen it. I'm so glad that Disney has decided that I shouldn't......

 

[browneyes]

I haven't seen it in awhile, but I like the movie.

 

[ohanafamily]

Hi all,
Laura, you have it almost...They are Sharecroppers. not slaves or "Servants". It was also a bad time in America (especially if you were black). The reason the film will never see the light of day (IMHO) is that it deals with an issue that is surrounded not just by controversy, but hateful controversy. This issue has inspired many things, many of them positive, but alas, Disney wants nothing to do with Hate. The movie deals in a very positive light with the problems during the Reconstruction. The Father is a newspaper person, who writes articles against the mainstream (it is implied that he is pro civil rights, but not very loud)

I was on a thread a while back that was closed on this subject, people kept getting caught up in the stereotype of "Aunt Jemima" and "Uncle Remus" these characters stir up images (to some) of capitulation.

Also, it was brought up on the other thread that the Share-croppers would rather see the child dead than pray for his health (There is a scene at the end, that when I see it always makes me cry...) I must counter that argument; there are two older black men who work with me, one was a child during that time, and another actually worked then. I asked them both about it. They both told me that there was never any animosity. They were happy to be free. It is the younger generation, who realizes the difference between their quality of life and the current quality of life that want to deny the positive things in this era.

Once again, it is not just an emotionally charged issue, there is a lot of hate associated with it; the movie will not see the light of day for a long time....

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

I have seen the movie and never "got it". The animated bits are wonderful, but the story line is blah to me. Personally, I found the only intelligent person in the film to be Uncle Remus. All of the "whites" were unlikeable. (The little boy was a whiny baby in my book).

Why will this movie never be released? Two words: Tar Baby. It's in one of the animated sequences and I think that alone is enough to make Disney try to keep it out of circulation.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I think Song of the South is wonderful movie. so many other movies like North and South, Gone with the wind, etc show that time in such a negative nasty tune, I can't believe that Song of the south gets such a bad rap. I LOVE IT! I bought it last year. I can't remember the site either, But maybe post it on the theme parks board. The person that got the information for me was over there. I got rid of the PM otherwise I'd give you the info. I think that the superhappy fun site is ok as well. When I bought the dvd last year, the site said that it could sell it because of a loophole in copyright laws. Something about if it isn't for sale then copies can be made and distributed. DON'T FLAME ME ON THIS! I just remember vaguely that was the reason they could sell it in the us. So I would go for it and buy if off of superhappy fun! It is a great movie! It made splash mountain come alive for me even more! LOVE the movie and LOVE the ride!

 

[Maleficent13]

Just thought I'd add something here. I once had a debate on this movie with several friends and one of them pointed this out: it's interesting that no interest groups have offered an opinion on its release. It isn't pressure from any major organizations that keeps Disney from releasing this. It's just that they're scared of what MIGHT happen. Realistically, I think they might go to most of the major interest groups and ASK what they think. Get an idea, and make a decision based on that. It may be that the people they're so afraid of might not have a problem with it after all. But who knows?

 

[ohanafamily]

I did a Google search on "Song of the South", anything you want can be found...I actually have a legit copy I bought on Laser-disk with Japaneese Subtitles. I love that movie and do think it was one of the best regular-type movies Disney created. I just think that WDC is affraid....there are a lot of people who are not rational on this issue (look on the DB for this topic...)

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by ohanafamily
.....(look on the DB for this topic...).

 

[always quiet]

Ah...I can see me doing that.............NOT! I wouldn't look for opinions on the weather on the debate board!! I don't think I could handle the discussion on this!!

 

[crazyforgoofy]

I loved Song of the South many moons ago when I saw it. I'd like to review it again before letting Isabella see it.

If you want to discuss movies with somewhat offensive characterizations how about Peter Pan and "What made the red man red?" and the way native americans (well perhaps native never neverlanders) were portrayed. And then there's the way women are portrayed too.