Old white guys agree "Song of the South" is not racist
Aug 2, 2018 17:09:50 GMT
Post by My Avatar Is A Hot Babe on Aug 2, 2018 17:09:50 GMT
'Song Of The South' 1946 Movie
I thought I'd try and find a copy on dvd or blu ray, only to find out that apparently
it's 'too racial' by Disney. What the hell?
I thought it was just some rubbish writing online that I read but here is the article:
Just How Racist Is Disney’s ‘Song of the South’?
It was one of my favourite films as a kid and I never saw anything 'racial' about it
at all. It seems a bit silly that it's come to this.
A brilliant film of it's time, and yet I'm left with a VHS tv copy that's seen better days for sure.
I thought by 2018, we were beyond this black or white or whatever they hold onto
that prevents a release like this.
I think anyone who knows or has seen the film would understand the times of it's production and
it should be enjoyed. It's an enjoyable film and should be rediscovered.
Very Disappointed.
It's not racist.
Another link:
Song of the South.net - The Movie: In Humble Defense
Around 1978 in Middle School, we had a talent show and two African-American siblings sang Zip A Dee Do Dah. Nobody said a word and the audience was majority African-American.
Then in 1989 I was working in New York and having a beer with some African America colleagues and mentioned Uncle Remus. I do not remember the context. They both frowned and said that movie was not held in high regard by black folks.
It is clearly not akin to Birth of a Nation, but as I heard negative opinions 29 years ago, this is not a new thing.
It's the live-action part of "Song" that's really controversial, not the animated segments - that's why Disney will use Brer Rabbit and the like but not Uncle Remus.
The reason "Song" remains in the vault stems from the studio that owns it. Any other studio could release it without much furor, but Disney's a magnet for controversy, so they've kept it buried.
It's "less racist" than a lot of other movies in wide circulation - cough, cough, "Gone with the Wind" - but I think Disney just believes its release on DVD/BD isn't worth the negative press it'll spark...
I remember reading that he kept the 'Remus' actor on payroll for many years (even when he had nothing to do), very generous.
You think by now they could just view it as an historical document and release it. I want to see it.
'South' deserves a fresh look - The Boston Globe
1972 or 1973. I remember my aunt saying it was an old movie but "she loved it." And we saw it at movie theater in a shopping mall.
I teased her about it recently with all the rancor that is going on these days. She is no racist and as a matter of fact is in a mixed marriage. I think most reasonable people can watch something like Song of the South or the L'l Rascals and enjoy it while noting the minor league transgressions.
I read somewhere you can find it on Laser Disc.
Rick Bartlett said:
Well to my surprise, after thinking I havn't seen this film in decades,I thought I'd try and find a copy on dvd or blu ray, only to find out that apparently
it's 'too racial' by Disney. What the hell?
I thought it was just some rubbish writing online that I read but here is the article:
Just How Racist Is Disney’s ‘Song of the South’?
It was one of my favourite films as a kid and I never saw anything 'racial' about it
at all. It seems a bit silly that it's come to this.
A brilliant film of it's time, and yet I'm left with a VHS tv copy that's seen better days for sure.
I thought by 2018, we were beyond this black or white or whatever they hold onto
that prevents a release like this.
I think anyone who knows or has seen the film would understand the times of it's production and
it should be enjoyed. It's an enjoyable film and should be rediscovered.
Very Disappointed.
rufus t firefly said:
I agree. Disney World has a major attraction built around the characters from this movie. I think its called Thunder Mountain. Its a log flume ride that gets hundreds of riders per day. I remember taking my children there and laughing with my wife about the hypocrisy. The movie is not to be viewed but go on the ride with the lovable characters.Rick Bartlett said:
It certainly contains the Disney magic and in glorious colour too.sixtiesstereo said:
I also agree (saw it as a kid in the fifties) and think that the PC police have probably never even seen it.It's not racist.
Another link:
Song of the South.net - The Movie: In Humble Defense
clhboa said:
Love this movie. My Dad took me and my brother to see it while my Mom was in the hospital. Very fond memories of this one. Back in the 90's I was in a gift shop at Disneyland where they had a bunch of vhs movies for sale. I asked the older guy behind the counter if "Song Of The South" would be rereleased? He said "Oh you like that one? They are making a remake. It's starring a all-blonde Swedish cast." Still gives me a chuckle.clhboa said:
I remember getting very choked up when the kid gets rammed by the bull. The only other time I remember this happening to me as a kid was Old Yeller.Jack Lord said:
My (very liberal) aunt took me to see it when I was around 7 or so (1972). I guess it was one of those periodic re-releases for the theater. I liked it well enough, but did not think much about it. I grew up in a majority African-American city and never heard anything about it, although it is not as if I ever asked.Around 1978 in Middle School, we had a talent show and two African-American siblings sang Zip A Dee Do Dah. Nobody said a word and the audience was majority African-American.
Then in 1989 I was working in New York and having a beer with some African America colleagues and mentioned Uncle Remus. I do not remember the context. They both frowned and said that movie was not held in high regard by black folks.
It is clearly not akin to Birth of a Nation, but as I heard negative opinions 29 years ago, this is not a new thing.
Oatsdad said:
It's Splash Mountain.It's the live-action part of "Song" that's really controversial, not the animated segments - that's why Disney will use Brer Rabbit and the like but not Uncle Remus.
The reason "Song" remains in the vault stems from the studio that owns it. Any other studio could release it without much furor, but Disney's a magnet for controversy, so they've kept it buried.
It's "less racist" than a lot of other movies in wide circulation - cough, cough, "Gone with the Wind" - but I think Disney just believes its release on DVD/BD isn't worth the negative press it'll spark...
mike's beard said:
It's a great film from Disney's Goldern Era. The fact that it contains singing, dancing, talking cartoon animals should clue people into the fact that it's makers were not going for 100% accuracy.dr jazz said:
I saw a bootleg dvd of this in the gift shop at the museum home of Jefferson Davis in Biloxiseed_drill said:
It's the "Stepin Fetchit" obsequious combined with the "magical negro" trope of James Baskett's Uncle Remus that people objected to. Apparently the film was criticized by African Americans from its very inception.prognastycator said:
Why is this hard for grown adults now to understand? I get young kids 40 years ago being clueless to how the content could be found by some to be offensive.The Panda said:
This was covered in the Disney bio on PBS. He evidently was totally flummoxed by the protests, he didn't 'get it' at all.I remember reading that he kept the 'Remus' actor on payroll for many years (even when he had nothing to do), very generous.
JamieC said:
Part of it is the whitewashing of the post civil war era for former slaves. The lot of those that did not flee to the north was not good. Whites and blacks did not co-mingle. The reaction of the mother to Uncle Remus is probably the only taste of reality in the premise. That said I have a copy booted from the LD and would have no problem buying an official reissue. But it must be done carefully. Have Leonard Maltin and Whoopi Goldberg on speed dial for the intro and special features.ElevatorSkyMovie said:
Please, no Whoopi. Anyone but her.PCM7027 said:
It was officially available as a PAL VHS in the UK and Ireland in the nineties. I worked in HMV at the time and a visiting American wanted to buy it. I explained about the PAL/NTSC difference, but he took and chance and bought it anyway.chacha said:
I’ve always wanted to see this and never been able to. Someone earlier said it was re released in 1972 which surprises me. I don’t remember that. You think by now they could just view it as an historical document and release it. I want to see it.
signothetimes53 said:
The Boston Globe's outspoken African-American columnist Renee Graham wrote a piece in 2005 urging that the film merited re-release. Read it here:'South' deserves a fresh look - The Boston Globe
Jack Lord said:
That was me. 1972 or 1973. I remember my aunt saying it was an old movie but "she loved it." And we saw it at movie theater in a shopping mall.
I teased her about it recently with all the rancor that is going on these days. She is no racist and as a matter of fact is in a mixed marriage. I think most reasonable people can watch something like Song of the South or the L'l Rascals and enjoy it while noting the minor league transgressions.
I read somewhere you can find it on Laser Disc.
ShardEnder said:
Disney really doesn't like controversy, does it? I'm sure the current powers that be would love nothing more than to erase all of James Gunn's contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but these already exist and should be equally preserved (along with the original Star Wars trilogy, which also now belongs under its corporate umbrella). Song Of The South is no different, and for better or worse, the fact is that Disney did put its weight behind the project at one point in its history. If commercially releasing "SOTS" again will end up being such a proverbial kicking of the hornets' nest to modern society, why not make a deal of reissuing this for the benefit of showing how much the company as a whole has moved on? In other words, how about turning recognition of the problem into a retroactive apology of sorts as opposed to keeping the lump under the carpet, where it's still in plain view of those who do care for this undeniable chapter in Disney's past?