Despite controversy, Disney could unlock 'Song of the South'

lomporecord.com ^ | 03/25/07 | TRAVIS REED

[Ellesu]

ORLANDO, Fla. - Walt Disney Co.'s 1946 film "Song of the South" was historic. It was Disney's first big live-action picture and produced one of the company's most famous songs _ the Oscar-winning "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah." It also carries the story line of the Splash Mountain rides at its theme parks.

But the movie remains hidden in the Disney archives _ never released on video in the United States and criticized as racist for its depiction of Southern plantation blacks. The film's 60th anniversary passed last year without a whisper of official rerelease, which is unusual for Disney, but President and CEO Bob Iger recently said the company was reconsidering.

The film's reissue would surely spark debate, but it could also sell big. Nearly 115,000 people have signed an online petition urging Disney to make the movie available, and out-of-print international copies routinely sell online for $50-$90, some even more than $100.

Iger was answering a shareholder's inquiry about the movie for the second year in a row at Disney's annual meeting in New Orleans. This month the Disney chief made a rerelease sound more possible.

"The question of 'Song of the South' comes up periodically, in fact it was raised at last year's annual meeting ..." Iger said. "And since that time, we've decided to take a look at it again because we've had numerous requests about bringing it out. Our concern was that a film that was made so many decades ago being brought out today perhaps could be either misinterpreted or that it would be somewhat challenging in terms of providing the appropriate context."

"Song of the South" was re-shown in theaters in 1956, 1972 and 1986. Both animated and live-action, it tells the story of a young white boy, Johnny, who goes to live on his grandparents' Georgia plantation when his parents split up. Johnny is charmed by Uncle Remus _ a popular black servant _ and his fables of Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear and Brer Fox, which are actual black folk tales.

Remus' stories include the famous "tar baby," a phrase Republican presidential hopefuls John McCain and Mitt Romney were recently criticized for using to describe difficult situations. In "Song of the South," it was a trick Brer Fox and Brer Bear used to catch the rabbit _ dressing a lump of hot tar as a person to ensnare their prey. To some, it is now a derogatory term for blacks, regardless of context.

The movie doesn't reveal whether it takes place before or after the Civil War, and never refers to blacks on the plantation as slaves. It makes clear they work for the family, living down dirt roads in wood shacks while the white characters stay in a mansion. Remus and other black characters' dialogue is full of "ain't nevers," "ain't nobodys," "you tells," and "dem days's."

"In today's environment, 'Song of the South' probably doesn't have a lot of meaning, especially to the younger audiences," said James Pappas, associate professor of African-American Studies at the University of New York at Buffalo. "Older audiences probably would have more of a connection with the stereotypes, which were considered harmless at the time."

Pappas said it's not clear that the movie is intentionally racist, but it inappropriately projects Remus as a happy, laughing storyteller even though he's a plantation worker.

"Gone with the Wind," produced seven years earlier, endured the same criticism and even shares a common actress (Hattie McDaniel, who won an Oscar for "Gone" for playing the house slave "Mammy").

However, Pappas said he thinks the movie should be rereleased because of its historical significance. He said it should be prefaced, and closed, with present-day statements.

"I think it's important that these images are shown today so that especially young people can understand this historical context for some of the blatant stereotyping that's done today," Pappas said.

From a financial standpoint, Iger acknowledged last year that Disney stood to gain from rereleasing "Song." The company's movies are popular with collectors, and Disney has kept sales strong by tightly controlling when they're available.

Christian Willis, a 26-year-old IT administrator in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., started a "Song" fan site in 1999 to showcase memorabilia. He soon expanded it into a clearinghouse for information on the movie that now averages more than 800 hits a day and manages the online petition.

Willis said he doesn't think the movie is racist, just from a different time.

"Stereotypes did exist on the screen," he said. "But if you look at other films of that time period, I think 'Song of the South' was really quite tame in that regard. I think Disney did make an effort to show African Americans in a more positive light."

Though Willis is hopeful, there's still no telling when _ or if _ the movie could come out (beyond its copyright lapsing decades from now).

For this story, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Disney's distribution arm, issued a statement: "Song of the South is one of a handful of titles that has not seen a home distribution window. To this point, we have not discounted nor committed to any distribution window concerning this title."

On the Net:

"Song of the South" fan page: http://www.songofthesouth.net

A service of the Associated Press(AP)

"In today's environment, 'Song of the South' probably doesn't have a lot of meaning, especially to the younger audiences," said James Pappas, associate professor of African-American Studies at the University of New York at Buffalo. "Older audiences probably would have more of a connection with the stereotypes, which were considered harmless at the time."

[tarheelswamprat]

Question: If "Song Of The South" is too offensive to be released, then why are Aunt Jemima's Pancake Mix and Uncle Ben's Rice still being marketed? /grin

[P.O.E.]

And today's films & TV shows don't show caricatures and stereotypes?

Unfortunately, blacks are being denied TV & movie stars of their past - it's part of their cultural history. Notice how leftist Paul Robeson isn't excluded.

Sorry, but I can't help but compare it to Mao's Cultural Revolution - they want to expunge history for blacks so they can rewrite it to their own script (i.e., victimization), so they can control their block voting.

[reasonisfaith]

If the release of this movie reignites racial tension, it is exactly in line with the liberal agenda. Anything to keep blacks voting Democratic (isn't that right, George Soros?)

[July 4th]

Yeah, there have been a number of Disney ones that have been kept in the vault. They're usually able to be found on the 'net, but the quality is pretty poor.

[martin_fierro]

Thank heavens! Hollywood has eliminated the stereotype!

[bert]

When I was in school, I was frequently blasted awake by Zippadeedooda.

My room mate Pedab had problems getting up. Although a design student, he rigged a timer to the stereo and the LP with Zippadeedooda. He felt (a design student you remember) that the song had positive vibes and would induce a positive reaction to rolling out of the rack. Waking to "Zippadee doda Zippade aaa, My oh my what a wonderful day" infused goodness and fuzz into getting up.

As a roommate I complained but the other guys in the house threatened death and it eventually came to a halt.

[raccoonradio]

>>1986.

that must have been when.

A bunch of cartoons from other studios have been shelved
for similar reasons, like Warner Bros. Merrie melodie's
"Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarves". Some Tom and Jerry
cartoons (Hanna and Barbera, when they worked for MGM)
would show a (stereotypical) black maid, etc. I've seen
some Looney Tunes where Bugs Bunny outwitted a black
character who was seen as dimwitted or addicted to
gambling. (I think one of the characters in "Coal Black"
had dice for teeth)

These days Disney Channel has at least one show focusing on black characters, The Proud Family.

[doodad]

If you heard some of the people in my office. That speech pattern has not changed still and is not a stereotype. He be and such.

[rlmorel]

ROTFLMAO!

[onedoug]

Free Amos n' Andy!

[P-40]

The cartoon you're looking for is called "Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips," directed by Friz Freleng.

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbannedbugs.html

[mtbopfuyn]

Hattie McDaniel, who won an Oscar for "Gone" for playing the house slave "Mammy".

There's a black nurse at the hospital who's name is Mammy and wears her name tag proudly.

Does anyone else find it odd there's so much uproar over a cartoon but it's ok for Disney to have Gay Day?

[Dacb]

Thanks. I thought so.

[Cicero]

Pappas said it's not clear that the movie is intentionally racist, but it inappropriately projects Remus as a happy, laughing storyteller even though he's a plantation worker.

So, plantation works have to be grim and resentful all day long? Good grief.

Uncle Remus is a wise old man, admirable in every way. These politically correct idiots can't understand it, but you can be poor and happy at the same time. A Christian can understand it, even if a Postmodernist can't.

Moreover, you can speak with a charming accent and be wise, or you can speak with an academicially correct accent and be exceedingly stupid, as the writer of this article appears to be.

Angst of the politically correct: "Am I allowed to speak the truth, or will it get me in trouble with the Language Police?"

[mtbopfuyn]

And as a result of this PC BS, kids don't know the story of Brer Rabbit and the briar patch.

Another oddity is the ride at Disney World featuring Brer Rabbit.

[Arkinsaw]

There is nothing wrong with "Song of the South". The wisest person in the movie is the black man. The white parents are cold and distant, the black man takes the children under his wing. He has nobility. At one point he has to be subservient....and it was intended....and comes across....as a cringe-worthy moment....and nobody watching the movie could possibly think that the wise man's rightful place was to be forced to be subservient to the cold parents.

There is nothing wrong with the movie.

The movie has nothing to do with making slavery seem to be good. It has to do with how you live a life, and your outlook in life, even in bad circumstances.

[Thommas]

I remember seeing the SOTS in a drive-in, circa 1950's. It was fabulous.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Mark Twain, on introducing Joel Chandler Harris to a group of young White children, was greeted by a disappointed shriek of "He's White!"

I still love JCH's observation on money:

What is money? It cannot breath life into the lost dreams of youth. It cannot mend a broken heart or restore the shattered portals of a broken home. I speak, of course, of Confederate money.

[raccoonradio]

In the original Sambo tales, I believe he was an Indian boy (Indian as in the Asian subcontinent, not American indians). He was frequently portrayed as dark skinned...the Sambo's restaurant chain was accused of being racist because of its name but it was a tribute to their founders, whose nicknames were Sam and Bo, though some merchandising and advertising related to the chain brought up the old tale.

[Malsua]

Disney is stupid. This is a popular torrent. The reason? Not for sale.