Not Going To Release Song of the South!

[Disneyland_Wolf]

Someone told me about this movie and began to dislike it.

[Chris]

I see this topic headed into 'copyrighted materials' territory. This thread will be closed immediately if these subjects come up and those responsible may lose their access to this discussion forum.

[ShrunkenNed]

Originally Posted by Disneyland_Guy

Someone told me about this movie and began to dislike it.

Please tell me that you're not just going based off of what someone told you... What exactly makes you say this movie is racist? What song is racist? ??

I apologize if this comes off rude or abrasive, I'm not trying to be. It's just that I have heard lots of arguments about how bad the movie is, mainly from people who have not seen it, who are going by what they've heard from someone else. I really want to know what it is that you find bad about this movie, and I really hope that people that post in this thread can have a thoughtful and meaningful discussion. Once again, I apologize if I sound harsh, but I really don't understand....

P.S. - Please read Chris's post above and avoid that subject, it would be nice to not see a thread closed for something that is straying off topic from an off topic topic. That never happens around here, does it???

[barfownz]

I want that film back too. You can go to a third-world country and purchase it. It was kind of a racsist movie.

[ichabod crane]

It was a movie. You can be either like me and enjoy it or you can never watch it and complain about it its that simple.

(P.S. I watched it a million times and see nothing racist about it except that the slaves were happy)

[kodiak]

if anything, song of the south celebrates the oral tradition of african americans in that era. songs and stories were an important part of life for them. believe it or not, not all slaves were as abused as we like to think, nor were all of them as discontented as we like to think. it breaks our steriotypes and that is why we as a society dont like it. it shows happy people in circumstances that we dont want to consider happy. slavery was bad. but the reality is that it was not always an abusive situation or a bad situation. lots a people treated their slaves like parts of the family. we like to generalize. we like to put labels. we love to demonize and or validate. a film like song of the south presents something that presents people who appear to get by and manage to be happy. we need to back off of this one. there are MANY films out far more offensive... and purposely so. this one isnt nearly as bad as everyone has made it out to be.

[ShrunkenNed]

^ I would just like to point out that this movie is post Civil War. There are no slaves in the movies. Towards the end, Remus is asked to leave, not turned loose, as a master would do to a slave. The slave aspect of the movie has been a big stumbling block for many years, because people misunderstand this fact.

[kodiak]

you know... after thinking about it.. .you are absolutely right! i totally forgot that it was post civil war. so what in heck is all the fuss about???

[chelsealela]

I think you are making a really big deal out of this, though it stinks that there is no relase of the movie.

[Ezra]

Anybody saying this movie is racist obviously hasn't seen it. It has some of the most dignified portrayals of black people ever in the movies up to that date. If you compare it to any of the movies made at the time and you will be suprised at how respectful Song of the South is.

The whole controversy surrounding this film was started by Clarence Muse, an NAACP lawyer who was hired by Disney to consult on the film to ensure that it was resepecful to black people. Clarence Muse left the production in a huff because he was also an actor and wanted the role of Uncle Remus for himself! He started a protest campaign against the movie by circulating a script that had been rejected by Disney, passing it off as a working script. The people who protested the movie back then had never seen it. And the people complaining about it now have never seen it either.

So unless your post is going to say I have seen this movie and here's exactly the points I don't like about it, then don't bother posting comments like I don't like this movie I think it's racist because you don't know what you're talking about.

Now here's my contribution: I have seen it, and I think the scene where old uncle Remus sits together with Johnny's grandmother discussing the problems of kids these days is very touching. They speak to eachother as equals, discussing things that are universal and transcend race. The reality of the situation is that in 1946 a white woman would never sit on the porch swing with a black man for fear that someone might see them and misunderstand, and some people still felt that way in the 1970s. Therefore, in my opinion, this movie is not racist.

[ShrunkenNed]

^Ezra, you bring up a good point. Looking at the broader scope, look at Johnny's relationship with Uncle Remus. Here is a period in time when, though by law slavery was abolished, the were no laws about the way blacks should or shouldn't be treated. Racism was maybe even a little stronger, because the whites had lost what they felt was theirs, and there was a little more disdain for that reason. Johnny is able to look past color and look towards Remus as a wise teacher and friend, not a black man who tells cute stories. Through the eyes of a child, the world can start to be a better place. Johnny represented the future. This film represents the thought of "we have a long way to go, but look how far we've come."

Chelsealea, a big deal needs to be made out of this movie. It is a very important piece of history that should be respected and handled with care, and thoughtful discussion is one of the best ways to keep it going. I was fortunate to be alive to see this movie in the theatres, and I pray that the good folks at Disney find a way to release it so I can watch it and discuss it with my children (God willing).

Lastly, for those who have not seen it: Feel free to ask questions regarding this wonderful movie. There are obviously a handful of us who have seen it that would be more than happy to dispel rumors.

[linklewtt]

it wasn't rascist. the intention of the movie was not rascism. people are focusing on the wrong things and instead pointing out all this rascism and such. yes, the depiction is a bit innacurate, but again the intention was not rascism but family friendly. but of course Matt Oimet, being the president, doesn't want any fluff against Disney so he decided not to release it. it's all a fear thing. it just proves that rascism will never go away and it will always be a part of american culture...always we'll live in fear of it.

and ya you can go to a different country to get it and go online and whatever, but it's sad that you can't get in your own country where it was created. i have to jump through hoops just to get the thing, when all i wanna do is go to Best Buy and pick up the Platinum Edition of Song of the South. is that too outrageous to ask for? apparently it is.

[r0botboyxtrm]

I think they won't release it tis because people take it the wrong way and get sensative about it

[PeoplemoverMatt]

^ Because Song of the South & racism are pretty much synonyms to the GP. Most people, people on here even, don't know a single thing about the movie, other than "it's racist". That's sad.

-- PMM

[Executioner]

Personally, I have a copy and love it. I enjoyed this movie and saw nothing, AND I MEAN NOTHING wrong or racist or discriminating to anyone at all in this film. It was a brilliantly made film with lots of character and very good morals. Personally I would be more afraid to let kids watch The Black Cauldron or The Hunchback of Notre Dame than this movie. WALT MADE THIS MOVIE!!!!! This all falls on Disney's shoulders because they are too afraid they might step on someones toes and get sued over something completely false. So like Disney. Sad to think they might not release it because of a "possible" controversy. Who knows. Maybe they are holding out to play this card for after the 50th stuff. Marketing. Besides they have the ride and it can draw more attendance.