Song Of The South remastered from the original negatives

[Cherbette]

cartoonbrew.com commenter Egbert Souse states that “Disney is remastering Song of the South from the original negatives in 4K resolution. It’s not in the immediate pipeline for a Snow White or Bambi level restoration, but they’ll have complete digital files by the end of next year.”

I wonder if there's any truth to this...

[Tearren]

I hope so, I really enjoyed this movie in my childhood.

There is also a ride at Disney that feature the cartoon characters.

I think it is very possible the movie will be released in some form but not in its entirety.

[redwudz]

I thought the people at Disney had suppressed any re-issue of that film.

[dphirschler]

I trust Cartoon Brew. They don't give out misinformation. Exciting news. I hope a release is coming. But even if Disney isn't planning on releasing it anytime soon, it still makes sense to make a digital scan of it.


Darryl

[Cherbette]

I hope so, I really enjoyed this movie in my childhood.

There is also a ride at Disney that feature the cartoon characters.

I think it is very possible the movie will be released in some form but not in its entirety.

It would be a shame to not release it in its entirety. The friggin tar baby scene is about as racists as "White Chicks" (with the Wayans bros) and you don't see white people crying about that. It's just not racist. It's history. I wish Disney would stop trying to be so politically correct.

[filmboss80]

Like the VHS release of the movie during the '90s, this will probably be limited to a few countries outside the US. In the domestic US realm, Disney is very skittish about the perceived racial stereotypes of the film. They're terrified of offending anyone. This new release will likely be only available to European and Asian audiences.

[Cherbette]

Yet they released the film back into theaters in the US 5 times? The people who have a problem with the HISTORICAL "racial stereotypes" can just simply NOT WATCH in my opinion...probably the same ones who won't allow their kids to attend History class for they might be offended by their pasts.

[DB83]

Given that such a film should be targeted at 'young' audiences who should not have any incling about racial overtones - I certainly did not when I saw it as a youngster, this PC stuff really annoys me.

Over here we had a marmalade called Robertsons which featured Gollywogs - they allowed you to collect badges etc. That is until the PC brigade took offence.

Has any annimal cruelty brigade ever complained at the beatings Tom regularily got at the hands of Jerry ?

[Cherbette]

lol

[jagabo]

When classic Loony Tunes are broadcast now they often cut out the parts where Elmer Fudd shoots Bugs and Daffy.

[Cherbette]

Really????? Man, what has the world come to??

[ranchhand]

This thread brings up an interesting point I have often wondered about; obviously few read the classic, "Uncle Remus" book any more, and the younger generation probably has not seen Disney's Song of the South movie, so when they ride Splash Mountain at Disney World, does it mean anything to them (other than just fun). All those wonderful Disney cartoon classics from the 40s & 50s aren't shown any more, I am amazed that kids still love Mickey Mouse!. I would love to get my hands on those cartoons from the mid-40's & 50's, but they can't be found anywhere (that I know of anyway).

[filmboss80]

Yet they released the film back into theaters in the US 5 times?

Do you have info on re-release dates in the US? According to the data I have, the last US re-release was in 1986 (25 years ago).

[Cherbette]

That is correct. Is it possible that people have gotten so up tight since then? I'm 25 years old so I can speak for myself and say that's not the case for me. I hate censorship but some Americans aren't quite as with the program. I just don't see Caucasian people up in arms because they find this or that offensive in African-American films which poke fun at us yet seemingly everyone is afraid for the shoe to be on the other foot. Maybe it's not the public who has the issue but someone at Disney.

This is from wikipedia so I don't know if I'd trust it 100%:
"Song of the South was re-released in theatres several times after its original Walt Disney Pictures/RKO Pictures premiere, each time through Buena Vista Pictures: in 1956; in 1972 for Walt Disney's 50th anniversary; in 1973 as the second-half of a double bill with The Aristocats; in 1980 for the 100th anniversary of Harris' classic stories; and in 1986 for the film's own 40th anniversary."

On a side note, I came to know this film as my grandmother asked me to see if I could find it. She said she saw it as a little girl and hadn't seen it since. Thus began my interest. Much to her delight, I was able to find a bootleg transfer for she and my family to watch for the first time a few years ago...which I've since lost in moving several times. I really hope Disney gives this one the green light for US home video one day...I'd even be happy for a European release or something that I could just convert.

[SLK001]

I would love to get my hands on those cartoons from the mid-40's & 50's, but they can't be found anywhere (that I know of anyway).

Look for the laserdiscs called The Golden Age of Looney Tunes. There are 5 volumes, with ~10 hours of cartoons (uncensored) in each volumes. They date from ~1934 to ~1955(?). I had access to these discs and converted them to DVD about 10 years ago. They contain all the Sambo cartoons, plus all the World War 2 "slap the jap" and "kill der Furher" cartoons.

They pop up on eBay every now and then.

[hech54]

The Looney Tunes box sets (I have the Golden one so far) released a few years ago had the uncut(for violence) versions. Nothing REALLY old like the WWII ones but hey....uncut none the less.

[jman98]

I consider myself to be a Disney fan, but this is white guilt/white political correctness run amok. Despite an urban legend that the NAACP has somehow prevented the film's reissue, the actual truth is that there's no evidence that any black/African American group cares one way or the other about the film. In fact, you could actually argue that by Disney more or less pretending it didn't exist that they've managed to bury one of the few films at the time to prominently feature black American actors.

The current story is that 5 years ago Disney was going to release it on DVD and Bob Iger saw the film in a special screening and nixed it. I suspect that filmboss80 is right and the film, if it ever gets an official release, will only be outside of the USA. Or Bob Iger will have to leave Disney. Perhaps by 2021 it will enter into the public domain somewhere and Disney will have no choice but to release it or watch as public domain copies get bought up by interested individuals. By 2021 the film will have been released 75 years ago and Walt Disney will have been dead for more than 50 years and one of those requirements might be enough in some country to put the film in the public domain.

[Cherbette]

"The question of Song of the South comes up periodically, in fact it was raised at last year's annual meeting," Iger said at Disney's shareholders' meeting on March 13th. "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." - Bob Iger (March 2011)


It's too bad Mr. Iger doesn't seem to read any petitions/Disney forums. Here is his email address if any of you are interested in writing: robert.a.iger@disney.com

Also here's just ONE petition that has been signed by 33,663 people so far: http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?sots1946

[ranchhand]

I just got back from my local library, and they had some DVDs of older Disney cartoons from mid-40s to 50s under the name "Have A Laugh" and there are several cartoons on each disk in the series. They are good quality and for those who don't have any at all it's a start.

[classfour]

It's a great film.

It is sad that the guy who played Remus died in 1946.

Who cares about the "tar baby scene"?

I would appreciate the film, not the other stuff.