Disney Live-Action Films
Topic: 4/25/06 Rhett Wickham: Beggar at the Feast

#	Author	Message
1	Doobie Tue 4/25/2006 7:10p	This topic is for Discussion of: 4/25/06 Rhett Wickham: Beggar at the Feast
2	Moon Waffle Tue 4/25/2006 7:10p	Too bad. It really is a great movie, and I fail to see how the "sensitivity" concerns are any more serious than the portrayal of Native Americans in Peter Pan. In fact, I'd say they are much less so (watch out, Peter Pan will be banned next!!!) Unfortunately, until Song of the South is officially released on DVD, the market for bootleg copies is just going to to grow and grow, and make a lot of people very wealthy for all the wrong reasons.
3	JohnS1 Tue 4/25/2006 9:22p	I tend to agree, Moon Waffle. I see this controversy in much the same light as I see the banning of "Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn" in some school districts because they use racial terms which are historically accurate in terms of their time in history, yet which are now considered offensive. Mark Twain was one of the country's most vocal supporters of freeing the slaves and regarding them as equals to whites. And this was in the mid 1800s, when such an attitude was considered un-American to many. Yet today, some groups are inclined to simply ban the books because it would involve too many hours of curriculum development to address the subject of attitudes and terminology used in the 19th century versus today. Are we to accept the wholesale disavowing of what was done and said and believed in the past merely because contemporary values have changed what is acceptable and preferable? What possible good is accomplished by trying to disavow what feelings and attitudes there might have been decades ago? Banning Song of the South is like somebody saying we shouldn't show any documentary or theatrical references to the Holocaust because it might be offensive to people. I also can't believe that there are people out there asking whether it is too soon to put out a movie dealing with 911 - as if we are supposed to forget what happened on that terrible day. Only by continuing to be aware of attitudes throughout history on a wide variety of social issues are we going to be able to see the changes which have taken place. Disney could serve in the role of educational advocate by showing what the predominating feelings were in history as few as a half dozen decades ago, while showing that the Disney magic was there even during some of the dark periods of race relations and social consciousness.
4	doombuggy Wed 4/26/2006 1:17a	Glad I picked up a copy when I was in the UK.
5	Blackie Pueblo Wed 4/26/2006 6:10a	Has anyone seen the DVD's of the Brer Rabbit stories at Wal-Mart. I was a little shocked at seeing this DVD cartoon movie of the adventures of Rabbit and the others. But it looked like it was all animation and no live action. I think it was all voiced by African Americans as well. Seeing this I was a little shocked and disheartened and frustrated. I thought, well maybe Disney will release their version then? But alas, I guess not. I also was a little frusturated, and I apoligize now if this comes out completely politically incorrect, that the film was voiced by all African Americans. I understand that I guess, but it seemed like a shot at everyone else. Am I taking that wrong?
6	Kar2oonMan Wed 4/26/2006 8:58a	>>I also can't believe that there are people out there asking whether it is too soon to put out a movie dealing with 911<< Well, I asked that in another thread (see United 93 in Community), and thought it was a legitimate question to ask. Not because I want to sweep those events under the rug or try and block them out, rather, the question was more directed towards asking people if they, personally, would be able to watch a 'dramatization' of those events at this point in time. Check out the discussion, it's a good one. I agree overall with what you're saying, John. With a tasteful, well-written introduction to Song of the South by Leonard Maltin or perhaps a well-known historian, the concerns over some of the depictions in Song of the South could be addressed. They've done this very well in the 'Treasures' series. >>Disney could serve in the role of educational advocate by showing what the predominating feelings were in history as few as a half dozen decades ago, while showing that the Disney magic was there even during some of the dark periods of race relations and social consciousness.<< Well said.
7	nestbuilders Wed 4/26/2006 10:45a	I agree. Leonard Maltin did a fine job on "Treasures" and there are many "Silly Symphonies" with "black faced" flowers and such. SOTS had some of the best music and stories! Wishing I could see that creativity in the new animation. I guess that's really why I'm pining for this old movie.
8	Elias Wed 4/26/2006 12:23p	It is a shame that a classic like this will remain locked away indefintely. It is a sticky situation but an entirely corporate one. There is no clear solution though this article passionately claims otherwise. There are some good ideas in this article...very logical, down to earth and rational ideas. But how many times does a company take that path? I saw a clip of Song of the South on one of the bonus features in the Disney Treasures collection. I hadn't seen anything from SOTS since I was very young. While I agree that the animation is aboslutely great (much more frantic and Looney Tune like than anything Disney has done before or since) I can see how people could react negatively...without giving much thought to what they are reacting to and why. And that's really the problem. Mindless reactions for attention or power or whatever are the culprits with these types of controversey and boycotts. It is a struggle that wil continue indefinitely. Our only hope is that there is a shift in sensitivity issues (and there always is) that will make it an irresistable moneymaker for Disney to go ahead and release this. There will come a time when this film is celebrated by the right people and Disney feels they can proudly release it! And the film deserves nothing less than an all out, fully supported, well-advertised release. Anything less would be shameful.
9	mawnck Thu 4/27/2006 8:38a	Locked away indefinitely? I think not. When's a good time to release SOTS? During a very busy news season, say a Presidential election, when the inevitable glory-hog protesters will have a harder time getting a word in edgewise with then news media. When's a good time to confirm this release? As late as possible. Iger was asked point-blank at the annual meeting if they were considering a SOTS release. "No" was the only possible correct answer. Anything that smelled of "maybe" would've brought out the picketers. But he still left the door open to "reconsider the decision later"--a "maybe" without actually saying "maybe". Be patient.
10	jaycub Thu 4/27/2006 12:55p	mawnck, I do agree with what you are saying. I like that Rhett Wickham put all of the stutters in the quotations (another blog I read omitted all quotes) to show that Iger was obviously not prepared to answer said question. Wickham seemed to diasapporve with the way Disney had distributed the tins and included Leonard Maltin; however I like the fact that Disney made bold decisions to release classic films that didn't fit the PC mold (the Wartime tin, for instance.) I also agreed with Wickham's assessment that the company seems so paranoid to release a film that was made at a different time, yet they seem to have no qualms about releasing show after show on the horrible Disney Channel that are offensive to anyone over 4 years of age. I've heard that one of the individuals that is against releasing Song of the South is Sidney Pottier, so they should put an in depth look at the film on a DVD that has discussion from him about the objections that the African American coomunity has about it. I think that the biggest issue is that Song of the South has become the Ultimate Disney taboo, and failure to address this by the company will only make it worse. There are much more offensive movies that are readily available in the classics section of your local Wal-Mart, but because these are available, no one says anything about them. Think about it, when was the last time anyone picketed a store for selling Gone With the Wind, or The Jazz Singer with Al Jolson? These films are classics? They're sold right where they are in reach of children, and could corrupt their impressionable minds? We should put a stop to this!! WRONG!! As a note, sarcasm doesn't travel well in cyberspace, so please understand that I do onot want to boycott these classic films. More I want to raise the point that had Song of the South been made available, there wouldn't be this contraversy surrounding it. The fact that Disney keeps pushing it under the rug because of "sensitivity issues" only makes the taboo that much stronger. I agree with mawnck that it didn't sound like Iger was saying that they weren;t going to release the film, rather the last time the issue came up they had decided not to, and that was the answer. Blackie Pueblo also made a great point about Universal's direct to video "Adventures of Brer Rabbit." If you've seen the trailers (or the film for that reason) you'll see that the voice actors are not only all African Americans, but they all speak as though they are from the deep south... much like the Disney version. In the end, I just hope that Disney decides to face the issue and release the film, addressing the positive and negetive points of the movie. If they're going to sweep something under the rug, I suggest Toonami instead.

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