Posts from Stumpy in thread „A Hollywood Story Without A Hollywood Ending“

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Originally posted by Hondo Duke Lane@Mar 16 2004, 06:31 PM
I was not aware that he was in Song of the South. Though I've seen the movie also as a child, I haven't seen the movie in many years thanks to Eisner and the crew at Disney studios and distribution. So I look forward to getting to see that movie again hopefully when we see Eisner leave very soon.

I'm not gonna hold my breath waiting on them to release it even if Eisner leaves, Hondo. Which is by no means a sure thing. They've split the two top jobs there and Eisner will probably hang onto one of them.

Even if Eisner did leave the company, I'm sure there are many other honchos at Disney who, because of political correctness, are afraid to release it for fear they'll offend the black community. Which is an attitude I just don't understand.

Slavery happened; there's no denying that fact but as an institution, it disappeared on 9 April 1865 when General Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Court House. To now pretend we never had slavery is a bad case of "ostrich fever", i.e., stickin' your head in the sand. And it really ticks me off to see people trying to erase the South's history. Or U.S. history, for that matter.

"Song of the South" presents a very benign view of slavery. James Baskett played Uncle Remus (a wonderful characterization, by the way), a wise old slave who took lonely young Bobby under his care and with tales of Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit and Brer Bear, taught him some enduring truths. And soothed his loneliness besides.

The last time I saw "Song" was in the early Eighties, at a theater in Dallas. There were numerous black folks in the audience and they were laughing just as hard at the antics of Fox, Rabbit and Bear as the whites.

And a Zip A Dee Doo Dah day to you, I say.

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Originally posted by arthurarnell@Mar 16 2004, 12:13 PM
Stumpy I am sitting looking at a Walt Disney Classic Video Song of the South don't know how to identify it for you other than the number on the spine D201022 PAL VHS There is an address Buena Vista Home Video 3 Centaurs Business Park, Grant way Off Syon Lane, Isleworth, Middlesex. TW7 5QD.

Arthur

"Song of the South" was released in Region 2 (Great Britain) and also in Japan, Arthur, but has not (and probably will not because of the political correctness issue) been released in Region 1 (U.S. and Canada). There have been VHS Region 2 (PAL) copies offered on ebay several times but then I'd have to have the format converted to the Region 1 format at considerable expense. One of these days I may break down and decide to spend the money.

Bobby Driscoll, along with Natalie Wood and Margaret O'Brien, were my favorite child actors when I was a kid back in the Forties. I knew Bobby had ODed and was buried in a New York pauper's grave.

I'd give almost anything to have "Song of the South" on either tape or DVD but I seriously doubt Disney will ever release it on either medium because nowadays it's politically incorrect, as it shows blacks in slavery. "Song of the South" is one of my favorite Disney movies. I've written Disney a few times requesting that they release the movie but they always ignore me.

Another very good Disney movie starring Bobby is 1950's "Treasure Island" which came out on DVD last year. Bobby plays Jim Hawkins and Robert Newton is the Long John Silver.