Comments on: Show # 305 – Dec.16, 2012 – Song of the South & Splash Mountain

By: Lauren

Lauren — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:01:06 +0000

Great show! Ordered Jim’s book, and I can’t wait to download it and get to reading it. I drive past the Uncle Remus Museum in Eatonton, GA on the way to WDW, and always say to myself, I’d really like to visit it one day. I’ll be driving past it in about a week, and this time I’m stopping for a visit!

By: D.J.

D.J. — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 22:13:51 +0000

I love Song of the South. Just like you described, it is a happy movie and the character of Uncle Remus is very loveable. Why not release it as a Disney Treasure edition? I have the Mickey and Donald releases where Leonard Maltin introduces the cartoons from the vault with a little warning on how “times were different.” Thank heavens, I’m so glad they are out there for collectors to see. The Tom and Jerry cartoon dvd editions that are out there are introduced by Whoopi Goldberg. I too have a “dvd edition” of Song of the South…I’ve shown it to my kids and they love it. No negative vibes. If Disney released it I would gladly buy it. Also, I have a Disney Uncle Remus Storybook and it includes the “Tar Baby” story before it was altered to honey. And, I have seen the Sunflower segments that were cut from Fantasia. The quality was poor but someone edited the pieces back into the Pastoral Symphony.

By: Mike Leone

Mike Leone — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 03:48:30 +0000

I remember watching this movie @ the drive-in…why do I think it was in the early 70′s ? Could it have been with another Disney film?? I love all the music in this film & my 5 year old loves it too. I purchased a DVD copy of the film from a company based in Florida…cant remember who, but I found it via the internet..look around, you can find them, and it works wonderfully!

By: Randy

Randy — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 14:27:11 +0000

I would love for Song Of The South to be released. I would sell well and those stories need to be brought back. I watch it on you tube often with Japanese subtitles. If it offended so many people, then why is the ride so popular??

By: Nina

Nina — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:43:59 +0000

I also have a bootleg copy, and I wanted to mention one part of the story that you didn’t touch on: When Johnny has his party, there is a lot of conflict over whether Ginny should be invited. But Toby isn’t invited, either, and there isn’t even a discussion. It’s just assumed he won’t be allowed to come. As an adult, I can understand the context, even though as a person living in the 21st century, I think it stinks. But my daughter? I doubt I could put it into context for her until she is much older (maybe even a young teen.) I mean, she always asks why Pete and Clarabelle don’t get to do the Hot Dog dance with the rest of the gang. She would definitely notice Toby being excluded.

That being said, the animated sequences and songs are so great, maybe there would be a way for Disney to just include some of those sequences in a shorter video, perhaps with an introduction and additional historical material.

By: vanessa

vanessa — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 00:27:18 +0000

I love Song of the South! We even had an old vinyl album from when I was young. I obtained a dvd copy from someone so that my children could watch it. Personally I do not see anything wrong with this film. The past is the past and we can learn from it. So yes I would love to have a real dvd!

By: HeyHeyJP

HeyHeyJP — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:58:41 +0000

Yes, I have a (shhhhhhh) bootleg copy of “Song of the South”. I would be first in line to get an official release if and when Disney decides to release it.

I was sort of on the fence about getting Jim’s books until I heard that there’s a whole chapter devoted to Jessica Rabbit!! Just got a $25 Amazon card, think I’ll go spend it.

By: elbug10

elbug10 — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 23:55:34 +0000

I vaguely remember seeing Song of the South on The Wonderful World of Disney on tv in the late 1970′s or early ’80′s. I really only remember “Zippity Doo Dah” which remains one of my all-time favorite Disney songs. I would love to see the entire movie again. I think it’s an important piece of American History, both for the time in which it was set, and when it was filmed in the 1940′s. I think a DVD with an introduction as you suggested would be the way to go.

The funny thing is, as a kid, I remember my Grandmother reading us the Uncle Remus stories, the Tar Baby, the one where Brer Rabbit loses his tail, etc. We didn’t know they were considered racist; to us they were just fun stories. It was only when I got to Junior High or High School and we did a unit on American literature that I found out how most people thought of them.

Can’t wait to get a copy of Jim Korkis’ book to read more about this. Thanks to both of you for setting the record straight about one of Disney’s “taboo” stories. I hope we’ll get to see it out of the Disney Vault, soon.

By: DAR35

DAR35 — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:59:03 +0000

Yes I saw the film years ago. And I would love to have it released on dvd. I may have to buy the book the old fashioned way, I have a Nook so I don’t believe can get the book digitally.

By: Russell

Russell — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 12:47:25 +0000

Excellent show. Jim and Lou together always great stuff. I do have both books on kindle. Excellent reads for those who are fans of history and want to impress our friends and families. I have seen Song of the South. I enjoyed it very much. I think it should be released straight to dvd with some type of warning or in context message. Disney should’ve done a series of shorts with just the characters. Uncle Remus or Brer Frog could have just been in the beginning of the episode like Bill Cosby on Fat Albert or Laurie Main on Pooh’s corner.