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Song of the South (1946)
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Overview
User Rating:
Directors:
Writers:
Release Date:
2 December 1946 (Brazil)
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Tagline:
Only the magic of Walt Disney could bring you the tales of Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit . . . live actors with cartoon background! more
Plot:
The kindhearted storyteller Uncle Remus tells a young boy stories about trickster Br'er Rabbit, who outwits Br'er Fox and slow-witted Br'er Bear. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 1 win
&
1 nomination
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NewsDesk:
(9 articles)
Why 'The Princess and the Frog' is Great Entertainment for Everyone
(From CinemaSpy. 26 November 2009, 9:05 PM, PST)
Weekend Shopping Guide 11/6/09: Billy & The Boingers
(From Quick Stop. 6 November 2009, 3:58 AM, PST)
(From CinemaSpy. 26 November 2009, 9:05 PM, PST)
Weekend Shopping Guide 11/6/09: Billy & The Boingers
(From Quick Stop. 6 November 2009, 3:58 AM, PST)
User Comments:
A Silenced Song
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Cast
(Complete credited cast)| Ruth Warrick | ... | Sally | |
| Bobby Driscoll | ... | Johnny | |
| James Baskett | ... | Uncle Remus / Br'er Fox - voice | |
| Luana Patten | ... | Ginny | |
| Lucile Watson | ... | Grandmother | |
| Hattie McDaniel | ... | Aunt Tempy | |
| Erik Rolf | ... | John (as Eric Rolf) | |
| Glenn Leedy | ... | Toby | |
| Mary Field | ... | Mrs. Favers | |
| Anita Brown | ... | Maid | |
| Georgie Nokes | ... | Jake Favers (as George Nokes) | |
| Gene Holland | ... | Joe Favers | |
| Nick Stewart | ... | Br'er Bear (voice) (as Nicodemus Stewart) | |
| Johnny Lee | ... | Br'er Rabbit (voice) |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Uncle Remus (USA) (working title)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
94 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Canada:F (Ontario) |
Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) |
Portugal:M/4 |
South Korea:All |
Argentina:Atp |
Australia:G |
Chile:TE |
UK:U |
USA:G (1971)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
According to James Snead's book, "White screens/black images", p. 93: "At the film's New York premiere in Times Square, dozens of black and white pickets chanted, 'We fought for Uncle Sam, not Uncle Tom,' while the NAACP called for a total boycott of the film, and the National Negro Congress called on black people to 'run the picture out of the area.'"
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Goofs:
Continuity: Before Uncle Remus tells the story about the Laughing Place, the mud on Ginny's dress disappears and reappears between shots.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
Uncle Remus: There's other ways o' learnin' 'bout the behind feet of a mule than gettin' kicked by 'em, sure as I'm named Remus. And just 'cause these here tales is 'bout critters like Br'er Rabbit an' Br'er Fox, that don't mean they ain't the same like can happen to folks! So them who can't learn from a tale about critters, just ain't got the ears tuned for listenin'.
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Uncle Remus: There's other ways o' learnin' 'bout the behind feet of a mule than gettin' kicked by 'em, sure as I'm named Remus. And just 'cause these here tales is 'bout critters like Br'er Rabbit an' Br'er Fox, that don't mean they ain't the same like can happen to folks! So them who can't learn from a tale about critters, just ain't got the ears tuned for listenin'.
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in "Keeping Up Appearances: Country Retreat (#4.2)" (1993)
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Soundtrack:
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah (Reprise)
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FAQ
Chicago Opening Happened When?more
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For its time, a time when segregation was still aggressively enforced in the United States, 'Song of the South' was likely a progressive film, a major family film many of whose main characters were black, and whose animated characters were voiced by a black performer. Now, of course, 'Song of the South' is considered problematic due to its depiction of black slaves as happy and complacent, and its portrayal of them as Uncle Tom stereotypes.
Look closer, however, and you'll see a fine family film, warmhearted and gentle, both a technical landmark and a dazzling series of fables as told by Uncle Remus, the movie itself serving up a number of its own morals -- like the fact that a parent's good intentions can unwittingly stifle their child, or that storytelling is key to one's moral and social development.
None of this matters, of course. Walt Disney has now chosen to ignore the film on the basis of its reportedly offensive depiction of African-Americans in the post-Civil War era. For one, this film was not intended as propaganda or considered offensive at the time, and was merely the product of American perceptions of the 1940s; it's not any worse than the scores of westerns that depicted Native Americans as savage Injuns. Of course, Native Americans were and continue to be a marginalized group while African-Americans have maintained a desire to assimilate and have. Being that African-Americans have been far more vocal in their rejection of the injustices committed against them, it goes without saying that white-on-black bigotry is a far more sensitive issue than white-on-Indian bigotry (despite the fact that the Native Americans have suffered just as greatly at the hand of The Man as African-Americans), and therefore, we're less willing to excuse movies like 'Song of the South' than we are films like 'The Searchers.'
But then why is 'Gone With the Wind' still given the green-light and not 'Song of the South'? Well, the answer is simple: The Walt Disney Corporation. Walt Disney will go to any length to keep its reputation clean, and 'Song of the South' is construed as a serious threat to it -- therefore, placing the film on moratorium and making it unavailable simply deters controversy. They can't undo it, but they can certainly hide it. It matters not the value of the film. In a heartbeat, Disney would withdraw something as beloved as the 'The Little Mermaid' if it were one day decided that the film was unfair or offensive in its depiction of mermaids. In 'Song of the South,' one sees an innocence and warmth. In current Disney films, one sees a lot more of the cynicism and calculation of a soulless capitalistic corporate entity.
The depiction of blacks in current cinema is a lot more shameful and offensive than anything in 'Song of the South.' Consider personalities like Chris Tucker, Martin Lawrence, and films such as 'Phat Beach' and 'Friday,' which depict African-Americans as lazy, dope-smoking ne'er-do-wells who treat women badly and have no morals. I guess the fact that these films are largely created by African-Americans for African-American audiences gives them a dubious seal of authenticity, being that African-American entertainers are, ostensibly, no longer being exploited by the white man and have developed their own independent voice. If that's true, why is it so much more difficult for black filmmakers such as Charles Burnett and Julie Dash, filmmakers with a truly independent voice, to either find financing for their films, or be met with commercial acceptance? 'Song of the South' might be inaccurate in its depiction of slavery, but it never makes a point of being *about* slavery, and it's no more inaccurate than hundreds of Hollywood's historical epics and costume dramas.
By making 'Song of the South' unavailable, Disney is doing a disservice to those involved in the film and, more importantly, to the millions who harbor fond memories of it.