SONG OF THE SOUTH [1946 / 2020] [Blu-ray] [Spanish Release] Here Comes The ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH Show and we are heading for the LAUGHING PLACE!
‘SONG OF THE SOUTH’ is an American semi animated musical film, released in 1946 by the Walt Disney Company, that is rarely aired or shown in the United States because of controversial “racial” aspects of the film. Based on the Uncle Remus stories by Joel Chandler Harris, the film is set in the American South of the latter half of the 19th century and traces the adventures of a little boy, Johnny [Bobby Driscoll], who moves with his family from Atlanta to a rural plantation. After his parents argue and his father goes back to Atlanta, Johnny runs away from home and he befriends Uncle Remus [James Baskett], who can seemingly communicate with animals and charms him with fascinating tales that is told in animation of the quick-witted Brer Rabbit. Uncle Remus’s stories always have morals that Johnny applies to his life.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1948 Academy Awards®: Winner: Honorary Award for James Baskett. Winner: Best Music and Original Song for Allie Wrubel and Ray Gilbert. Nominated: Best Music and Scoring of a Musical Picture for Charles Wolcott, Daniele Amfitheatrof and Paul J. Smith.
FILM FACT No.2: Walt Disney had long wanted to make a film based on the “Uncle Remus” storybook by author Joel Chandler Harris, but it wasn't until the mid-1940’s that he had found a way to give the stories an adequate film equivalent, in scope and fidelity. “I always felt that Uncle Remus should be played by a living person,” Walt Disney is quoted as saying, “as should also the young boy to whom Harris' old Negro philosopher relates his vivid stories of the Briar Patch. Several tests in previous pictures, especially in ‘The Three Caballeros,’ were encouraging in the way living action and animation could be dovetailed. Walt Disney first began to negotiate with Harris' family for the rights in 1939, and by late summer of that year he already had one of his storyboard artists summarize the more promising tales and draw up four boards' worth of story sketches. In November 1940, Disney visited the Harris' home in Atlanta. He told Variety that he wanted to "get an authentic feeling of Uncle Remus country so we can do as faithful a job as possible to these stories. Roy Oliver Disney had misgivings about the project, doubting that it was “big enough in calibre and natural draft” to warrant a budget over $1 million and more than twenty-five minutes of animation, but in June 1944, Walt Disney hired Southern-born writer Dalton Reymond to write the screenplay, and he met frequently with King Vidor, whom he was trying to interest in directing the live-action sequences. Production started under the title Uncle Remus. Filming began in December 1944 in Phoenix, where the studio had constructed a plantation and cotton fields for outdoor scenes, and Walt Disney left for the location to oversee what he called “atmospheric shots.” Back in Hollywood, the live action scenes were filmed at the Samuel Goldwyn Studio. There are three animated segments in the movie, all in all, they last a total of 25 minutes. These animated sequences were also shown as stand-alone cartoon features on the Disney television show.
Cast: Ruth Warrick, Bobby Driscoll, James Baskett (Br'er Fox voice), Luana Patten, Lucile Watson, Hattie McDaniel, Erik Rolf, Glenn Leedy, Mary Field, Anita Brown, Georgie Nokes, Gene Holland, Nick Stewart (Br'er Bear voice), Johnny Lee (Br'er Rabbit voice), Helen Crozier (Mother Possum voice), Babette De Castro ( Bird Voices voice) (uncredited), Cherie De Castro (Bird Voices voice) (uncredited), Peggy De Castro (Bird Voices voice) (uncredited), Roy Glenn (Bullfrog voice) (uncredited), Clarence Nash (Mr. Bluebird voice) (uncredited), Olivier Urbain (Mr. Favers) (uncredited) and Ernestine Wade (Butterfly) (uncredited)
Directors: Harve Foster (film director) and Wilfred Jackson (cartoon director)
Producers: Perce Pearce and Walt Disney (uncredited)
Screenplay: Dalton S. Reymond (screenplay), Maurice Rapf (screenplay), Morton Grant (screenplay), Dalton S. Reymond (original story), Joel Chandler Harris (book), Bill Peet (cartoon story), Ralph Wright (cartoon story) and Vernon Stallings (cartoon story)
Composers: Charles Wolcott (uncredited), Daniele Amfitheatrof (film score) and Paul J. Smith (cartoon score)
Costume Design: Mary Wills
Cinematography: Gregg Toland, A.S.C (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: Spanish [Castellano]: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Spanish: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
French: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Italian: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
German: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: Spanish, Spanish [Castellano] and English
Running Time: 93 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures / Walt Disney Pictures
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: Out of the humble cabin, out of the singing heart of the Old South have come the tales of Uncle Remus, rich in simple truths, forever fresh and new.
In the film ‘SONG OF THE SOUTH’ [1946] we find 7-year-old Johnny [Bobby Driscoll] finds himself and his mother Mrs. Favers [Mary Field] living at his grandmother’s plantation as his father Mr. Favers [Olivier Urbain] struggles with controversy in Atlanta as the editor of a paper. Alone, Johnny befriends a girl named Ginny Favers [Luana Patten] and a former slave named Uncle Remus [James Baskett] who Johnny grew up hearing about from his father. With tales of Br’er Fox and his encounters with Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear, Johnny tries to adjust to his new life… but when Johnny gets in conflict with Ginny Favers’s brother Joe Favers [Gene Holland] and Jake Favers [Georgie Nokes] over a dog, and sadly tragedy follows.
Directed by Harve Foster and Wilfred Jackson, Song of the South is a family musical drama. The film is an adaptation of the stories collected by Joel Chandler Harris in 1881. The film received an honorary Academy Award® for James Baskett and for Best Original Song “ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH” and a nomination for Best Music — Scoring of a Musical Picture. Released in 1946, the movie became controversial as social perceptions changed and its portrayal of discrimination in the South was re-examined in society.
Many assume that Uncle Remus is a slave in modern context. Though he didn’t have the rights of everyone, the story takes place during Reconstruction and he is technically a free man. That being said, freedom at the time was not really freedom. Uncle Remus still is forced to follow the rules created by others but what comes through and what came through for me as a young child was that Johnny and Ginny had love for Uncle Remus.
I didn’t see it as a colour issue so much as a he was a nice old man who told fun stories. Would Uncle Remus be the same man if he hadn’t been subjected to slavery for years and still play the jolly slavery stereotype? Doubtful… his choice was ripped from him. I don’t think the movie portrays a completely happy world, Uncle Remus still kowtows to the white landowners, and I’ll admit that younger viewers probably won’t get the context… and the negative perception could enforce and instil stereotypes in younger children.
James Baskett provides a great role as Uncle Remus, and it is sad that it doesn’t get seen as a result of the controversy. There is a subtext in his performance that doesn’t seem to just fall under stereotype. Sequences near the end of the film gives some perception that Uncle Remus hoped things would be different post-slavery, but it was largely the same and James Baskett portrays this in these scenes.
James Baskett also provided the voice for Br’er Rabbit for part of the film. Walt Disney petitioned for James Baskett to receive an Oscar, but it was telling of the times that he only received an honorary Academy Award® and unfortunately James Bassett sadly died soon after the ceremonies.
‘SONG OF THE SOUTH’ was originally intended to be a completely animated film; but despite this it has the bonus of a strong blend of animation and live action. While the Br’er Rabbit stories are featured in animated sequences, there are many sequences that have the live action cast interacting with classic Walt Disney animated animals. This is combined with the forever very catchy song “ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH” to make the movie have a real feel good magical experience.
It is still interesting to see a film released in 1946 was at the time problematic, the film was monumental and battles between Dalton Reymond and Clarence Muse during the making of the film over the portrayal of African-Americans in the movie show that even in 1946, there was some conversation beginning about how portrayals can affect perception… and regardless if you believe the movie should be released or not, a positive aspect of the film is that conversations are still ongoing and often encouraging in the realization that some things still should be discussed and debated.
Film, like society itself, is an evolution. We can document and see the progress. But we simply can’t go back and judge a film from an earlier period – or try to erase it. To do so is a dishonour to all those involved in making it. If Walt Disney has any artistic integrity left, they would release the film regardless of the political climate.
‘SONG OF THE SOUTH’ is an emotional film that tugs on your heart strings the way that you expect from Walt Disney. It’s distinct, however, because the appeal is unique to the live action actors in a way that the Walt Disney had ever done before this point. Bobby Driscoll as Johnny is a very appealing protagonist, playing a boy who has been left behind in the thoughts of his father and mother. Johnny turns to Uncle Remus, to fill that void in his life. One thing that really annoyed me was when Johnny’s stuck up pompous snob mother Mrs. Favers informed Uncle Remus not to talk or tell his tales to Johnny anymore and that makes him sad and decides to move away, so when Johnny sees Uncle Remus going away decided to run after him via the field where the raging bull starts to run after Johnny and hits him and at that moment we think he is going to die and everyone and especially Uncle Remus is outside the Favers mansion singing and praying for Johnny to recover and of course there is a happy ending, but of course friends if you want to find out what happened , then you will have to watch the film or better still the Blu-ray.
‘SONG OF THE SOUTH’ is a very important film and in the upcoming years after 1946, the studio would move to make much more use of live action, while not truly getting back into feature animation until the 1950’s. It’s a very charming little film, not ground-breaking except in the fact that the formula in this film would be followed for decades to come. As such, it’s very important for those like me who want to understand the Walt Disney studio ethos and especially the stories of Br'er Rabbit and his dealings with Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear are fun, they are typical Walt Disney cartoon shorts. The voice of James Baskett telling the tales adds something to the proceedings, but for the most part they are great fun diversions within the story. The quality of the animation is really good, and the characters move and act superbly. But the three main pieces of animation are there to enhance the live action story, not be the story itself.
Finally, if you want to gets a real good happy outcome feeling about the film, then when you get to around 1:32:11 onwards and until the end of the film as you will have to get out the Kleenex tissues as you will experience a very emotional moment in the film and of course a really happy ending to the film.
SONG OF THE SOUTH MUSIC TRACK LIST
ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH (uncredited) (Written by Allie Wrubel and Ray Gilbert) [Performed by James Baskett]
EVERYBODY’S GOT A LAUGHING PLACE (uncredited) (Written by Allie Wrubel and Ray Gilbert) [Performed by James Baskett and Nick Stewart]
HOW DO YOU DO? (uncredited) (Written by Robert MacGimsey) [Performed by Johnny Lee and James Baskett]
SOONER OR LATER (You're Gonna Be Comin' Around) (uncredited) (Written by Charles Wolcott and Ray Gilbert) [Performed by Hattie McDaniel]
WHO WANTS TO LIVE LIKE THAT? (uncredited) (Written by Ken Darby and Foster Carling) [Performed by James Baskett]
LET THE RAIN POUR DOWN (uncredited) (Written by Ken Darby and Foster Carling) [Performed by the Hall Johnson Choir]
SONG OF THE SOUTH (uncredited) (Written by Sam Coslow and Arthur Johnston) [Performed by the Studio Choir]
UNCLE REMUS SAID (uncredited) (Written by Eliot Daniel, Hy Heath, and Johnny Lange) [Performed by the Hall Johnson Choir]
ALL I WANT (uncredited) (Written by Ken Darby) [Performed by the Hall Johnson Choir]
ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH/ SONG OF THE SOUTH (Reprise) (Written by Allie Wrubel and Ray Gilbert) [Performed by Bobby Driscoll, Luana Patten, Glenn Leedy, Johnny Lee, James Baskett and the Studio Choir]
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Blu-ray Image Quality – RKO Radio Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures presents the film ‘SONG OF THE SOUTH’ with a glorious 1080p Technicolor image and is of course shown in the 1.37:1 aspect ratio that was the standard format in 1946. The ‘SONG OF THE SOUTH’ image will some purist of this film will be slightly disappointed, as throughout the film you get to view lots of white and colour speckles appear in the frame now and again, and until we get an official Walt Disney Pictures Blu-ray release, this Spanish Blu-ray release will have to suffice for the time being. But one good thing is when we view the cartoon sections, as the majority of the time stays clean, sharp, and vibrant at all times. Basically, it should delight both purists and those simply wanting the best picture quality possible. The only slight inevitable disappointment to the presentation is that the improved visuals make it easier to spot the defeats with the combination of the actors with the cartoon characters. But despite this slight criticism, it is still a joy to view this totally wonderful and magical Walt Disney film that was ahead of its time in 1946.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – RKO Radio Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures brings us the film ‘SONG OF THE SOUTH’ with a standard 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio experience and there is little to criticise. Dialogue is crystal clear and neatly prioritized at all times; sound effects are crisp and mischievous; the unforgettable songs have quite simply never sounded better, fuller or more engaging. ‘SONG OF THE SOUTH’ doesn't sound as if it was shot yesterday, and no, the audio track isn't what anyone would label ground-breaking as recording techniques in 1946 had its limitations, but what it is, is still very, very good, and I seriously doubt any other mix could do more with what the studio had to work with at the time. This is probably the best mix we will ever get for this movie and I’m okay with that as this one sounds very good for a movie released in 1946.
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Finally, ‘SONG OF THE SOUTH’ is a wonderful American semi animated musical film for its time, a time when segregation was still aggressively enforced in the United States of America, and the film ‘SONG OF THE SOUTH’ was at the time felt like 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 slightly 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, warm-hearted 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. ‘SONG OF THE SOUTH’ is a beautiful film, with fine values, fine moral values as well as exceptional production values. The animation is state of the art, the songs hummable especially “ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH” is a classic. But many Black people find it painful to watch this film, painful to the extent that Walt Disney fears a boycott of its other films if it releases this one. Corporations are in the business of making money – not art. We are lucky when art is an incidental by product, as it is in this case. Once again this is a very good movie. In all honesty I think that if James Baskett felt in any way this movie was racist then he would have never accepted the role in the first place. And James Baskett who was such a wonderful as the story-teller Uncle Remus who is a really wholesome warm hearted character, with good morals and a wonderful teacher. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
