Song Of The South

Disney has always had a policy of putting their films back into the vault to create demand and make sure that they meet with renewed interest when re-released theatrically or on home video once every ten years or so.
Yet, some films never get out of the vault.
Song of the South is probably the only Disney classic which seems to be shelved for an indefinite period of time. The film was made in 1946 and the story takes place during the "reconstruction era", right after the civil war.

Protest on April 2, 1947

Right from the original release, protest groups denounced the film as racist and through the decades, the Disney company announced several times that they would pull the film from release. The 1986 output apparently was indeed the last in an American theater.

The film was released on home video in Europe, and I clearly remember seeing the film on VHS. Today, Disney has a very shifting policy regarding its controversial titles. In the case of Fantasia, Melody Time, or others where only a few scenes in the entire feature are considered politically incorrect (a character smocking, a black character caricatured, use of guns, etc.), then the scenes are edited out or altered digitally.

But when the entire film poses a problem, they are released (like award-winning short Three Orphan Kittens or wartime feature Victory Trough Airpower) with a simple introduction by Leonard Maltin warning viewers of the controversy.

Unfortunately, Song of The South being a feature, and something of a symbol of racism in mainstream Hollywood movies, the company decided to bury the film.

Storyboard mentioning a deleted shot

If you wish to see it anyway, look for an old VHS tape because so far, that's your only option. The film contains one of the company's award-winning signature song "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah", gorgeous Technicolor photography by Gregg Toland, a brilliant performance by James Baskett in his last role as Uncle Remus (and as the voice of the fox!), by underrated actress "Mrs.Kane" Ruth Warrick and of course Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten are beyond cute in their starring roles. In case you didn't know, Bobby went on to star as the voice of Peter Pan in the animated classic. Unfortunately, the rest of his career and life went downhill from there. I will write about him some day.

Also, look for Oscar winner Hattie McDaniel from Gone With The Wind fame.
For each of these reasons alone, the film deserves another viewing, in the proper context.
Here is some rare silent behind the scene footage where the two little child actors seem right at home.

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That's all for today folks!