Song of the South Could Come Out of the Vault
Disney is considering an offical rerelease of the classic film "Song of the South" as requests for the film continue.
"Song of the South" was released in 1946 and was their first live action film which also included animationn. The song "Zip-a-Dee-Doh-Dah" even won an Oscar. But to this day the film remains in the Disney vault as it's been criticized for having a racist point of view.
Disney President and ECO Bob Iger says they company is reconsidering a reissue as the 60th anniversary of the film passed last year.
"The question of `Song of the South' comes up periodically, in fact it was raised at last year's annual meeting," Iger said. "And since that time, we've decided to take a look at it again because we've had numerous requests about bringing it out. Our concern was that a film that was made so many decades ago being brought out today perhaps could be either misinterpreted or that it would be somewhat challenging in terms of providing the appropriate context."
"Song of the South" was re-shown in theaters in 1956, 1972, 1980 and 1986. Both animated and live-action, it tells the story of a young white boy, Johnny, who goes to live on his grandparents' Georgia plantation when his parents split up. Johnny is charmed by Uncle Remus a popular black servant and his fables of Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear and Brer Fox, which are actual black folk tales. (An honorary Oscar to James Baskett for his portrayal of Uncle Remus.)