What's The Issue With "Song Of The South"?

The subject discussed in this post may be of little if any interest to those of you who are not Disney enthusiasts. But as a fan and collector of Disney movies on DVD the subject is one I'm very interested in.

Last week at the Walt Disney Corporation's annual shareholder's meeting in San Antonio, Texas, CEO, Bob Iger, answered a question that comes up almost every year. During a Q&A session one shareholder asked if and when the classic Disney movie, "Song of the South", would be released on DVD.

Iger referred to the movie as "antiquated" and "fairly offensive" then with a rather certain tone affirmed that the company has not plans to release the film in the foreseeable future. I find this decision extremely hypocritical of the Disney corporation. I don't understand all the super sensitivity and fear of offending that seems to have attached itself to "SOTS".

It's not like Disney is afraid of other depictions of social stereotypes in other films being available on DVD. If it were would Dumbo be on store shelves right now? Remember those crows and their song?

As a matter of fact just look at the contents of many Disney animated and live action features from the 40's & 50's. You'll find some sort of what is now "politically incorrect" stereotype in almost every one of them.

I just finished watching the 2 Disney movies about Davy Crockett for the first time. That series was a pop cultural phenomenon that put coonskin caps and frontier adventures on the map. Yes as I watched it I saw many stereotypes and "offensive" portrayals of all sorts of people and nationalities; especially native American Indians. When it comes to finding films offensive why does Disney draw the line of political correctness at "Song of the South"?

In regard to Iger's comment that the movie is "antiquated" that flies in the face of the fact that classic Disney films like "Old Yeller" and "Swiss Family Robinson" are sold and even promoted by Disney Entertainment as "classics." But they are steeped in antiquity because their is no hint of those film's culture in existence today.

Swiss Family Robinson is even part of the Disney theme parks in Florida and California. The recreation of the movie's tree house is a long time and still popular attraction.

The climactic moment of "Old Yeller" is still referenced in an iconic manner right alongside of the emotionally stirring fate of the mother in Bambi.

Speaking of movies transcending to Disney theme parks; Disney's effort to ignore "Song of the South" by keeping the celluloid locked away in it's vaults is blatantly countered by it's identification with the film through Splash Mountain; one of it's most popular roller coasters in both it's US theme parks. "SOTS" characters appear from time to time for "meet and greets" with guests in the parks as well.

I'm not exactly sure what Disney is afraid of in regard to the release of "Song of The South"on DVD. The movie is very much part of the Disney history and culture. Perhaps the corporation is afraid of the potential negative backlash from African American leaders and those in the media.

I mean Bob Iger doesn't want to turn on the TV and see Oprah devoting an hour to discussing the prejudice conveyed in the stereotype of Uncle Remus. But aren't there really things on TV and in movies today that are much more offensive to African Americans than the things in "Song of the South"?

In my opinion, Disney is holding back on releasing the movie on DVD because it can't come up with a way to present it's content in a mostly positive manner. For hardcore Disney fans and collectors the novelty of having SOTS on DVD, after all these years, represents a huge amount of profit for the company. That's a "golden carrot" that dangles in front of Disney's nose but it's afraid that it just might still be a "poison apple".

Once it finds a way to release "Song of the South" and get mostly positive public reaction it will happen. Right now the way the economy is anything that may cause any large group of any type to boycott Disney and their products (especially the theme parks) is something from which to stay far away.

But my best guess is that "Song of the South" will be release sometime within the next 5-10 years. When and if it does happen for the many fans in the Disney community who have fond memories of the film from their childhood, it will be a Zippidy Do Da Day!.