Song of the South (1946)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Directors:

Harve Foster
Wilfred Jackson

Writers:

Joel Chandler Harris (book)
Dalton S. Reymond (story)

Release Date:

2 December 1946 (Brazil)

Genre:

Animation | Family | Music

Tagline:

Only the magic of Walt Disney could bring you the tales of Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit . . . live actors with cartoon background!

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.

Plot Keywords:

Rabbit | Young Boy | Tar | Bear | Briar Patch

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

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)

Also Known As:

Uncle Remus (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

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:

Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

Contrary to misconception, the film takes place after the U.S. Civil War, during the period known as, "Reconstruction".

Goofs:

Continuity: Before Uncle Remus tells the story about the Laughing Place, the mud on Ginny's dress disappears and reappears between shots.

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'.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Motor Home Massacre (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Everybody's Got a Laughing Place

The erroneous spin of the censors

O.K., enough already. Several comments regarding this movie (most, but not all from those who argue it should be censored, ergo not released again by Disney in any form) contain erroneous so-called "facts" about the movie. Here is the truth:

There are NO slave characters in the film. Several comments about this movie go on and on about it containing "slaves." Wrong, wrong, WRONG. The movie is set AFTER the civil war. That is fact. The African Americans at Miss Doshy's plantation are working employees, NOT slaves. Yes, the film is set during the Jim Crow era, and one can argue that the general quality of life (in terms of housing and education in particular) of the African Americans shown was not much better than that of pre Civil War slaves, but to imply the African Americans in Song of the South are chained, whipped and ordered around by nasty white "owners" is ridiculous. Are there one or two situations in the film where an African American shows a certain level of "servitude" to a "white manager"? Yes, but to define that as "slavery" is erroneous spin.

The words "massa" is never used by anyone, much less Uncle Remus. Several comments here state or imply African Americans in the film refer to the whites as "massa." That is completely false. That term is NEVER heard anywhere in the entire 93 minute film.

Uncle Tom is NOT "ignorant." He is defined that way in several comments. Why, I don't know, but how anyone can sit through this wonderful film and be completely ignorant of the intelligence, compassion and common sense shown by the Uncle Remus character (at a level frankly higher than that of any white character in the film) is completely beyond me.

Bottom line: the minority that attacks this film is running with a PC agenda that depends upon on your buying spin and erroneous "fact." Don't fall for that - it's a classic film that overall provides a positive message to any honest viewer with an open mind.