Author Archives: hemingray

Who Framed Brer Rabbit?

MetroBEAT editor Chris Haire has written an excellent article that discusses “the truth about Disney’s classic & controversial Song of the South.” Indeed, Chris pulled out all the stops for this article, interviewing several individuals: myself, James McKimson of UncleRemusPages.com, Courtney Cromwell of Brer Rabbit Stew, author Karl Cohen of the recommended bookForbidden Animation, and Professors Susanna Ashton and R. Bruce Bickley, Jr.

This article is the most impressive effort I have seen to date that gives voice to the supporters of this movie’s release. Not to mention, the lead-in gave me a good laugh as well. My special thanks goes out to Chris for taking the time to write this article. You can also read the full transcript of my interview here.

Read the full article here.

New Community Section Launched

I have always wanted to create a way for other fans of this movie to communicate with each other and be able to voice their opinions. Designed as a replacement for my failed Song of the South Forum, this new Community section has been created to act as a central hub for ways people can communicate with other fans and voice their opinions on this film, and keep updated on news related to Song of the South. There are several sources currently available, and I encourage you all to get involved! This will also help to spread the word further.

Limited Edition Brer Gang Framed Pin

On February 1, the first Mickey’s Parti Gras event was held at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World. There were several limited edition pins released at the event, including “The Brer Gang,” featuring Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, and Brer Bear. The scene pictured is adapted from the Laughing Place sequence, with added confetti and beads hanging from the trees. Even Brer Rabbit’s leash itself is a string of beads. There is a lever on the back of the frame that makes all three characters move. This framed pin retailed for $125.00 and was limited to an edition of 50. Full details.

New Splash Mountain Pin Released

Walt Disney World has released a new Splash Mountain pin featuring Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, and Brer Bear sitting in a Splash Mountain log, looking mighty dry and happy. They must be blissfully unaware of the wet fate that will soon befall them! The pin’s design is identical to the figurine used both atop the new Splash Mountain Note Holder as well as a Splash Mountain ornament which was released over the 2002 holidays. This pin was released on January 18, 2003, and is part of the “Four Parks, One World” pin series. It retails for $6.50 and has been declared Open Edition.

Jim Hill Demystifies Song of the South’s Recent History

Why isn’t Song of the South available on VHS or DVD? Of all the explanations I’ve heard to date, Jim Hill of Jim Hill Media appears to shed the most light on this issue. In his recent January 27th article of “Why For?” he addresses one reader’s question of whether “we will ever see ‘Song of the South’ again.” In his response, Jim brings up several very interesting facts (albeit hearsay at this point) that I myself had never heard before now. He thoroughly covers all the issues starting from Song of the South‘s last theatrical release in 1986 all the way through to today, and ultimately predicts that Song of the South will be available for purchase on video and DVD “long before this decade is out.”

Read the full article: http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/01272003.1.htm

Also, remember to check the FAQ for ways we can make sure Disney knows we want this film released. We need to vote especially. Special thanks to Dave Strohmenger for informing me of this news item!

New SongoftheSouth.net T-Shirts Make A Statement

SongoftheSouth.net has released two new, original t-shirt designs declaring that Brer Bear and Brer Rabbit miss Song of the South(and so does the wearer!)

Shown at right are the two currently available designs, shown on the front of the t-shirts. The back of the t-shirts simply read “www.songofthesouth.net” between the shoulders. The t-shirts are 100% white cotton Hanes Beefy-T and are available in all sizes.

These new t-shirts are aimed at not only declaring your support for Song of the South, but encouraging those around you to support the film as well. An ideal place to wear these would be at Disney theme parks.

These t-shirts are available for $16.99. Visit the Store section to order.

Disney Cracks Down on eBay Song of the South Video Sales

As noted by one eBay seller, Disney is enforcing its U.S. embargo on Song of the South now more than ever. We all know that bootlegs are taboo, but this particular seller was offering official, out-of-print Great Britain PAL format tapes on eBay, which were promptly removed by Disney’s order. Disney even goes so far as to include Song of the South specifically in their VeRO FAQ:

“Q. What about Song of the South?”
“A. Song of the South has not been released for distribution in the United States in any home viewing format. Any listing that offers any video, VCD or DVD of Song of the South for sale in the United States may be suspended. Any listing that offers Song of the South ‘converted’ for viewing on NTSC video players or Zone 1 DVD players is an illegal copy.”

Apparently, since the Great Britain PAL format tape was not released in the U.S., it cannot be sold FROM WITHIN the U.S. This would not prevent a seller in Great Britain from offering the tape to a United States bidder, however.

One other seller who tried to sell the rare Japanese VHS NTSC official release on eBay several months ago also had his auction suspended for the same reason. However, he had purchased the tape from the Imports section of Tower Video in Atlanta, Georgia back in 1996, so technically his video was sold in the United States! He was allowed to relist the video without further issue.

Leonard Maltin Supports Song of the South’s Release

Leonard Maltin, one of the country’s most recognized and respected film critics and historians, was recently interviewed in a December 3rd article from the Star Tribune entitled “Maltin is Goofy for Classic Disney.” The article discusses the Walt Disney Treasures series. On these DVDs, Maltin himself introduces the cartoons which might now be considered “politically incorrect,” explaining how times have since changed. The article mentions possibly using this same approach for Song of the South:

“‘I very much hope that the folks at Disney will release “Song of the South” sometime soon,’ Maltin said, ‘and use this same approach — to be responsible in explaining the times it depicts and the attitudes of the period in which it was made.'”

Such an approach to the film has been tossed around for quite awhile now, with even one unsubstantiated rumor of James Earl Jones doing the introduction. I personally support the idea, provided that the film remains unaltered, as did the cartoons which Maltin introduced. Thanks to Dave Strohmenger for informing me of this news item!

New Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Magical Musical Moments Pin Released

On December 1, the Disney Store released the Disney Magical Musical Moments pin series. Each pin represents a famous Disney song and plays that song! Among these, pin #81 is Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, which features Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, and Brer Bear. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah won an Oscar for Best Song in 1948.

This pin is the most expensive of the series, retailing for $8.50. All the other pins in the series retail for $4.50. This pin (Pin #81) has also been confirmed to exist in four different background colors: Brown (#81A), Green (#81B), Pink (#81C), and Red (#81D).

These pins are available exclusively at Disney Stores. Thanks to Mark Kratzner of the Yahoo Song of the South Enthusiasts Group for notifying us of this new pin.