Category Archives: Song of the South

News related to Walt Disney’s Song of the South.

Song of the South Removed from Disney.com’s Movie Finder

During a periodic check of my web site’s links page today, I noticed that Song of the South is no longer listed on Disney.com’s Movie Finder. As I first reported back in January 2002, Disney’s Movie Finder had a page for Song of the South that included previously unissued ISBN and UPC numbers (hinting at a possible upcoming release) and had a direct link to inform Disney that you were interested in this movie being released on VHS or DVD. Apparently they no longer want to hear from us.

So, now I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you folks how you can STILL let Disney know you want this movie released:

1. Contact Disney’s Movie Finder. They may have taken down the page that links to this form, but the form itself still appears to be working (for now…)

2. Call Buena Vista Home Entertainment at (800) 723-4763. Tell them you want this movie released on VHS and DVD. Oh, and feel free to grill them on why Song of the South was removed from Disney’s Movie Finder!

3. Contact Amazon.com. Amazon then contacts the studio to let them know how much interest there is in this movie’s release. Is it any surprise thatSong of the South is Amazon’s 5th most requested DVD?

And that’s not all we can do. Please, check out my FAQ for more ways we can help get this movie released.

Update: See August 3 news article above.

SaveDisney.com Article: The Spirit of Youth

A new essay written by Merlin Jones details the common themes between Walt Disney films such as Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, Pollyanna, The Three Lives of Thomasina, and Song of the South: “all center on the concept of a distant parental figure lost in the trappings of adult society.”

“In his innocence, Johnny has no hang-ups about class, race, politics – he only knows that Uncle Remus has opened a Technicolor pathway to imagination with his storytelling – a connection to a vivid world of relevant feelings and ideas outside of Miss Sally’s preconceived notions. When Uncle Remus is forbidden to sidetrack Johnny with anymore of his stories, tragedy strikes as the boy tries to hang on to Uncle Remus and his dreams. It is only when the parents are confronted by the potential loss of their son do they realize what is truly important – finding their Laughing Place, the place they knew as children, the place they can share with Johnny as a family, together.”

I encourage everyone to read this excellent essay to help broaden their understanding of Walt’s vision for Song of the South and his other films discussed as well. Thanks to Tim Hauser for informing me of the article!

“Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” Makes AFI’s Top 100 Songs List

The American Film Institute (AFI) revealed the top movie songs of all time in “100 Years… 100 Songs“, a three-hour television special aired on CBS on June 22. 400 candidates were nominated, and jurors narrowed the list down to 100 songs. Song of the South‘s Academy Award-winning song “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” made the charts at a strong #47.

The fact that “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” made not only the top 100 movie songs of all time, but the top 50, speaks volumes. Disney has long exploited this song because of its enduring popularity, yet refuses to release the movie that made it so popular. Thanks to Mark Kratzner for the report.

SaveDisney.com Song of the South Poll Results

The results are in! Of the 1,367 people who participated in the poll, a whopping 81.3% would definitely buy Song of the South on video; 8.8% said they might not buy it but would likely rent it; 6.1% would not buy or rent it, but feel that artistic works should remain openly available; 0.5% would not buy it and feel that dated works should be withheld; and 3.4% didn’t care either way.

That’s a total of 90.1% of people who would buy or rent Song of the South, and a total of 96.2% who feel that this movie should be released. Any way you look at it, the results are overwhelmingly in favor of this movie being released. (Hint hint, Disney, are you reading this?) The poll results have been archived. Thanks to SaveDisney.com for creating the poll! And thanks to Merlin J. for the updates.

Song of the South Poll on SaveDisney.com

A new poll over at Roy Disney and Stanley Gold’s SaveDisney.com offers everyone the opportunity to vote on Song of the South:

“Which of the following statements most reflects your feelings?
  • I would definitely buy Song of the South on video.
  • I might not buy Song of the South on video, but would likely rent it.
  • I would not buy or rent Song of the South on video, but I feel artistic works should remain openly available.
  • I would not buy Song of the South on video, I feel dated works should be withheld.
  • I don’t care either way.”

While the voting has offically ended, see the news article above for the results.

SaveDisney.com Features Song of the South Articles Today

Roy Disney and Stanley Gold’s SaveDisney.com features three articles today about Walt Disney’s Song of the South. “Speaking of corporate suppression of art, Mr. Eisner:”

  • “Song of the South Fans Want Disney to Release its Ode to ‘Uncle Remus'” links to the archived article that Donald Liebensen of the L.A. Times wrote on May 7, 2003 entitled “Should dated films see the light of today?”
  • “Song of the South Adjusted Box Office Gross: $288.6m” points to boxofficereport.com‘s calculations that, when taking into account ticket price inflation for re-releases, Song of the South‘s adjusted box office gross weighs in at $288.6 million, making it the highest-grossing film that has never been released on home video in North America.
  • “Sign Song of the South Petition” urges everyone to join the 59,000 others who have added their names so far to James McKimson’s petition over atUncleRemusPages.com.

I hope that you all will also show your full support for Roy Disney and Stanley Gold by visiting their site SaveDisney.com and finding out how you can help restore Disney to its former glory. As reported on 2/14/04, Roy Disney fully supports the release of Song of the South, and said that releasing the movie would be one of his first acts if he were to return to the company. Thank you!

Peggy DeCastro, Vocalist in Song of the South, Passes Away

Peggy DeCastro, eldest of the Latina singing trio the DeCastro Sisters, known for the 1950s hit recording of “Teach Me Tonight,” passed away at the age of 82. DeCastro died March 6 in Las Vegas of lung cancer, said the trio’s manager, Alan Eichler.

The sisters – Peggy, Cherie and Babette – were known as “the Cuban Andrews Sisters” and gained fame with a flamboyant nightclub act in Cuba. They also sang on a Cuban radio station owned by their father.

After the family moved to Miami in 1945, the girls became students of Brazilian singing star Carmen Miranda, who put them in her motion picture, “Copacabana.” They also provided many of the bird and animal voices in Walt Disney’s “Song of the South.”

Wayne Brady Involved in a Song of the South Sequel?

I have received the following two emails from individuals:

“Last week on the Wayne Brady show, Wayne said he recently recorded voices as Brer Bear for a Song of the South ‘sequel’…imdb.com has nothing on it yet, but he did mention specifics on that he distinctivly liked having his character saying ‘please’ to eveything, even asking if he could ‘please bite someone’..” – The Manator

“So, yeah, last night on the Wayne Brady show, he mentioned extensively about some sort of Song of the South sequel, and that he was going to provide the voice of one of the Brers. Is this true? Is this the Co.’s way of trying to smooth over the SOS fans? Or is this just crazy BSing? Thoughts? Did anyone else see that last night?” – Olive

If anyone else out there saw this particular episode of the Wayne Brady Show and can corroborate these reports, please contact me!

Update: I also received a third email on May 17.

“My mom saw that episode of the Wayne Brady show and she told me he’s doing a voice for one of the Brer’s in a new movie. She heard on the show that the characters were based on the characters from Song of the South.” – Adam

Glenn Leedy, Toby in Song of the South, Passes Away

Glenn Leedy Allen, Sr., the talented individual who played Toby in Song of the South, has passed away on April 19, 2004 in Imperial Valley, CA at the age of 68.

At age 7, while on the playground of the Booker T. Washington school in Phoenix, AZ (the city where much of Song of the South was filmed), a talent scout from the Walt Disney movie studios discovered and recruited him for the role of Toby in Song of the South. He excelled at the role, and even ran up to Walt Disney during the filming and asked him, “Am I colossal, Mr. Disney?” Reassured, he went on to perform what the 1946 pressbook described as “one of the brightest performances of the picture.” Mr. Allen, you will be greatly missed.

For visitation, services, and burial information, please see the obituary.
For more biographical information on Glenn, please see his biography page.

South Carolina Man Arraigned for Pirating Song of the South

Of interest was an article published today in “The Post and Courier” of Charlston, South Carolina:

Richard Montague Powell, 66, was arraigned Tuesday in federal court in Charleston on charges that he made up to $250,000 by pirating copies of Walt Disney’s motion picture “Song of the South.”

If convicted of violating federal copyright laws, Powell faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

A search of Powell’s residence turned up hundreds of unauthorized copies of the motion picture on DVD and VHS, according to U.S. Attorney Strom Thurmond Jr. Numerous firearms also were seized.

Powell may have netted a small fortune — as much as $250,000 — from sales of the movie over a three-year period, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The entire article is available to read online (free registration required). Thanks to Eric of the Song of the South Enthusiasts Group for informing us of this news!