A bunch of years ago, Walt Disney's very first live action movie, "Song of the South" was removed from...well...everywhere. No theatrical releases. No DVDs. No cable or streaming. It was tucked away as if it was small pox or the illegitimate offspring of Adolf Hitler.
It was creative poison.
Of course, with the latest Black Lives Matter initiative, I am sure the folks at Disney pushed the movie even further back in their vault. They probably kneel every day on Buena Vista Street in Burbank that no one remembers what a racist and discriminatory film they made way back in 1946.
I was always curious, having never gotten the chance to see it. I mean, the clips I have seen looked very inoffensive. Sure, the setting of the film was back in the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War when slavery was still in the early stages of being abolished. Like it or not, this all did happen and was part of our American history, which can be both good and bad. It cannot be erased.
But Disney, shivering in its boots and always fearing the dreaded #racist, sure did want it to be gone.
An enterprising friend of mine, however, provided me with an internet link. Yep, there is an archive site where some older films exist. And "Song of the South" was one of them.
What I ultimately watched was a thoroughly charming and sweet film that should be once of those movies that transcends generations. But, no...
"Song of the South" is based on the tales of Uncle Remus, an older slave living on a Southern plantation. He forms a friendship with Johnny the young White boy visiting his grandmother who owns the land. Their connection is through some stories Uncle Remus tells about B'rer Fox and B'rer Rabbit. This is done through the inventive use of animation as the cartoon characters are intermixed with the live action plot.
Johnny has his problems during the visit from some local bullies and he comes to rely more and more on the stories and wisdom of Uncle Remus. There are some bumps in the road along with some nifty musical numbers (Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah) before the inevitable happy ending.
It is lovely and sweet and also very modern day when it comes to race relations. But, because Uncle Remus and some of the other characters (Hattie McDaniel!) come off a bit as stereotypes, the film is condemned.
Forget the fact that this was America at the time. Ignore the fact that we have come a long way since then. Disregard the fact that James Baskett as Uncle Remus earned an honorary Oscar for his performance.
No, no, no, it is bad. You must not watch.
Well, I did. And so should you. I'd happily share the link with you but that might mean a visit from the blogging police.
Maybe I can whisper it to you in a back alley.
Dinner last night: Leftover barbecued ribs.
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