Disney to Release Song of the South on Blu-ray and DVD in 2009
Disney has decided to release the film Song of the South to Blu-ray and DVD later this year. After waiting over twenty years since it’s last theatrical release, this is enormous news.
Not surprisingly, the decision came after the recent Disney shareholder meeting. Expect the official announcement within the next two weeks or so.
Releasing Song of the South is a topic that is often mentioned, but until now has never been taken seriously by the company. Two years ago there was promising discussion at the same meeting by CEO Robert Iger, but nothing came of it.
Not so in 2009!
We’re privy to this information now because one of the shareholders (and a friend of the Nest) thought we should know in advance in order to prepare ourselves. I’m considering buying a phone headset to avoid answering-elbow.
This should be a marketing coup for Disney. As we’ve mentioned here time and time again, there’s an unquestionable demand for the movie, and absence has made the heart grow fonder for many fans and potential consumers, I’m sure.
Nevertheless, the issues that made Disney hesitant to release the film in the first place still stand. It will be very, very interesting to see the ensuing marketing campaign. I’m putting my money on a healthy dose of nostalgia with just a pinch of “Look! We’ve entered a new (racial) era! Thanks, President Obama!” Or, you know, not saying anything while quietly raking in the money.
As for our day-to-day lives at the Wren’s Nest, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Sure, it means I’ll be more helpful to blue hairs who call looking for the movie (one caller recently assured me she “knew the number for eBay”), but as far as royalties go, we can’t expect anything. Stinks, right?
In fact, I’m a little fearful that the more widespread the movie, the more people might get the priorities of our museum and the movie confused. Folks are known to do that sort of thing. We do have a history to maintain, after all.
On the other hand, the increased visibility could be HUGE for us. As far as I’m concerned, people can visit the museum for whatever reason they want. If they come in because they think we give tours with bluebirds on our shoulders, fine by me! Though they will be a touch disappointed, methinks.
Either way, we can cross our fingers and hope that, just like its theatrical release in 1946, Song of the South’s marketing will include the Wren’s Nest, and that the Brer Rabbit stories will come to the foreground once again. We’ll keep you updated!
My oh my what a wonderful day!
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Amber Suitt
Program Director
Lain Shakespeare
Executive Director
57 Comments to Disney to Release Song of the South on Blu-ray and DVD in 2009
Disney site says they want to release…when??? Check out at:
http://www.songofthesouth.net/news/2010/12/01/disney-we-want-people-to-see-song-of-the-south/
Where is it? Its already 2011. There is nothing wrong with that picture. If some people don’t like it, too bad, don’t watch it then. As kids we all went to see it. It was our first interaction with a black person and we loved it.
I don’t understand the Americans. Every other country in the world reveals its problematic past; no child would be foolish enough to imagine that the Uncle Remus story is taking place in the Twenty-first Century. So there were slaves. There were slaves in ancient Greece, too, and in Rome. This has not stopped people making films about such times. “Gone with the Wind” is set on a slave plantation. The acting in “Song of the South” is superb; the animation masterly; the music wonderful. What the HELL is the problem?????
I remember watching it at the movie theater in the 80s it was good. The only part I think may sound racist is the tar baby. yet that is how people talked in the old days. some black people still about each other. I think it is a Disney classic and it needs to be release. I like to see more Disney on blue ray like bednobss and broomsticks. I watch the Prince of Egypt. it showed slaves in the bible torah and koran There are many slaves. I think AMericans have come far enough to be able to watch this movie and not hate it.
I SEE NOTHING MORALLY WRONG WITH THIS MOVIE,I GUARANTEE IF THERE WAS,MY PARENTS NEVER WOULD HAVE TAKEN US TO SEE IT.THIS WAS ONE OF MY DADS FAVORITE MOVIES AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT FOR HIM TO SEE IT AGAIN (AS HE REQUESTED OFTEN),BUT WE WERE UNABLE TO OBTAIN A COPY.SADLY,MY DAD PASSED LAST YEAR, AND AS A FAMILY IT WAS HARD FOR US NOT TO FILL THIS REQUEST FOR HIM.NOW,WE WANT TO GET IT,WATCH IT,AND BRING BACK THE MEMORIES OF TIME SPENT WITH OUR PARENTS AND OUR TREAT ( ON PAYDAY), AS A FAMILY TO GO TO THE DRIVE IN AND WATCH DISNEY MOVIES.THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE AND IT WAS ALREADY 32 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME WE SAW IT (IN THE MID 60′S) THIS IS A VIDEO THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE IN THERE COLLECTION.WE CAN’T WAIT TIL ITS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE,HOPE ITS SOON,WE’RE NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER……
It would be nice to have a Bluray copy but till Disney is willing to release it I will have to keep watching the copy I got some years ago.
I am 75 years old and have been waiting since 1946 for this movie..why is amazon charging 250.00 for the movie…highway robbery…come on Mr. Disney…let the film go to the public at an affordable rate for all of the pubic.