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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Amelia Trace Lerner
Program Director
Lain Shakespeare
Executive Director
46 Comments to Disney to Release Song of the South on Blu-ray and DVD in 2009
This is exciting news!
Wait, is this true or an April Fool’s day joke???
But if it isn’t, you should be proactive and reach out to Disney NOW and work with them on getting a special feature on the disk about JCH and the Wren’s Nest. Also mention what GREAT PR it would be if they did the announcement at the Nest and at the time time gave you a nice, fat check.
…on the phone right now(!), Deb.
I almost fell for it.
Wow…just when you thought things couldn’t get more interesting…
Fake. Things are released on DVD and Blu-Ray, in that order – not the reverse like you said in the title of this post.
Nice try, and nice work. I was looking forward to seeing what sort of elaborate lie you would come up with this year.
While Amelia wrote the post, I wrote the title. I put ‘em in alphabetical order and had to look up how to spell Blu-ray.
Are Blu-ray releases and DVD releases separate? If so, how long is the lag time between?
Well, I guess what I was referring to is that you always HEAR “Coming to DVD and Blu-Ray” NOT “Coming to Blu-Ray and DVD.”
As far as the actual day things are released, I think that’s usually the same.
I would have come up with an elaborate, fake story, but don’t have the time right now, unfortunately
good one! even better if we could somehow orchestrate our millions of blog readers to flood the Disney hotline with inquiries as to this news. Sort of like when people sent nuts to CBS to bring back Jericho. Start dialing people. Jokes on them.
Good call, Jodi. What readers could also do is vote to have Song of the South included on the National Film Registry due to its historical, cultural, and aesthetic contribution. Details are here: http://www.loc.gov/film/vote.html
Their board votes to include 25 new films every year. There’s no reason Song of the South shouldn’t be one of them. I sent ‘em an email this morning.
Remember how last year you said this, “Atlanta History Center to Acquire the Wren’s Nest, Move it to Buckhead.” If you two are auditioning to be the hosts of, “TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes,” you’ve got my vote.
[...] most of you figured out, yesterday’s post was an April Fool’s Day joke. [...]
“ev’rybody has a laughing place, a laughing place to go ho ho
take a frown turn it upside-down and you’ll find yours I know ho ho!” – brer rabbit
Please don’t disappoint me!! I have been waiting for the release of
“Song of the South” since I first owned a VCR (1982). This is a long awaited release. When it happens, I can die happy (although I hope in the very distant future)! =o}
I love disney’s greatest movie, song of the south
I like this movie is the best!!!!
What a horrible April’s Fool Joke to play on people. I have been waiting for this movie to come out on VHS or now DVD for a very long time. You had me get my hopes up and now to find out that it is just a cruel joke, Shame on you.
I am 49 years old. I saw this movie as a child and then when it was re-released, I took my baby brother to see it, I was about 20 or 21. I was so offended by this movie, that I walked out. I am proud that we have President Obama, but this still does not make this movie socially acceptable. That is why Disney has shelved this movie for more than 20 years. The African-American general public will perceive the cartoon characters as follows: Brer Rabbit – As the white man who always overcomes the black man. Brer Fox – the sneaky and conniving black man and Brer Bear – the stupid and ignorant black man. I feel, no I know, that the backlash of this movie will hurt Disney. I know that the movie was made back in the ’40′s and depicts the time that we lived in, but aren’t we supposed to move forward and not look back to see how we depicted people, even if it is with cartoons? I hope that they never release this movie!!
Great comments, everyone. Just to make it clear — yes, this was an April Fool’s Day joke.
Robbin, that’s a fascinating point of view. Since we at the Wren’s Nest are inextricably tied to Song of the South (whether we like it or not!), I’m very familiar with the film and the controversy surrounding it. However, reading your comment is the first time I’ve heard those specific complaints.
In the Harris versions of the stories, Brer Rabbit is almost universally interpreted as black, and his adversaries represent white overseers in most cases. That Disney would invert these doesn’t surprise me (after all, Bugs Bunny though not Disney, is an example of a white, homogenized Brer Rabbit). It does get tricky when you know that James Baskett (Uncle Remus) provided the voice for Brer Fox and, for at least 1/3 of the animation, Brer Rabbit.
That said, I will respectfully disagree with you about remembering history. If we are allowed to watch overtly racist films but important films such as Birth of a Nation, there’s no reason we shouldn’t be able to watch Song of the South (which, in my mind, is no more racist than The Legend of Bagger Vance or The Green Mile).
I love brer rabbit stories
tales of folklore!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For all you Song of the South Lovers just say my name..torrents. Seek and ye shall find, ask and it will be given.
Tor Rents
Besides,
Some times a rabbit is just a rabbit and a spade is just a spade. Quit being so PC and pull your heads out.
Some recent movie releases such as Bolt have come out on Blu-Ray first and then standard DVD.
zip a dee doo dah zip a dee ay! my oh my what a wonderful day plenty of sunshine headin our way zip a dee doo dah zip a dee ay
1st off, For the Bluray DVD comment, Ill give u an example, SNOW WHITE will be released on BLURAY 1st! in OCTOBER then the dvd will be released a few weeks after. 2nd, Disney was supposed to release Song of the South a few yeARS AGO, they made announcements and had articles in magazines and Disney stores were telling people the news….sadly they retracted and once again refused to release it. As for now with DISNEY releasing this new “URBAN” Themed cartoon the princess and the frog…or the frog and the princess…whatever…There should be no reason why SOTS shouldnt see the light of day. and if this was a April fools jokeby this website…GO F yourself,Ill roast ya and tar u and then throw u in that der briar patch
Sorry if our April Fool’s Joke was cruel, Dan. Thanks for the Blu-ray / DVD clarification!
as long as you can watch the movie!!!
[...] Song of the South This was what I was referring to on songofthesouth.net: The Wren’s Nest Disney to Release Song of the South on Blu-ray and DVD in 2009 [...]
This was NOT a funny joke, as millions of people (myself included) have been waiting and hoping that Disney will finally release this movie.
Holy crickets!!!!!
I THINK IT IS SHAME THAT EVERYONE JUST CANNOT SEE EACH OTHER AS PERSON TO PERSON INSTEAD OF TURNING THIS FILM INTOA RACIAL PROBLEM AND THAT SO MANY CHILDREN ARE MISSING ONE OF THE BEST FILMS OF ALL TIME.
I agree with everyone! We should all start a protest outside of Splash Mountain at every Disney themepark! I am sticking to my guns and protesting that they bring back Song Of The South! I have an ill friend, who’s diing and would love to see Song Of The South this year! Me and my friend are both, avid fans of this film! Disney should take time to respect the diing and the newly, born, who were not around in 1946. I know I wasn’t! I’m so unlucky! The closest thing to it that I have is a book of Uncle Remus tales. I’ve been on Splash Mountain, but haven’t a clue as to why that is the only thing that has a “Br’er Roadrunner” when my Uncle Remus tales don’t have one. I don’t even know if the Song Of The South has one! If it doesn’t then why is Splash Mountain the only source of that? Anyway, Disney should bring back Song Of The South, get together with McDonald’s and other hamburger stands, to make happy meal toys of Song Of The South, Disney Stores around the world should have collecter’s items of it, they should also have a person’s costume of Mr. Bluebird, Uncle Remus, and Br’er Roadrunner, walking around the Disney themeparks, and Disney Channel should also show Song Of The South on TV! If not, then to at least have a special, separate Disney Channel, just for classic Disney movies and cartoons and TV shows! All Doctor’s offices should have Bluebird bandaids and bandages, so that whenever anyone gets their shots, then they would have a Bluebird on their shoulders! Heck! Just bring back Song Of The South before the end of this month! Email me to notify me when it is coming, or if you have any questions. My Email is “Kbluebird1013@aol.com” if you have any, further information. Have a “ZIP A DEE DOO DAH” Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[...] premiere.) The 63rd anniversary typically isn’t a bonanza year, but there was more talk of releasing it on DVD and Blu-ray this year, [...]
Well, 2009 is almost over and it doesn’t look like it’s happened.
I recently described this movie to a friend who hasn’t seen it, but is a fan of Uncle Remus and the Wren’s Nest. In doing so, I realised that there is no strong white male role in the movie. As the movie opens, the parents of the main character are fighting. The father leaves the mother and son on the plantation while he goes back to work, out of town.
The plantation owner is dead; his widow runs the place and relies heavily and openly on Uncle Remus. These two are the only ones who have it together in the movie and are a strong team.
Upset his pa left (among other reasons), the son runs away. Uncle Remus takes care of him in the tender, thoughtful and friendly ways that children deserve and need. Uncle Remus treats him like an adult, and helps him learn about life through the Brer Family stories.
Economically, the slave element cannot be ignored; Georgia/Atlanta have made restitution by being the most progressive state (& country) I’ve worked in and/or visited (that is saying a lot – I’ve lived/visited 50 countries and much of the USA. I now live in Johannesburg, South Africa).
Another viewpoint is that white men are not portrayed positively in this movie at all. Applause for keeping the plantation running and families together goes to everyone but the white men. This possibly could be a subtle, subversive and thoroughly effective comment on whether that economic system was built to last from Joel Chandler Harris. We know the answer now, don’t we?
I am looking forward to seeing Song of the South on the shelves and be able to see it once again. I am 68 years old and saw it as a child. My grandchild, age 4 loves it. I bet I could sell hundreds for you. Hope you e-mail me and let me know when they are going to be for sell.
Thanks for having the guts to redo the movie.
Well, today is February, 2010….guess this was just bullshit!!!!
This is bullshit…it is Feb 2010
[...] Disney to Release Song of the South on Blu-ray and DVD in 2009 • Atlanta History Center to Acquire the Wren’s Nest, Move it to [...]
I saw song of the South in 1946. I have been trying to find a copy for at least the last 15 years. I under stand that it is available in the UK and Canada.
Well, It’s a year later and it’s still not out. Any comment about that from your stockholder friend? Seems like more rumormilling to me. Disney will never, ever release Song of the South. Bank on it.
To John Ramone….it was an April Fool’s joke as stated about 20 times.
I was born 92 years and eight months ago, have seen South of the South, probably back in the 40′s and would love to see it again. I used to do my housework singing Zippity Doo Dah but not anymore. I don’t do housework, neither do I sing!! Let me see it once more as my time on Earth may not be long.
I LOVE The Song of The South!! My Grandma took me to see it many years ago. I do have a vhs copy with Japanese subtitles, but with no machine to play it in. I wish Disney would get off their butts and release it in DVD so the world could enjoy it. They made a ride out of it why not release it.
I think that is shows what great story tellers the blacks were back then and probably still are.
Song of The South was one of my favourite films when i was young. For some reason I only have half of it on vhs and i’de love for it to be released so I can watch the whole thing again.
Please, please, please Disney! So many people would be grateful.