Song of the South - Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question about Song of the South?
Your answer is probably here. Choose a question:

1. How can I help get this movie re-released?
2. Is Song of the South officially available on DVD?
3. Has Song of the South really been banned?
4. Why can't I find this movie anywhere?
5. What is so "racial" about this movie?
6. Is the movie set before or after the Civil War?
7. Will this movie ever be re-released?
8. Is there a soundtrack available?
9. Does Bill Cosby own the rights to this movie?
10. Where can I express my opinion about this movie?
11. What does "Brer" mean?
12. Where can I get my PAL tape converted?
13. Why does the PAL VHS run 3 minutes short?
14. When are you going to submit the petition to Disney?
15. Are your memorabilia items for sale?
16. How can I support SongoftheSouth.net?

Q. How can I help get this movie re-released?

A. There are four important steps you can take:

1) Add your name to the NEW Song of the South Petition! There are over 120,000 people so far who support this movie's release (original petition + new petition).

2) Send a request to Disney's Movie Finder. Let them know that you want Song of the South to be released on VHS and DVD. You also have the option of being notified when it becomes available on VHS and/or DVD. You can also call Buena Vista Home Entertainment at (800) 723-4763.

3) Vote for Song of the South on Disney.com. You can vote for the film as Favorite Animated Movie, Favorite Musical, and Favorite Movie of the 1930's/40's. You can also vote for Brer Rabbit as Favorite Classic Animated Character. Be sure to vote in all four categories! But don't vote more than once for each.

4) Nominate Song of the South to be added to the National Film Registry. Send an email to sleg@loc.gov nominating Song of the South. Be sure to include why you feel that the film is significant culturally, historically, or aesthetically. Alternately, you can send your nomination by mail.

Q. Is Song of the South officially available on DVD?

A. No, Song of the South is NOT officially available on DVD. Any DVDs or VCDs of Song of the South you may see for sale on the internet are illegal bootleg copies. (Yes, even the fake "Disneyland Paris" one.)

You can notify Disney that you would like to request Song of the South on DVD. You can also add your name to Amazon's Song of the South DVD request list as well.

Q. Has Song of the South really been banned?

A. No. This is one of the long-standing myths surrounding this movie. It has been said that the NAACP banned the movie, but that simply isn't true. The NAACP did show their disapproval of the portrayal of African-Americans in the film even when Song of the South was being produced, however there hasn't been any official "banning" going on anywhere. As far as we know, Disney has taken it upon themselves to withhold this movie from the public. Supposedly, the NAACP has no current position on the film.

Q. Why can't I find this movie anywhere?

A. You cannot find this movie anywhere because after Song of the South's last theatrical release in 1986, Disney decided not to re-release it again, most likely because of the movie's "racial" stigma (although there are no documented complaints stemming from the movie's 1986 theatrical release.) The movie has been released on video and laserdisc in various foreign countries, but never in the United States. As of December 2001, Song of the South was withdrawn worldwide.

Q. What is so "racial" about this movie?

A. The general objections lie in the depiction of African-Americans within the live action sequences of the film, such as stereotyping. Some also mistakenly believe the movie depicts slavery, and consequently believe that Disney tried to "sugarcoat" slavery. In the 1940's, the NAACP charged the film with giving the impression of "an idyllic master-slave relationship." For more information on the issues surrounding this film, please read my defense on the matter.

Q. Is the movie set before or after the Civil War?

A. AFTER. Just as the original Uncle Remus stories written by Joel Chandler Harris, Song of the South is set in a time period after the Civil War and the abolition of slavery. This is evident by the fact that in the movie Uncle Remus is able to freely leave the plantation. Walt Disney probably assumed that people already knew this fact and may have felt that stating the date was unnecessary.

Q. Will this movie ever be re-released?

A. Yes, eventually. We just don't know when. Various rumors have cropped up over the years hinting at this movie's release, but none have actually occured. In March 2007, Disney CEO Robert Iger stated at a Disney shareholder meeting that the studio would be looking at Song of the South again for possible release. (You can read the news article here.)

In any event, Song of the South will become public domain in 2039, and you can bet Disney will release it before they lose the copyrights and the opportunity to make a profit.

Q. Is there a soundtrack available?

A. Yes, but only on record. Disneyland #1205, first produced in 1963, is the most popular and easily found Song of the South soundtrack album. It contains all the songs from the movie, minus the instrumentals. The instrumentals were only available on WDL-4001, Disney's first soundtrack album, and consequently quite desirable.

Four of the movie's nine songs have been released on CD in the box set entitled Classic Disney, but that's it. If you want the other five songs on CD, you'll have to convert the album yourself. As with the video, remember that selling CD copies of the album is illegal. I do not recommend it.

Q. Does Bill Cosby own the rights to this movie?

A. No, this is just a popular urban legend. (See this article over at Urban Legends Reference Pages for more info.) Bill Cosby did not buy the rights to Song of the South so that it would never be shown again. If anything, Cosby has expressed concern over the amount of African-American history that has been lost, stolen, or strayed.

Q. Where can I express my opinion about this movie?

A. I have set up the Community section for just that purpose. The Community section is a central hub of resources for fans to communicate with each other, share their opinions and reviews with the public, and vote for/rate the film.

Q. What does "Brer" mean?

A. "Brer," also sometimes seen written as B'rer, Br'er, or Bre'r, is simply a shortened form of Brother, just as "Sis" is a shortened form of Sister. Brother and Sister are Christian terms of kinship especially prevalent in the South.

Q. Where can I get my PAL tape converted?

A. For those who already own the official British Song of the South VHS in PAL format, and are looking to have it converted into NTSC format, I suggest that you do a search in your local area for video conversion services. They will often perform a PAL to NTSC conversion. The NTSC copy is supposedly legal as long as you own the original PAL format tape. Finding these sources varies depending on your location, so I can't give you any specific sources.

Q. Why does the PAL VHS run 3 minutes short?

A. Song of the South's theatrical runtime is over 94 min., but the British PAL VHS only runs about 91 minutes. This is NOT due to any scenes being cut; the British PAL VHS simply runs 4% faster, a common phenomenon known as "PAL Speedup." Over the course of the movie, the change in speed is not noticeable.

Q. When are you going to submit the petition to Disney?

A. The Song of the South Petition is an ongoing effort to show Disney how many people want this film released. There is no set number we are trying to reach, and no deadline for when we have to submit it to Disney. I know for a fact that Disney visits this web site on a fairly regular basis, so they are well aware that we have a petition.

Q. Are your memorabilia and collectible items for sale?

A. The items pictured within the Memorabilia and Collectibles section are from my personal collection and are not for sale. If you are looking for Song of the South Memorabilia items for sale, please visit the Song of the South Store. Sorry, I cannot take requests for specific items.

Q. How can I support SongoftheSouth.net?

A. I have set up the Song of the South Store with items that might be of interest to Song of the South or Uncle Remus enthusiasts. Your purchases help me defray the monthly costs of hosting this web site and helps pay for special features like the Song of the South Radio station.

Alternately, if you wish, you can make a donation through PayPal by clicking the button below. Any amount is greatly appreciated!

Thank you all so much for your support! Please be sure to get the word out on this movie by mentioning our efforts to your friends and family.