Monthly Archives: August 2012

Entertainment Weekly Lists Song of the South Among Worst Disney Movies

Christian Blauvelt of Entertainment Weekly has compiled a list of 30 Best/Worst Disney Animated Movies. Among the worst is Song of the South:

“It’s a great irony of Disney’s filmmaking history that one of its most technologically progressive efforts should also be among its most socially regressive. Based on Joel Chandler Harris’ Uncle Remus stories, Song of the South is a disturbingly idyllic presentation of Reconstruction Era southern plantation life, glutted with racial stereotypes — as such, it’s never received any home video release. But it’s also one of the earliest, and most ambitions, attempts at mixing live-action photography with animation, an enduring technique also explored in 1949’s So Dear to My Heart, 1964’s Mary Poppins, 1987’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and 2007’s Enchanted. Despite the film itself being kept under lock and key in the Disney Vault, Song of the South‘s characters and setting inspired the Disney theme parks’ wildly popular Splash Mountain rides. And of course, this was the movie to give the world ”Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.”

Also listed as the Worst Disney Animated Films: Robin Hood (1973), Home on the Range (2004), Chicken Little (2005), Brother Bear (2003), The Black Cauldron (1985), Hercules (1997), Sleeping Beauty (1959), Tarzan (1999), and The Great Mouse Detective (1986).

The following are what Entertainment Weekly considers to be the Best Disney Animated Films: Tangled (2010), Alice in Wonderland (1951), Mulan (1998), The Little Mermaid (1989), Cinderella (1950), Fantasia (1940), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Lady and the Tramp (1955), Dumbo (1941), Pinocchio (1940), The Aristocats (1970), Aladdin (1992), 101 Dalmatians (1961), The Lion King (1994), Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937), Peter Pan (1953), The Jungle Book (1967), Beauty and the Beast (1991), and Bambi (1942).

Interestingly, some of the movies in the “best of” list have been criticized for stereotypes as well, such as the crows in Dumbo, the Indians in Peter Pan, and the Siamese cat in the Aristocats. It’s also curious why Song of the South made it into the Disney Animated Films category, while other animation/live action hybrid films such as So Dear to My Heart and The Three Caballeros were listed among their Best/Worst Live Action films.

Thanks to Maggi for the news report!

“Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” Played at D23 Event

D23, the Official Disney Fan Club, recently held a “Destination D” event at the Grand Ballroom of the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, CA on August 12-13. This event was celebrating 75 Years of Disney Animated Features. Tickets cost $225 and were available to D23 members only.

The event kicked off with a welcome from Steven Clark, head of D23.  There were several presentations throughout the first day, including Golden Age of Disney animation, the contributions of Roy Disney, and screenings of current Disney shorts. Of special interest was the following, which I will quote from Tom Bell’s DisUnplugged Blog:

“The afternoon continued with some never-before-seen or rarely seen Disney animation, including “Back to Neverland” with Walter Cronkite and Robin Williams, Roger Rabbit short “Tummy Trouble” and several commercials featuring Disney characters.  There were two highlights of the presentation.  The first was a strange idea that was considered for the “Pomp and Circumstance” section of Fantasia 2000 that included a procession of Disney prince and princesses followed by Dumbo and several storks delivering babies to the happy couples.  The second, which took the audience by surprise, was the entire Zip A Dee Doo Dah section of the seldom-seen “Song of the South”.

Disney is well known for re-using the Academy Award-winning song from Song of the South in its promotions and such, but it is a rare thing for them to actually exhibit footage from the film itself. Perhaps this could be the start of a refreshing change in policy?

You can read more about the Destination D event over at Tom Bell’s DisUnplugged Blog here:

Day 1: http://www.disunplugged.com/2012/08/12/destination-d-75-years-of-disney-animation-features-day-1/

Day 2: http://www.disunplugged.com/2012/08/14/destination-d-75-years-of-disney-animated-features-day-2/

Special thanks to long-time reader Joey for the news report!