I never heard of this movie or knew of basset either. As a black man today i feel he should be recognized and praised for breaking barriers he is in fact the first person of color to win an Oscar. Thats like whoopi Goldberg winning an Oscar and nobody knew it until she told it.

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

Actually, Hattie McDaniel was the first black person to win an Oscar, but Baskett still made history as the first black man to win one. The fact that it was only an Honorary Oscar is unfortunate, but at that point in time the Academy wouldn’t nominate black men for Best Actor. It’s funny you mention Whoopi Goldberg, as she’s spoken out multiple times in favor of releasing SotS

@deee5520

2 жыл бұрын

Oh my gosh you’ve never heard of it? I’m an 84 year old white woman. One of my favorite movies growing up. I just loved that man because I never had any grand parents and I thought of him as a grandfather. My parents were from the time when bigotry was the thing. However I had friends of different races. I had a close friend who’s an Italian who was discriminated against. 😢. When MLK changed things it was great. Unfortunately the people of today are trying to divide us again. People who banned this movie did a great disservice to James Baskett. There were so many great black people who contributed to our country and society who should be remembered. Ps. I raised my sons to never judge anybody by the color of their skin. ❤️. Hope you get to see the movie someday. D*

@seekingserenity2973

2 жыл бұрын

Search for the movie until you can find it . One of my favorite childhood memories and favorite songs to this day.

@ProJatior

2 жыл бұрын

It was on Vimeo and in pretty decent quality. I’m not sure it’s still there. Worth a try.

@LoneBrowncoat

Жыл бұрын

@@seekingserenity2973 ....Torrentz2 disappeared a while back and they're a bunch of fakes out there with malware. You have to be fully armed with a good A-V and Malwarebytes(tm) to stay protected.

I'm glad that you correctly stated that the film takes place AFTER the Civil War during the Reconstruction era it drives me crazy when people get that fact wrong

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah I know what you mean, especially since that small fact changes how you see Uncle Remus. He's on that farm by choice. However, I do understand why this falsehood is so common: first, not many people have seen SotS. Second, the movie doesn't make it clear enough that it takes place during Reconstruction. It could easily have added a time card or something

@FatBabyCheeks

3 жыл бұрын

It doesn't matter if the film takes place during the Reconstruction era! Black ppl weren't treated any better than slaves at that point, esp the kinds of Black ppl depicted by Uncle Remus' character. I can tell this shit was set up by white ppl because you all just LOVE to minimize the horror you cause in other ppl's lives!

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

Hey man, you're being a bit disingenuous there. First off, I'm not white, and as a minority myself I'm not about to minimize black people's struggles. Second, bringing up Reconstruction here only matters insofar as to show Remus wasn't a slave (which many people believe). Of course Reconstruction wasn't some heaven on Earth (though it actually did get blacks some political wins which were reversed after 1877). Anyone claiming SotS being set in Reconstruction just absolves it of blame is lying themselves, and I avoided doing so in my video.

@kingofthebeast4024

3 жыл бұрын

They’re sharecroppers, so basically slaves.

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

@King Of the Beast The point of my video is to make a case for remembering Baskett, who's character is believed by many to be a slave. My take is, if other movies like Gone with the Wind can be (carefully) acknowledged while depicting chattel slavery, why can't SotS, which doesn't? Sharecroppers after the Civil War (and especially after 1877) were still oppressed, but they weren't slaves. Even though most of them were mired in endless debt and tied up in ridiculously one-sided contracts, they did retain some form of private autonomy that they didn't have as slaves.

To think he was only 42 when filming song of the south... wow. He looked 70.

Thank you for sharing this! It's a shame that James' performance and his historic accomplishments are being buried. He was the first live actor to be hired by Walt Disney...that in itself speaks volumes for his talent. I was 4 or 5 (in the 70's) when I saw Song of the South at a local Drive-In theatre ...I fell in love with Uncle Remus. I've never found it to be outright racist...but a depiction of a time when our country was not what it should have been. I also think it's important that we don't erase that...so generations can see and learn from it. I have a copy of the movie and a book of Uncle Remus stories....and every time I watch the movie or read the book, I think fondly of James Baskett. RIP

@SuperMakki

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your experience. I can't imagine seeing the movie in a drive-in these days. Must be a special memory for you! And I agree, Baskett is easily the best part of the film. I look at the short clip of him winning an Oscar and I get so wistful. Seeing someone so obscure today... be so honored like that. I wish he had more time to do show off his talent. I'd go so far as to say him and the animated portions are the only reasons to even watch SotS. The rest of the movie is not Disney's best. Even if it wasn't "vaulted" I think it would be seen as another forgettable wartime Disney release. I don't think there was any intention of racism behind Song of the South. But the racial insensitivity was pretty blatant, and not handled at all well. Disney made the mistake of trying to please both the North and the South, which ended up making things worse in the long run. Why not say Remus is free outright? Why not present the Reconstruction setting on a time card? I understand why many see it as racist now, and that's because of Disney's insistence on hiding the picture.

@animationfan957

3 жыл бұрын

I saw it on vhs as a kid.

@PotterPossum1989

2 жыл бұрын

There is an excellent copy available on the internet archive from Notelu. Look for SONG OF THE SOUTH [V2]

@mdice111

2 жыл бұрын

Living in Indiana and periodically visiting Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, I have visited his gravesite there. Crown Hill has numerous famed individuals buried there, including President Benjamin Harrison and several former Indiana governors (and John Dillinger). Baskett was also born in Indianapolis and went to high school there.

@susangardner6920

Жыл бұрын

This was one of the first movies I ever saw, it is a classic.

I saw this movie as a child and I loved it. As an adult in 1972 shortly before my oldest daughter was born. The movie made it’s last appearance in theaters. I was thrilled to see it again. I now have a copy of the movie and I and my grown children still enjoy it. I am a 79 year old African American man. My love for this movie is centered around Uncle Remus and the stories that came out of Africa. Lest I be mistaken as a conservative Black man, my past includes support for the Black Panthers and a serious stint in Black revolutionary theatre in the late 60’s to mid-70’s

@SomeHarbourBastard

Жыл бұрын

Here’s the trailer from that exact release kzread.info/dash/bejne/gKyr06ptZ7HLZ5M.html

@largol33t12

Ай бұрын

I grew up reading the Brer Bear/Brer Rabbit comics when I was a kid in the late 1980s. They were so funny.

@JasonPage-ts1er

12 күн бұрын

I saw it in theaters when I was 7 or 8 in 1984 or 1985.

Its sad that kids, of all races arent able to enjoy his portrayal and the timeless wisdom of these stories.

The controversy surrounding this film is absolutely ridiculous. The film is anything but racist and is a celebration of African American storytelling. Plus, James Baskett was the first black man EVER to receive an Oscar. That is HUGE and is more than enough justification for this film getting a proper release. I just wish people actually did their research before blindly accusing something of racism. You can't call a movie racist just because it references slavery. That's preposterous and such a simple minded way of thinking.

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

You make a great point that I never touched on: the mere presence of slavery isn't a valid reason to call a movie racist. However, the issue wasn't handled well, even for 1946. Anyway, SotS, for better or worse, doesn't even address slavery at all, which might make the "vaulting" of the movie look extreme to some, but to many today, the failure to address the issue made everything worse

@johnb1150

Жыл бұрын

It's been buried by the usual do-gooder hysteria of alleged progressives falling over themselves to act injusticed because black man poor and white man rich so must be bad film without bothering to actually watch the film in the first place and see the actual content this film has.

@richardlinares6314

8 ай бұрын

No one calls '12 Years a Slave' or 'Roots' racist. It's not the presence of slavery but the depiction of it as some Mr. Roger's neighborhood version. It's that white washed depiction that's likely responsible for the Fox News crowd talking about the benefits of slavery to the slaves and how it wasn't so bad because the slave owners took super good care of them. Because what is the conclusion? "If slavery wasn't so bad... then reconstruction wasn't so bad. If reconstruction wasn't so bad... then Jim Crow wasn't so bad... then WTF are Black people whining about?!"

I forgot about this movie. We used to love it when we were little. As a black child in the 80s, I didn't find it offensive. Thank you for this video. It was extremely insightful. I wish more people knew about James Baskett. I'm glad I do now. 😊

I have always been a big fan of the Uncle Remus stories and "Song of the South." In the movie, the Uncle Remus character was a beloved and respected storyteller who could talk to animals. He was the wisest and most compassionate character in the story. The oppression of slavery isn't addressed because this isn't THAT movie. The post-war South is only the setting for a movie about folktales and folk wisdom and the greatest American storyteller--Uncle Remus. Disney thought very highly of Mr. Baskett's acting ability and performance. People are being shamed into NOT enjoying a perfectly wonderful movie. No disclaimer necessary.

@Concetta20

Жыл бұрын

Exactly! People are shamed into “cancelling” things that shouldn’t be cancelled.

@DisMindy5767

Жыл бұрын

Very well said. The much criticized accent of the Uncle Remus character was wholey created by James Baskett, and his interpretation of a southern accent that all people in the south spoke with, black or white.

It’s a damn shame this movie will be forgotten. So much positivity and so much to learn from this film.

@quickchris10

Жыл бұрын

I always like to sing ``Zippidy Do-Dah'' when I'm happy.

@susangardner6920

Жыл бұрын

Happiest song on earth.

@Equilibrium-pt7xj

Ай бұрын

It will never be forgotten no matter how hard they try.

I wish James Baskett had lived long enough to see the creation of Splash Mountain.

FREE UNCLE REMUS!!! I remember watching this amazing movie when I was a kid, and it taught me that everyone is equal and should be treated as such! Plus James voice on the title song is magical. I loved this movie, this man's contribution to society shouldn't be buried in a vault. Peace and love y'all 🤟

@capriceclassicchannels5061

Жыл бұрын

I agree, it was a good movie. Unfortunately, we cannot change history. We have the stories of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Coat. I am mixed and realated to Davey Crockett. He was forced into servitude until he ran away when he was 18. There's an ugly untold story about Miner's, Railroad worker's and other's. I know it doesn't equal slavery, but they were treated as disposable. I grew up with Song of the South. Children do not think of the differences in dress and such. We just seen a nice man telling magical stories. Leaving the film in a vault just creates a black market for it. When I wanted to buy it I found it being sold overseas.

@catgiles3268

Жыл бұрын

Leaving the film in a vault is a disservice to this generation who will never get to see it and a wonderful classic movie and actor. You’re right, we can’t change the past. But, we certainly shouldn’t delete it.

@floydmills8963

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the well thought comments y'all, if only the rest of society could think before they act. I don't know about y'all, but I generally take a good 5 minutes or more to write my responses to videos. I think about what I'm gonna say, then write it down, see where I can improve it, make the changes, then do it again a few times, and then I submit LoL. If everyone had this amount of time to respond I think the world would be a more thoughtful place. Peace and love y'all 🤟

@quickchris10

Жыл бұрын

I had the LP w/accompanying storybook. Neener, neener, neener!

@floydmills8963

Жыл бұрын

@@quickchris10 I'm jealous LoL

Song of the South is also one of Disney's earliest films with that great 1940's art and animation. I'm sure it also had Walt Disney's personal touch and attention to detail. It's a classic film that shouldn't be hidden or forgotten.

@gabrielestrella2272

2 жыл бұрын

You’re sure? It most definitely had that Walt Disney touch of magic and art, because it was made and overlooked by Walt himself. Song of the South was Walt Disney’s first live-action movie, and that’s the truth.

@johnb1150

Жыл бұрын

Isn't this also the first film to mix live action with cartoons? It's historically significant in that respect yet all anyone seems to focus on is a racial issue when it's genuine black people starring in the film in the first place and in harmony with white people, seems modern society isn't as progressive as it thinks it is if it can't see the positive aspects this film has.

Last winter, I enrolled in a course that claimed to tackle offensive themes in Disney movies, per school requirements. I walked in an opinionated man. I had already seen Song of the South in its entirety, I loved it, and was appalled and ultimately deeply saddened that it was swept under the rug, knowing most would never see it. We were separated into groups for an icebreaker, and asked to discuss our favorite and least favorite Disney movies. I told my group that my favorites were The Lion King, Up, and, you guessed it, Song of the South. I was immediately met with looks of disgust, anyone who heard immediately looked at me like I had just murdered someone. "Really?" they said "Isn't that, like, extremely racist?" all I could really say at the time was "no!" and "you should give it a chance and watch it". Needless to say, I left that class in a heartbeat. But not as much because I was met with disgust, as for other reasons related to workload and what I felt would be a very unfair instructor. I return to this topic because of the unfortunate news of Splash Mountain's 'rebranding'. I have similar feelings, of course, as I did for the Hollywood Tower of Terror. However, I know the motivation behind changing Splash Mountain is in a large part motivated by unsupportable claims of racism regarding SotS. You, sir, have covered just about every necessary piece of information needed. This video is what I will direct people to from now on, as well as the opinions of the lady at the Uncle Remus museum shared on the change.org petition. I just want to say thank you, especially if you read all of my rant!

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

I appreciate taking the time to share your story. I wouldn't call that a rant. The fact that you'll use this video as a reference is high praise, and I don't take it lightly. I'm not surprised your class went like that: higher education is usually home to far-left discourse. The very existence of "offensive themes in Disney movies" tells me this class was not in good faith. It's literally a way to propagate the countless falsehoods you hear about Disney. I'm sure a large part of the course would have focused on SotS and Uncle Remus. That said, if I were in your position, I almost think I would stay in that class, simply to provide another point of view. I find most of my (and I'm assuming your) fellow Gen Z-ers believe the worst rumors about Disney. It's part of why I started this channel. Unfortunately so many professors are one-sided and go unchallenged on their opinions. I don't agree with the Splash Mountain rebranding, but I do understand why it was done. From a business standpoint, keeping it wasn't worth the controversy, however unfounded. I'm sure the new ride will be just as good: Princess and the Frog is a worthy replacement. For Baskett's sake though, I hope SotS is acknowledged in *some* way, outside of the spotlight. An article on D23? Streaming on Hulu/Disney+?

@mason1066

3 жыл бұрын

@@SuperMakki Thanks for the reply, and I agree with your last paragraph completely. I'm a lot more hopeful of a Princess and the Frog ride than I was when Guardians took of The Tower of Terror. I do however feel it dangerous for companies to bend so easily to angry online mobs. At the end of the day, I've had my fun. I've rode Splash Mountain countless times on multiple Disney Trips (being from the PNW), I've shown my parents to SotS, and maybe one day (I'm just 19) I'll be able to tell my future kids about Splash Mountain whenever we visit the parks. Maybe PatF will be to them what SotS was to me. Keep up the quality work here man, you've certainly earned my attention!

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

I don't think online mobs are something to appease, but I'm taking Disney on its word when it says the renovation was started last year. I think that's why I'm okay with the change. In any case, I commend you for taking it so well: you've probably seen the more... over-the-top reactions from some fans who honestly make us look bad. EDIT: In the months since this comment was made, I've noticed I've been getting very regrettable remarks, from racial insensitivity to outright racism. There's definitely a section of the community who don't simply see SotS simply as a controversial Disney film with a forgotten actor: they're taking it way worse than you and me. Keep up your interest in Disney! I thank you for watching, and I hope you like what comes next!

@lewissettlage8113

2 жыл бұрын

He mentions the Black (!) Lady at Uncle Remus museum. She points out that The stories are ancient oral stories that go clear back to Africa.

@jodoncaribbeancostarica

Жыл бұрын

I would expect no less from a University. They are extremely liberal. By that I mean they focus on distorted views, people's feelings-as if they know what other people are thinking, and not enough on fact and science.

That's because There was no slavery in the movie because as you may have known , it was set during a period in all of the American South in what was then known as the Reconstruction Era and the start of civil rights and so on. The movie also tackled on African American oral folklore which was then and still is now a very important yet key part of the culture And i think if i'm not mistaken was even a way to overcome the difficult outcomes that people used on basically anything in order to keep oneself alive,etc.

It makes me sad that a movie can no longer just be a movie and a song can no longer just be a song.

@Toumabintadiallo

9 ай бұрын

Because sometimes its not just a song and not just a movie

Disney has released stuff that’s way more racist than SOTS. The movie isn’t as bad as people say it is

How silly people are. Trying to destroy or erase or ban something wonderful that they don't even understand. That seems to be happening more and more, and it's a real shame. I've heard that part of it is also about the dialect used by the characters. So sad that the vast majority of kids today will never hear Harris's stories told as he meant them to be. They won't know 'bout dat der Tar-Baby, who ain't sayin' nuthin'. Thank you very much for your efforts here. It'll do some good.

@mikhailabunidal9146

3 жыл бұрын

Ignorance of people who don't or will never understand RIP James Baskett (1904-1948)

@no1975

2 жыл бұрын

White, black their money spe d the same

I love Song of the South. Brer Rabbit and Brer Bear are two of the funniest characters I remember in any Disney film. I feel like the movie will always have a dark cloud over it simply because it takes place in a time that everyone wants to forget, but it is part of American history whether people like it or not. It certainly should be made available to anyone who wants to watch it, definitely a classic in my opinion!

This movie is not as bad as many people think. It was actually progressive for the time.

I was merrily singing Zippity doo dah today. And until today, I had no knowledge that much of the audience viewed the film as depicting racism, slavery, or a poor portrayal of blacks. Never entered my mind. Only after hearing the sad historical reaction to the film, was I aware of Uncle Remus as anything other than a kind, friendly, storyteller. Thank you so much for making this documentary. I am reminded that children are not racist until they are taught to see others as "others." Hopefully, once we know better, we do better.

I have watched tons of movies in my life. However, this man, his voice and acting radiates with within me, like no other character ever has. Forever, I will see his face, and hear his voice. I fondly recall the memory of James Franklin Baskett every beautiful, wonderful day or happy event throughout my life thus far.

James Baskett is truly remarkable in his portrayal of Uncle Remus and Br'er Fox. Thank you so much for such an incredible, and thorough look at one of the legends who deserves the credit he earned. Shining a light on what can bring us all together is so important! I believe James Baskett is a Disney legend anyone can enjoy, with the context of the year and his achievement winning his Oscar. I believe many of the misconceptions about Song of the South can be avoided by clearly stating the year, something that was originally planned but cut from the final release.

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

I do believe stating the year would have helped clear the air if it were done decades ago, or even before the premiere. However, the film would still have its fair share of problems. While I do believe the movie should be more accessible, I do not believe doing so will make a big difference in the movie’s relevance. No matter what happens, there’s just too much controversy around the movie, which doesn’t have the artistic importance of something like Gone with the Wind to carry it. Outside of Baskett and the animation, the movie isn’t very good. Even though I state my support for a home media release in the video, I have since changed my mind: it simply wouldn’t work. I really only hope for a Disney Legend award, or some other recogintion for James Baskett. He is, I believe, the only convincing reason to not completely forget the movie.

@brerfox3694

3 жыл бұрын

@@SuperMakki How about Nick Stewart?

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

I didn't consider him, but his part was a voice role. It's a different case. Baskett was the face of the movie, for better or worse. Plus, it was his breakthrough role. A film as controversial as SotS needs important reasons to be acknowledged: in this case, only Baskett, and maybe the animation, is worth the trouble

@brerfox3694

3 жыл бұрын

@@SuperMakki While I agree, I think there are more actors and actresses that deserve proper recognition, like Johnny Lee, Bobby Driscoll, Hattie McDaniel, and Nick Stewart. The animators deserve credit as well. There were so many talented individuals from such a wide range of diversity brought together to create this film, and they had fun! They wanted that enjoyment to be shared with people for years to come, to bring them joy!

@ginauccelatore6430

2 жыл бұрын

wow I knew that voice in dumbo sounded familiar

I remember seeing it as a small kid back in either the late 60's or early 70's. I remember my mom reading the Uncle Remus stories to us as kids, and I especially loved the brer rabbit, bear, and fox stories. This morning, I woke up with Zippity Doo Dah playing in my head and of course had to watch the song video on KZread which is how I stumbled across your video. Nice job. I would love to see this one released with a disclaimer for those who need one. It is a shame that James Baskett's legacy has been largely erased by this film being banished to the vault.

I saw this movie at the drive-in around 1970, I was about 6 years old. That song and the man who sang it has never left me. It really meant a lot to my young life and evidently even to this day! Thank you for sharing this incredibly important story!

Song Of The South is one of the best movies ever, I visited Mr. Baskett’s grave in Indianapolis. Disney should be ashamed of themselves not releasing this and anyone saying this classic is racist are idiots!!!!

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

It's awesome that you visited his grave. I heard his current one was donated by a sympathetic fan. I do agree Disney should release this, but let's remember most of the people saying it's racist are ignorant, not stupid. Not many people have seen this film, and it's very easy to see images/clips out of context and assume it's racist

@Rex13013

3 жыл бұрын

When the splash mountain controversy thing came out, me, my girlfriend and her best friends were talking about it and my girlfriend remembered she had the vhs so we sat down and watched it and we found it enjoyable and didn't find the movie racist in our opinion, then again we're not black, I'm latino, my girlfriend along with one of her friends are white and her other 2 friends are Indian sisters but still. Idk why everyone so peeved about this movie tbh.

@Optimegatrongodzilla

3 жыл бұрын

@@Rex13013 Disney having never given the movie an official home video release helps perpetuate the narrative that the movie is racially insensitive.

@chrismiccolupi5473

3 жыл бұрын

I agree this is a beautiful story

Damn I had no idea of Basketts legacy. Thanks for this video, lots of great information and a nuanced take for sure

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

That means a lot! Happy you learned something new. The man's rep isn't nuanced at all, so I'm hoping this will help change things

Wait, so a kindly free black man who shares his cultures stories with both black and white children is racist? Man I'm glad I learned about this.

As an artist, I laud this film for its near seamless mixing of animation and live action. It set a high standard for VFX.

As a kid from the South, I grew up with Uncle Remus stories being read to me almost every night at bedtime. I know now these were a white man's retelling of black folk stories which were in turn derived from African myths and legends. Even with those layers of adaptation and appropriation, the stories become richer with retelling and deserve to be preserved. So, I wholeheartedly agree that Disney should rerelease Song of the South but maybe should greenlight new versions of the stories faithful to the African sources and produced by, for and with African Americans.

@SuperMakki

2 жыл бұрын

That would actually be a good idea. Disney's leaning more into representation anyway. A version of the story told by African Americans would be more visceral. I doubt the actual Uncle Remus books would be adapted, but I don't think it matters. The original myths and legends would make for great animation

@halfbakedmedia

Жыл бұрын

@@SuperMakki What were the books like?

@GlenFinney

Жыл бұрын

Great idea to have Disney, “Go to the source,” and highlight the roots of these stories. They’ve been recycling through their old stuff with the live action remakes anyway. I wouldn’t suggest a remake of Song of the South, but one inspired by the richness of African folktales that had some nice Easter eggs and homages to what was good in Song of the South, and maybe some call outs of what could have been handled better, that could be cool if handled well.

@jones1618

Жыл бұрын

@@halfbakedmedia They were lightly illustrated folk tales, like Hans Christian Anderson or Aesop's Fables but set in the rural South w/ mostly animal characters. A typical story pitted Brer Fox against Brer Rabbit like Wiley Coyote vs. the Road Runner. Fox would lay a trap and Rabbit would cleverly evade it. Stories taught humility, using your wits and overcoming circumstances, all told with humor & colorful characters.

Uncle Remus is easily the best character he's a incredibly nice and wholesome man and it makes me cry just thinking about him 😢

My favorite ride at Disneyworld was Splash Mountain. The combination of a dark ride and a thrill ride, especially the songs, the story - EVERYTHING! I was absolutely gutted when I learned I would never be able to experience the joy of that ride again. I freakin loved those Uncle Remus stories growing up. I will NEVER ride the Princess and the Frog ride they do EVER.

I recently started to look into James Baskett after finding out he was a distant relative of mine, him being the second cousin to my great uncle, Bill Cobbs. Knowing all that I know now it saddens me that there was never a chance for me to actually meet him and ask him about his story. I'll have to ask about him the next time I see my uncle. Thank you for shining some much needed light on the subject.

We did a video on this exact subject! We also think James Baskett needs to be recognized.

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! You did a great job with yours, so I'm flattered you like mine. Happy to see other creators speak up for the man and the movie

@creativecatproductions

3 жыл бұрын

SuperMakki I’m glad your channel came up on my feed! I’ve been planning on doing a James Baskett video for months, and it took months to research and make what I did. It was this weird and sort of terrible coincidence that it coincided with news that Splash Mountain was being rethemed in the name of political correctness. How could we forget this man’s legacy or his incredible performance? Its a tragic irony. I’ve been watching your videos this morning! Great stuff

@FandomFeliciano

3 жыл бұрын

Completely! He received an honorary award due to this movie. He also sang Zip A Dee Doo Dah and played the voice of Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox. He's too significant. Disney needs to get over the fear of Song Of The South altogether. Disney and the people who hate it are the hypocrites. And consider all the current day adult shows like Family Guy that have worse content.

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

I agree about Baskett, but I think it's wrong to present people who hate SotS as hypocrites. Many of them are Black people who are well aware of their ancestors' treatment in the Old South (hell, even today!). Of course they would have legitimate issues with the film. Family Guy has more "mature" content, but it's aimed solely at adults. Race is a separate issue from sex and violence

@JoeStrikesAgain

3 ай бұрын

@@FandomFelicianoOne thing about shows like Family Guy riffing on controversial subjects: metaphorically they put "quotes" around the material to emphasize the material *itself* is the joke, not whatever joke the material was trying to tell.

Context is important, but some people advocating social justice think context exists to justify things they hate, so they ignore it.

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

As a social justice advocate myself, I see where this mindset comes from. While my reasons for preserving SotS mostly have to do with recognizing James Baskett, I've noticed some people, unfortunately, really DO rely on context to justify controversial things, and then ignore the reasons why it's controversial. I see it in some comments here. Racial insensitivity (and plain racism) is still a thing. And when you have comments like that, it's inevitable that some people would generalize everyone who wants SotS "unbanned" as bigots. But that's just not true.

I have never forgotten this film. It was one of the first films as a child i really wanted to see. I got let down so saw it much later. This film always reminds me how much i wanted to see it! Loved it💓

I recall this movie from my childhood and also a toy tv that was red and played this. The song Zipedde do dah was one of the sweetest songs ever. To have stories past down from the elders should be cherished. To have had this movie tainted over the years is nothing more then a dammed shame. James’s performance and genuine energy touched many of us and we still remember him. Anyone who can’t see the truths has my prayers.

I really think that Disney should rerelease it with a disclaimer, much like gone with the wind did, to put this in historical context. The whole notion of the perceived “happy slave” in this movie is important - I think there is a need for all of us to understand our history

@kascnef

Жыл бұрын

Agree

@fruzsimih7214

Жыл бұрын

He's NOT a slave, the story is set post 1865. Keep also in mind that the movie was made during the hight of segregation, but still showing a black man teaching white kids...

I would argue erasing a black mans career performances on the basis that the movie depicted something offensive (perceptibly) is more racist than the context of the movies. How utterly insane to disrespect this mans great contribution. I can't believe how dumb people are getting.

So many classic stories get taken out of context and villified-Uncle Remus, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Huckleberry Finn, and now lately To Kill a Mockingbird. And the people doing this are the same crowd who claim to be fighting racism? What are they smoking?

James died at age 44?!?! That is a rough 40-odd years. Yikes.

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

He had a history of diabetes which actually caused a heart attack right after SotS released. Plus it was 1948, so medicine was nowhere near what it is today. And of course as a Black man in the 40's, he likely faced a massive racial disparity in healthcare in the first place. It's a pretty sad outcome, to go right after you break through

@gastek8091

Жыл бұрын

@@SuperMakki diabetes, is a terrible disease but in today’s medicine can be controlled. But during James’ time, the medicine tore right through the organs. And yes, sadly anyone of color did not have adequate medical. I will always remember James as the wonderful storyteller, that many wished he could be their uncle or Grandpa. 😊

I'm 46 years old. I was at primary school in the early to mid 1980s - a time when racism was openly acknowledged as offensive and wrong. We were taught that as children, happily. But it was still persistent in the background of popular culture, either as a direct address of the issue, or as 'ironic' representation of it ("just harmless fun"). There were plenty of issues still. My point is that, at age ten (1985), our year group was 'treated' to an end of year movie in the school hall one day. It was 'Song of the South'. Of course it was - why else would I be writing this. The animated scenes were dynamic and initially fun, but the anthology nature of the film became a bit tiresome and wearying soon enough. Some of us were bored and fidgety. The movie was a bit old for some of us too (having been raised on Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Ghostbusters). But, while the film as a whole did little for me, I appreciated the solidity and honesty of the character of Uncle Remus; he was truly the keystone of the piece, and he left nothing but a positive impression to me. It is possible to separate the two things - the movie and the character - and recognise, as wise adults, that while the one may have serious issues, the other was impeccable and harmless. A good and timely video. Well done for saying what you have to say. I agree fully.

@SuperMakki

2 жыл бұрын

You have pretty much my same opinion. Despite my video, I actually don't like the movie all that much. It's boring when Baskett's not onscreen, and even when he is, the kids around him can be quite grating. If not for the controversy I really don't think much would be said about the movie

I saw Song of the South when I was a kid in the early 1950s, while in college in the 1970s, and again recently as an old white man. I have loved it each time. I adore Mr. Basket’s performance and especially his song. His performance should be made available for everyone to love as much as I have loved it.

Thank you for defending him and the movie. It was one of my favorite movies as a child. The stories he told shaped a lot of my views of living life - be happy, see the beauty around you, and to laugh at the antics of cartoon characters. I still have the LP they made at the time and my children are enjoying the stories as well. Please, Please let us have the movie back to enjoy! Let us honor Uncle Remus for his kind and giving character.

Uncle Remus was a philosophical old man, I'm sure he was inspired by the fables from Jean de la Fontaine or Aesop. The fact that he helped the little boy with his stories to get through life is something quite important and beautiful. Whatever we may say, Baskett surely did a marvelous job by portraying this humble man. We must never forget his legacy and the impact he has on the cinema industry by being the first black actor to receive an oscar (even if it was an honorary one) long time before Sydney Poitier, and the same for the beautiful Hattie Mcdaniel❤ Never forget history✊️

I totally agree. He was a great actor, and the Song of the South was a beautiful movie that I saw as an 11-year-old boy, and I loved it. I am now 87 and I would love to see this movie again.

I saw Song of the South in the 1970 as a young boy. Uncle Remus was a hero to me. Thank you for this video.

Excellent work! ❤️ This movie is a part of history. I love it! Black actors had to make a living and they did it the best way they knew how. James did an outstanding job! I watched this movie so many times as a kid! ❤️❤️❤️

I never actually said that he was a slave. In fact I always assumed it was set after the Civil War.

James Baskett was revolutionary for black artists and actors, being the first male to win an Oscar is revolutionary. Just tearing down another part of history, I promise you the people cancelling this have NEVER seen it.

I have always loved the song Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah and James Baskett sang it beautifully and perfectly. His is the best version. Listening to that brought me here today. I don't claim to have seen this movie, although perhaps it is one I saw when I was very young, I don't (and never will) know. I don't suppose I shall be lucky enough to see it now. However, from the little I have seen and heard it sounds like he is a truly great actor and it's a shame he didn't gain more game and better healthcare. I'm sorry he died so soon. P.S. However for all of those people who would retroactively damn this movie... YOU CAN'T CHANGE HISTORY!! You can look and learn from it, but you can't change it. You can't destroy something because you don't like the history that made it... If you want to purify history, why don't you start with something really big that cost the lives of millions of slaves to construct it.... Like a PYRAMID? When you have cleansed history of ALL the bigger items and look satisfied that it's done, then think about how you have changed the lives of the slaves who built it... What have you done? You haven't changed the lives of the slaves that built it, not one tiny bit. So what was the point? The whole point was to make you feel better about yourself. Did you achieve it? No, because the world is worse off without it. ALL you have done is taken a thing of beauty and wonder from the world and left an ugly scar where it used to be. What you should have done is to improve the lives of others now and for the future.

Thank you so much for sharing this video. I remember seeing this movie as a child, and at the time, I didn't understand. Now as an adult, I feel the importance of the movie and feel if should be brought into the mainstream as a historical film and to let the world see where we evolved from and where we've yet go. Respectfully submitted, Vernon Johnson thank you.

Excellent and worthy video; thank you for bringing these important points to light! We should be able to see all art in its context and historical place. There is reason to be careful with works like this film, but canceling it altogether (which is the current trend) is not the way to go.

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

The problem I've noticed in the months since posting this video is that many people don't simply see this a case of a forgotten Black actor in a controversial Disney movie. I don't believe in "canceling" either, but I can't deny there are people who remember SotS for... really disappointing reasons. I've had to delete some pretty shocking comments, in other words. I didn't think race ignorance was this common. I still believe SotS has a place in film history and should be acknowledged/discussed, as other racially insensitive movies have. But the disappointing comments have shown me a wide home video release, as I supported in the past, is irresponsible.

Uncle Remus' influence carried through other Disney films. In fact, I recall several times hearing Goofy sing the Zippy de do dah song in other cartoons and knew EXACTLY who he was referring to.

At 76 I have finally been able to watch this awesome movie. I have seen clips but never the whole thing. This wonderful heartfelt movie brought tears to my eyes. I agree it needs to be re-released.

I couldn't agree with you more. You did your research, and it shows. I saw this movie when I was about 5, then watched it again recently to see if it was worse than I remember... To my surprise, it wasn't worse. Its actually a very decent film. Thanks for giving Mr. Baskett the recognition he deserves in today's age.

Great work! Thank you for sharing.

Great mini documentary, o learned a lot and appreciate the history. It’s sad to see this film hidden. I remember this song very finally, and always enjoyed the animation with real life characters, a childhood favorite.

I find it sad that I loved this movie as a child, and can now only see it in a really bad bootleg. It was made clear to me as a kid by my parents he was NOT a slave, and they took the time to place it in the proper perspective. I also hear criticism of how he talked. However, I lived for many years on the Alabama-Georgia line, and that actually is an accurate depiction of a regional accent in the region that is still spoken to this day. Yes, I am sure that a great many when it came out from say New York or LA saw it and felt offended, as they do not talk in that way. But go back to their grandparents and before and if they had come from that region they would have talked like that. My own grandfather was from the area and never entirely lost his accent, and as I grew up in California I had none of it. But decades later I moved to the area he grew up in (and met some shirttail cousins) and finally realized how much of it he had lost and what he likely had actually sounded like before leaving during the Depression. Accents are not racist, if they are accurate to the time and the setting of the story itself.

This is the first film I remember seeing and I absolutely LOVED it and especially the character of Uncle Remus.

Loved Uncle Remus, love the movie, love the music. Basset was the star, and should be recognized as such. It's 2023 and I sang zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah today! 💕

What I see as a dialect, other's see as a stereotype. I Love James Baskett ! And The Crows from Dumbo. They have always been my favorite part of that movie as well !

@OttoSpoonmore

3 жыл бұрын

AGREED! The crows in Dumbo are an inclusive cultural tribute and no dialect is racist. Besides, the wise crows are the heroes of the story.

@bluesdealer

Жыл бұрын

Yeah I commented elsewhere that people literally spoke like this. That was just the South. It’s a shame to suppress such history

@fruzsimih7214

Жыл бұрын

It's really just a move to erase black history. Apparently, anything referencing black and white relationships pre-1967 is now deemed offensive. Imho, Princess and the Frog, that fully glosses over segregation in 1920s Louisiana, is much more offensive...

Thank you for this important historical analysis! I used it today on my blog, Book Readers Heaven...

This was amazing!!! It’s sad that, as you pointed out, he’s not more publicly recognized for his achievements and equally sad that Disney won’t release SotS w/a disclaimer at the beginning so ppl can know the story and see for themselves.

For the Algorithm. You deserve more subs and views. Good luck!

As a kid in the late 80s to mid 90s I had a Disney Library book collection, where they took parts and scenes from Disney movies and turned them into kids books. I had a couple featuring Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear, and Brer Fox and had no idea where the hell they came from as I never saw any animations featuring them. Also in the mid 90s I was in my school choir and we sang Zip-A-Dee-Do-Da for a parents night. Similarly I had no idea where it came from, and assumed it was probably just a Disney theme park thing (like It's a Small World) and not actually from a movie since I hadn't seen it anywhere. It wasn't until very recently that I learned of Song of The South. Very interesting. Wish I could have seen it as a child. Always loved the Brer animals. Still haven't found anywhere to watch it currently, and I guess I won't if it's not rereleased. I also wish I kept those books!

Baskett was every bit as talented as James Earl Jones or Denzel Washington whom came after, and it breaks my heart to see that performance go unnoticed. The crazy oversensitivity by a woke generation (mostly white) drives me bonkers. That is the real problem

My dude this video ruled. You are giving true justice to this man, thanks for sharing with me

Thank You SO Much for this well balanced perspective and tribute to all involved. Completely agree that Disney should rerelease this historic film, preferably with your video as guidance for context.

Excellent analyze. Thank you. Send this to Disney.

Thank you for this BlackHistory. I instantly loved Mr Baskett’s voice even though I didn’t know his name. Now I’m trying to find other songs that he may have sung. If you know of any, please advise.

It's sad they are getting rid of the heritage of Mr Baskett.

A black actor as a lead back then was progressive.

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

Not just progressive; nearly unheard of outside of niche all-black films

Thank you so much for this video. James Baskett is an American hero and he is being deleted from culture. It's so annoying.

Thankyou so much for this

James Baskett played Uncle Remus very well; and his work shouldn't be overlooked and/or forgotten. The other decades they let the movie play, when I was very little my mom and dad took me to see the "Song of the South". I liked the song "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah" And the story of berr rabbit and berr bear and/or ber fox. I would like to see the movie again; and I'd buy it on DVD if I could find it at a reasonable price.....even ebay wants too much for vhs.

@thewhodatbroadcastingsyste9908

Жыл бұрын

It is an embarrassment for the modern day Disney Inc., so it'll remain a staple of the pirate streaming world until they choose differently, but decent quality rips are available in some places. They are unofficial, but many were well restored from original 35mm film prints that were shown in theaters and on television years ago. They are not as hard to find as you would think.

Thanks for your wonderful defense of the movie and James Baskett! It is a slow movie with values missing today... and I can't stand people just wanting to attack it. I think, (only speculating) Disney left out the slavery issue in the movie , because it was movie geared towards kids. It's not reality nor a documentary. It was a musical and magical movie bringing Chandler Harris' stories and decades of comics to life... and once you delve into the history of the original author, everything falls into place. Harris's tales were made with longer lasting power over Thornton W Burgess's anthropomorphic CHILDREN 's books because of the Disney movie. So we have an old Disney movie based on values learned from talking animals during an even OLDER time for even the 40's during the time of the movie's release. And I wish they hadn't centered the movie on Johnny (but he did represent Harris) but then we wouldn't have had the first ever cartoon and live action movie. And I've so many times before... a white spoiled kid gets hit by a bull. Nuff said. BUT it does bring together the entire family on the farm near the end. And then again... it still just a Disney kids movie, not a documentary, with some great music, amazing animation, and an upbeat ending despite the slow live action story. Thanks for the video!

@SuperMakki

3 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you enjoyed the video, and you do make some good points about Harris. However, I disagree about SotS being a kids movie. See, at this point Walt was quite clear on his work being targeted to everyone, not just kids. So simply writing it off as a kids flick does some injustice to the studio and the movie. What's more, it handwaves the very real concerns the black community had over the movie. They had right to be mad, I believe. Let's be frank: slavery wasn't mentioned because Walt didn't want to stir the pot. The guy is my hero, but I recognize his mistakes: he shouldn't have feared the South's reaction. SotS wasn't some throwaway side flick. It was a full-fledged, mainstream theatrical release. Disney definitely deserves accountability for its very real racial mistakes with the movie. My main point is, said accountability shouldn't erase the movie's lead actor entirely. Baskett broke barriers.

Your newest subscriber for life thanks you for your service to our wonderful hobby!

Thank you for this history, I was looking for the movie to watch because I often think of the story about the Rabbit, that's when I saw your post. 😊👌❤️

@SuperMakki

Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome!

I remember hearing about Song of the South being referenced on the Partridge Family when older Laurie describes a boy being clingy to her like the tar baby was to Brer Rabbit. I asked my mom what she was talking about and she told me about the movie. She told me about how Disney banned it because it was supposedly racist. I found it uploaded to KZread and watched it a few times before it was eventually taken down. When I saw Song of the South I was instantly in love with Baskett's performance as Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit. Baskett has this talent to bring warmth and kindness to his performance. Hearing he was banned from his own movie premiere was deeply saddening. Like you mentioned in your video the film takes place after the Reconstruction Era. It may not be blatantly stated but the fashions the mom is wearing say it. The mom wears bustle style dresses that were popular around the 1870's and 1880's. If the film was set pre Civil War the mom would probably be wearing a hoop skirt design like in the 1850's or 1860's. Another thing I noticed in the film was how Remus was a good role model and father figure to the little boy. The little boy goes to Remus for advice on things going on in his life while his real dad isn't there for him. Unlike most portrayals of black characters at the time it's Uncle Remus who teaches the parents a lesson, particularly the dad. It's sad to see Baskett's performance be erased from history. Imagine you work hard all of your life to be successful in Hollywood and you pass away after you win an Oscar, and not only that your film was banned for being offensive when the people who banned have probably never seen it.

1:35 When I was a kid, my dad's barber gave him a VHS tape of Amos and Andy telling us it was funny, etc. I don't know why it happened, exactly, but it happened. I witnessed it.

Best movie of my childhood. So memorable.

Remus's wife does mention her salary, so it's clearly Reconstruction. You don't have to read between the lines. They're happy to be working and getting compensated for it. But it feels wrong because their boss is rich and still owns a plantation.

Song of the South is a tragically underrated movie. The acing is really good, with the exception of Bobby Driscoll’s less than stellar performance. The message of the movie is very much anti-racist, since it shows that love and friendship doesn’t care about race, age, gender or social class or status. True frindship transgress all such labels. Aside from all that, the animation is top notch, the musical score and the songs are amazing, and the voice acting is spot on. Walt Disney’s actually did everything he could to make the movie as non offensive as possible. Yet to this day, most people have an unfair and non accurare view of the story and what messages the movie tried to convey.

Uncle Remus is an icon, and should be proudly shown! The fact people refuse to see his good work just annoys me to hell and back. I actually had this on VHS as a kid and ran the tape ruined lol.

Thank you so much for this. I loved James Baskett’s portrayal of Uncle Remus. He was incredible. More people should watch Song Of The South.

Gave me all the info I needed thank u

I love this movie and I have longed to share with my kids and grandchildren. Please release the movie so we can all enjoy this beloved show.

Excellent presentation!!!!

I learned a lot from this video. Thank you for your insight. A perspective and insight on the book, movie, and actor I had not heard. I never knew he received an Honorary Oscar. He died so young and looked so old for his age.😢A talented Man.

Thank you so much sir .... I appreciate the imformation your video provided for me. You see oddly enough I'm a 62 year black man, that's never even had the opportunity, the to view this historical film !!!! Over the years I've seen bits and pieces, now and again but, never the full account... I also think that it's unfair to Mr. Baskett, to lock away such a steller performance !!!! I keep hoping one day they'll overlook whatever racial problems, that may exist within the movie.... Like Gone With The Wind, we just can't throw away an important part of our history !!!!

@SuperMakki

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you sir, your comment means a lot. It's possible to agree with my opinion on Baskett, and even want to watch the movie, without dismissing the issues surrounding it.

Thanks for your post! I love James Baskett and "Song of the South" . It Sparked imagination and is forever cherished. I ordered it online once and got a notice to send it back. 😎 It was nonsense and it is so misunderstood.

I saw this movie around 1958 when I was 7 years old. The only part I remember was the "song" Zippity Doo Dah and the cartoons with Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox. It was entertaining to me and I acquired a copy through the internet about 20 years ago. I watched it with my grandkids when they were about 3 and 5 years old. They had the same reaction as I did. They liked the song and the cartoons. Sometimes people read too much into something that isn't really there.

Thanks for your explanation about the movie, I never had a chance to watch it besides some glances of, but I'm sure I would enjoy the full movie

I loved this movie. I was young when I watched and adored uncle Remus. I feel like he is being punished undeservedly. He was a black lead in a Disney movie. The movie may not be perfect however he should receive recognition for what he accomplished. Maybe this video should be required watching prior to Song of the South. If we don’t educate people with this kind of information then we won’t learn. Disney+ adds a warning to movies but it’s not educating people on what the issues are. I would be more impressed if they educated the viewers like this video did.

Thank you for using EarthBound music.

great and very informative content

This is BEAUTIFUL.

I think they should make a documentary about the film. Pretty much everyone familiar with Disney knows about the existence of this movie by now and them trying to sweep it all under the rug is a pretty worthless endeavor, especially considering they keep doing things that draw attention to it such as removing the song from park music loops (which get turned into the subjects of articles by Disney bloggers, thus drawing even more attention to the film). It’s very clear they don’t want to be associated with it anymore, but I do think they should own up to it and be willing to have thoughtful discussions about it that go beyond a brief mention of how it’s “problematic” in an interview. Thus, I think a documentary that covers the history of the film and discusses the controversies in a way that is actually productive could do some real good. Of course, I’m not getting my hopes up given the current state of the company.

@PoeCommunicateATL

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Kate. This is a very balanced/fair comment. So, I'm shocked that you didn't have a single "like" when I added mine (7 months after your post). 🤔IF the people here are sincere about celebrating James Bassett's legacy, they shouldn't be talking about Disney's Uncle Remus, they should be talking about learning about the experiences of Black actors during Jim Crow and the roles they had to play if they wanted any type of career in the field. [And they should/would be liking your comment].

Fantastic classic live action Disney movie with a great friendship story between a young boy and uncle figure that told stories I will remember his great acting for all my life this child hood classic I saw on vhs when I was 5 in 1992