Song of the South

History and Review By Michael J. Ruhland

Year Released: 1946

Michael's Movie Grade:B



                                                        History

With Song of  the South Walt Disney's interest in moving into live action film became much more clear. For the first time in a Disney film, there would be more live action than animation. This would also have the distinction of being the first Disney film to present child actors that would reappear in later Disney films, something that would become increasingly common in Disney history. These two child stars would be Bobby Driscoll and Launa Patten. They were not only the first reoccurring child actors for Disney, but they were also the first actors to have a contract with the Disney studio.

Even though the studio had found live action actors who would continue working at Disney, they still had not found a live action director that would become a mainstay. Again the live action director was one who never worked at Disney before and never would again. This time it would be a man named Harve Foster. This was his debut as a main director, though he was an assistant director on some films before this including Gone With the Wind (The main director was Victor Fleming), and a film I particularly love A Chump at Oxford (the main director of that film was Alfred J. Goulding) staring the great comedy team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Harve's career as a main director of theatrical films after this would not be a long one, but he would go on to direct many TV episodes for such shows as The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, and Racket Squad.  The director of the animated portions of the film would be a name much more common at Disney, Wilfred Jackson. Jackson had be directing at Disney since 1929 with the Mickey Mouse cartoon, Mickey's Follies. He would direct many of Disney's best short films from the 1930's. He was also a sequence director on the majority of Disney features at this point. He would later go on to be one of the main directors on such Disney features as Cinderella, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and Lady and the Tramp.

The cinematography for this film would be done by Greg Toland, who was the cinematographer for such great films as Citizen Kane, and The Grapes of Wrath.

One bit of trouble the film found it's self in was for the song number Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah. Because of trouble the lighting when shooting the live action, it became very hard to combine it with animation. Wilfred Jackson stated that he and the rest of the animation crew thought for a long time about what to do about this, but couldn't come up with an answer. The solution was found by Walt himself. He suggested that when they shoot actor James Basket before singing , they cover up the lights with cardboard, and then we he began singing they would take the card board off so it would seem like he was entering the world of animation. Despite these problems Wilfred Jackson stated in an interview with Animation Historian Michael Barrier, " I had more fun working on Song of the South than any other one picture I ever made. I guess maybe working on Snow White was more exciting, and I guess maybe there were others that hit high spots in some other ways, but out of all the different pictures I worked on, Song of the South was the most fun. The group of people that it was my good fortune to work with was such a wonderful bunch of talent". He would go on to talk about how much he enjoyed working with such artists as Associate Producer Perce Pearce, Animators Milt Kahl, Marc Davis, Eric Larson, Ollie Johnston, and Johnny Lounsbery, and Layout Artist Ken Anderson.

There was also a small problem with animated lip-syncing. Not only did James Basket play the live action Uncle Remus, but he also voiced the animated Br'er Fox. Disney Animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnson remembered that he spoke  the part so fast lip-sync was hard to get right. This was not James Baskett's first time working with Disney as he also voiced one of the crows in Dumbo. Song of the South would be his last film role.

Song of the South was a financial success. Although critics did praise the animated portions of the film, they were not kind to the live action majority. The film did get two academy awards, one for Best Song, and James Baskett got an honorary award for his performance in the film.

The film received controversy from right after is was first released. Many critics dubbed the film "racist". This reputation still hurts Song of the South to this day, and it is never shown today on TV, and it's home video availability is much rarer than most Disney films are. However the music, and animated characters live on through the log ride at Disneyland.

                                                       Review

Though Disney's live action film making would soon grow more sophisticated, this film is quite charming. The movie leaves the audience feeling good, which is of course exactly what it set out to do.

The cast in this film is absolutely fantastic. James Baskett is extremely charming as Uncle Remus, and it is hard not to find him likable. This performance enhances every scene he is in, and brings much of the films charm. Baskett is just as funny as the voice of Br'er Fox as he is charming as Uncle Remus. With this film Disney has already shown us how good the studio could be at finding great child actors. Even if you take their ages out of the equation, Bobby Driscoll, and Launa Patten, are simply great talents. They are very charming whenever they are  on screen. Of course Hattie McDaniel is great here as she always is.

The story is underdeveloped and could have probably benefited from more screen time. The relationship between the mother and Uncle Remus is particularly underdeveloped, and often feels rushed. However despite these faults the story is at times beautiful in it's simplicity. The relationship between the kids and Uncle Remus is very charming, and adds heavily to the feel good spirit of the film.

The animated parts are a must see for cartoon fans. They are quick, funny, energetic, lively, and most of all charming. They are full of classic cartoon slapstick, and clever writing. The characters are quite likable as well. I would not have minded a series of shorts based off these short segments at all.

Something I love about this film is it's message of the importance of stories, imagination, and escapism.  It teaches us well it is important to live in the real world, fantasy can be just as important. Which is of course the reason we love and cherish Disney, and why Disney plays such an important part in our lives. Overall  this film is very charming, and a worthwhile experience for Disney fans

                                                          Film Credits

Live Action Director: Harve Foster

Animation Director: Wilfred Jackson

Based on the book Tales of Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris

Writers: Dalton S. Reymond, Morton Grant, Maurice Rapf, Bill Peet, Ralph Wright, Vernon Stallings

Live Action Cast: James Baskett (Uncle Remus), Bobby Driscoll (Johnny), Luana Patten (Ginny), Ruth Warrick (Sally), Lucile Watson (Grandma), Hattie McDaniel (Aunt Tempy), Erik Rolf (John), Glenn Leedy (Toby), Mary Field (Mrs. Favers), Anita Brown (Maid), Georgie Nokes (Jake Favers), Gene Holland (Joe Favers)

Voices: James Baskett (Br'er Fox), Johnny Lee (Br'er Rabbit), Nick Stewart (Br'er Bear), Babette De Castro (Birds), Cherie De Castro (Birds), Peggy De Castro (Birds), Roy Glenn (Bullfrog), Clarence Nash (Mr. Bluebird)

Producers: Walt Disney, Perce Pearce

Songwriters: Ray Gilbert, Allie Wrubel, Robert MacGimsey, Charles Wolcott, Ken Darby, Foster Carling, Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnston, Eliot Daniel, Hy Heath, Johnny Lange

Music: Daniele Amfitheatrof, Charles Wolcott, Paul J. Smith

Cinematography: Gregg Toland

Film Editing: William Morgan

Art Directors: Perry Ferguson, Ken Anderson, Philip Barber, Harold Doughty, Hugh Hennesy, Charles Philippi

Costume Design: Mary Wills

Production Manager: Frederic Leahy

Assistant Director: William McGarry

Art Department: Elmer Plummer, Irving W. Sindler

Sound Department: Fred Lau, C.O. Slyfield, Harold J. Steck, Gloria Gottschalk

Special Effects: Ub Iwerks

Effects Animators: Brad Case, Blaine Gibson, Joshua Meador, George Rowley

Gaffer: Vic Jones

Layout Artist: Ken Anderson

Supervising Animators: Les Clark, Marc Davis, Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl, Eric Larson, John Lounsbery

Background Artists: Mary Blair, Claude Coats, Al Dempster, Ray Huffine, Ralph Hulett, Brice Mack, Ed Starr

Animation Planner: Bill Peet

Assistant Animator:  Clarke Mallery

Animators: Hal Ambro, Jack Campbell, Al Coe, Hal King, Rudy Larriva, Don Lusk, Tom Massey, Murray McClellan, Cliff Nordberg, Ken O'Brien, Harvey Toombs, Paul Murry



                                      Resources Used

http://www.songofthesouth.net/

http://www.michaelbarrier.com/Interviews/Jackson1973/Jackson1973.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038969/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt




-Michael J. Ruhland