SONG OF THE SOUTH
US, 1947, 94 minutes, Colour.
Ruth Warrick, Bobby Driscoll, James Baskett, Luana Patten, Lucile Watson, Hattie Mc Daniel.
Directed by Harve Foster.
Song of the South was a very popular Disney film of the mid-'40s, an entertainment for the post-war period. It has done well on continued rerelease. There is a pleasant blend of folksy Southern story of last century (with echoes of Gone With the Win) and animated material from the Tales of Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. There is a pleasing score with songs: How Do You Do, Sound of the South, That's What Uncle Remus Said, Sooner or Late, Everybody's Got a Laughing Place, You'll Always Be the One I Love, Let the Rain Pour Down, Who Wants to Live Like That and the Oscar winning Zip Ah De Doo Dah.
The acting of the adults is somewhat stilted, especially from Ruth Warrick as Johnny's mother. However, Lucile Watson has a good role as the grandmother and Hattie McDaniel? is once more the good-natured Aunt Tempy. James Baskett is excellent as Uncle Remus. How ever, Bobby Driscoll, who was to appear in so many Disney films, is very good at sustaining the central role. Luana Patten joins in, as she did in a number of Disney films. (Baskett also does the voice of Brer Fox). There have been criticisms at times that the film is somewhat 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' in its treatment of the South - but the film has withstood such criticisms and indeed highlights the good relationships between black and white and the possibilities for the United States.
1. A satisfying and entertaining Disney film? The Disney tradition? Live film and animation blended well? The atmosphere of the mid-'40s? A need for optimism and hope? The pleasant live action - conventional Hollywood material?The vitality of the animation and its humorous and ironic style?A satisfactory blend?
2. A piece of Americana. of the South, folksy material but not racist? A portrait of family, children, the American heritage - both black and white?
3. The atmosphere of the 19th. century, of the South. the estate, the lands and plantation, the negro workers, homes, the houses, the poor, the wealthy and their mansions? Gentry? Costumes and decor? The atmosphere of the music: plaintive, romantic, comical? The contribution and insertion of the songs? The Zip Ah De Doo Dah theme?
4. The focus on Uncle Remus and his telling stories, folklore, the wise American black figure? His telling stories - and their doing no harm, otherwise they would not have lasted so long?
5. The portrait of black America: stars, dignity, equality? Uncle Remus and his wisdom and help? Aunt Tempy - the traditional housekeeper? Relationships between black and white? The friendship of the two boys? Uncle Remus helping? Grandma's attitude towards him? The contrast with Sally's priggishness?
6. The opening with the portrait of the family, tensions? The absent father, his being needed, final arrival? Mother and her concern, primness? The impact of the separation? Sally's insensitivity to Johnny, forbidding Uncle Remus to see him? The criticism implied of black-white relationships?
7. The contrast with Grandma and her love, toughness? Her helping Sally and her husband? Helping Johnny? Encouraging Uncle Remus?
8. Uncle Remus and his wisdom, work, joining Johnny, the walks, the pup and its being forbidden? The stories, the lessons? His departure, helping Johnny to get well again? His songs?
9. Johnny as the focus of the film and children in the audience identifying with him? Family, separation from his father, being dressed up in the mansion? Being waited on in the mansion? The friendship with Toby - the frogs and playing out in the woods? Listening to Uncle Remus, Johnny's wanting to run away and Uncle Remus telling him the story and his going back home? The pup, playing with the pup? The friendship with Jenny? The antagonism from her brothers - from his lace clothes to the dog? The fight with the brothers? The build-up to the party and his helping Jenny? His grief at not being able to see Uncle Remus? The field with the bull? His recovery and help from Uncle Remus, his father's returning home?
10. Jenny and the audience identifying with her? Charm, love for Johnny, help? Her parents? The rough brothers? Preparation for the party and their ruining her dress? The happy ending?
11. The contribution of the characters of Brer Rabbit - symbolising the rashness and its being related to Johnny? Brer Fox and his cunning? Brer Bear and his stupidity? The cruelty implied in attitudes of Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit? The effectiveness of the stories:
(a) Brer Rabbit wanting to leave the Briar Patch and never come back, The trap catching Brer Rabbit, the fox chasing him, Brer Rabbit tricking Brer Bear to earn a dollar by taking his place and escaping? The moral: 'You can't run away from trouble - there ain't no place that far.'
(b) Tar Baby and Brer Rabbit's psychology in getting Brer Bear and Brer Fox to do what he wants when they think they are doing what they want? The lesson: 'It shows you what happens when you get mixed up in somethin' you got no business gettin' mixed up in.'
(c) Brer Rabbit captured and the song 'Everybody's Got a Laughing Place'. Tricking Brer Fox and Brer Bear by taking them to the beehive? The lesson that he took them to his laughing place but not theirs?
(d) The interaction of animation and live action with the Zip Ah De Doo Dah song at the end - a truly beautiful day.
