WE HAVE READ that Mr. Disney did not have a reputation for his being much of a champion of Civil Rights and for Equality among the members of the Brotherhood of Man. These accusations dated to the early 1960s and even earlier; when the movement was in its infancy. Walt passed on in 1965.
ALTHOUGH BY TODAY'S standards and with the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, it would appear that there is some merit to these accusations. But one must take into account that Disney was born 1901, long before the First World War and hence, his attitudes were those of so many others of that period.
HOWEVER, HIS THOUGHTFUL and kindly handling of sensitive issues that were very important then as now, was indicative of the true feelings of the man. As case in point, consider his adaption of the Joel Chandler Harris 'Uncle Remus' stories; which was set in the South where it was the labor of Black people in bondage to the plantation owners that drove the agricultural economy.
THE RESULTING PICTURE in the form of a mixture of both animation and live action, SONG OF THE SOUTH, is touching, humorous and pays particularly close attention to the emerging culture of the Black American.* AS FOR THE story, it is a well plotted, beautifully photographed drama of the pre-Revolutionary War American Colonies.
SET IN OLD Philadelphia, circa 1760, it is done up in a most convincing manner; as to transport the viewer back to the days when even Benjamin Franklin was somewhat youthful. It may have been Disney's best physical production in the Period Piece tradition.
THE PLOT REVOLVES around the return of a Caucasian boy, born Johnny Butler, who had been kidnapped by hostile Indians. The boy was raised from the time as a young child as a member of the tribe as, in native aboriginal tongues,"True Son". The young man, now a teenager, is caught between two peoples' cultures; which was really two worlds.
HE IS TORN between the two very different ways of life and finds that he is considered to be alien to both. Eventually, we get the drift that he is going to resettle and be assimilated into the society of colonists; thus returning to his original, biological family. The repatriating of the young man is happily facilitated with his romantic involvement with a beautiful, young blonde colonial girl (played by beautiful, young and blonde Carol Lynley.**
THIS PICTURE, PERHAPS more than any other Disney Live Action production, boasts of an outstanding assembly of supporting players. In addition to young Miss Lynley and Mr. MacArthur, we have: Fess Parker, Joanne Dru, Wendell Corey, Jessica Tandy, John McIntire, Joseph Calleia, Frank Ferguson, Marian Seldes, Dean Fredericks and others.***
ALTHOUGH THE STORY'S adaptation is said to have certain liberties with the storyline and certain of the characterizations, it was both very dramatic and effective in its ending. It is a call to action for all to be more understanding and kind to others; regardless of whatever is their membership in any racial, ethnic, national or religious affiliations.
AND THIS MESSAGE is the one imparted by Mr. Disney, himself.
NOTE * It is never clear in the movie as whether or not that the Black People are slave or free. The topic never really comes up.
NOTE: ** On a DIDSNEYLAND TV Episode that was a promo for the movie, it was announced that this was Carol Lynley's first on screen kiss. (It was a far different time!)
NOTE: *** Even Iron Eyes Cody, the son of Sicilian immigrants, was featured as an Indian of the Delaware tribe.
ALTHOUGH BY TODAY'S standards and with the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, it would appear that there is some merit to these accusations. But one must take into account that Disney was born 1901, long before the First World War and hence, his attitudes were those of so many others of that period.
HOWEVER, HIS THOUGHTFUL and kindly handling of sensitive issues that were very important then as now, was indicative of the true feelings of the man. As case in point, consider his adaption of the Joel Chandler Harris 'Uncle Remus' stories; which was set in the South where it was the labor of Black people in bondage to the plantation owners that drove the agricultural economy.
THE RESULTING PICTURE in the form of a mixture of both animation and live action, SONG OF THE SOUTH, is touching, humorous and pays particularly close attention to the emerging culture of the Black American.* AS FOR THE story, it is a well plotted, beautifully photographed drama of the pre-Revolutionary War American Colonies.
SET IN OLD Philadelphia, circa 1760, it is done up in a most convincing manner; as to transport the viewer back to the days when even Benjamin Franklin was somewhat youthful. It may have been Disney's best physical production in the Period Piece tradition.
THE PLOT REVOLVES around the return of a Caucasian boy, born Johnny Butler, who had been kidnapped by hostile Indians. The boy was raised from the time as a young child as a member of the tribe as, in native aboriginal tongues,"True Son". The young man, now a teenager, is caught between two peoples' cultures; which was really two worlds.
HE IS TORN between the two very different ways of life and finds that he is considered to be alien to both. Eventually, we get the drift that he is going to resettle and be assimilated into the society of colonists; thus returning to his original, biological family. The repatriating of the young man is happily facilitated with his romantic involvement with a beautiful, young blonde colonial girl (played by beautiful, young and blonde Carol Lynley.**
THIS PICTURE, PERHAPS more than any other Disney Live Action production, boasts of an outstanding assembly of supporting players. In addition to young Miss Lynley and Mr. MacArthur, we have: Fess Parker, Joanne Dru, Wendell Corey, Jessica Tandy, John McIntire, Joseph Calleia, Frank Ferguson, Marian Seldes, Dean Fredericks and others.***
ALTHOUGH THE STORY'S adaptation is said to have certain liberties with the storyline and certain of the characterizations, it was both very dramatic and effective in its ending. It is a call to action for all to be more understanding and kind to others; regardless of whatever is their membership in any racial, ethnic, national or religious affiliations.
AND THIS MESSAGE is the one imparted by Mr. Disney, himself.
NOTE * It is never clear in the movie as whether or not that the Black People are slave or free. The topic never really comes up.
NOTE: ** On a DIDSNEYLAND TV Episode that was a promo for the movie, it was announced that this was Carol Lynley's first on screen kiss. (It was a far different time!)
NOTE: *** Even Iron Eyes Cody, the son of Sicilian immigrants, was featured as an Indian of the Delaware tribe.