Koose-
I, too am a fan of the movies you mention. Sadly, the Black community often
overreacts. I guess that it's understandable. Too bad this has the effect
of our losing some wonderful movies and stories. It is this very reaction
that brought about the loss of the Little Black Sambo story. As a kid, it
was among my favorites. Recently, when Turner ran the Black film festival,
the commentary was interesting, but somewhat distressing at times. For
example, Donald Bogle stated after one of the movies (I'm horrible at titles
sometimes...I blink and forget names) --this was one where a boy was heir to
the plantation, but his father or grandfather's business partner had evil
intent, wanted the slaves sold, had a girlfriend somewhere ---I don't know.
Anyway, the argument came up that once freed, the natural reaction of the
slave should have been to run for liberty. What slave in his right mind
would stick around? Leave! Your free!! My question was free to do what?
Using what for money? How? Go where? Wouldn't the natural reaction have
been to stay close to what you know? Although not what the majority may
want to believe, was Hollywood really off in suggesting that there were
slaves who stayed close to the only life and place they had ever known? Or
another suggestion that Hollywood emasculated Black men. OK. Let's say
they did. The suggestion in movies from the silent era on was that the
Black man was a sexual machine. That sex was all that was ever on his mind
AND the ultimate treat for him was some poor unsuspecting white woman. When
Harry Belafonte was the lone survivor with Inger Stevens in The World, The
Flesh and the Devil, he showed restraint to the point of minor disinterest.
Now, Donald Bogle complained that he was de-sexed in the "film world."
Wouldn't his making sexual advances have continued the stereotype? I guess
there's just no pleasing some people.
There is a similar point to be made with Myrna Loy and the portrayal of
Asian women in movies. Asians were rarely shown as citizens of this
country. The women, when shown, were provocative at the very least. The
men, masters of torture. This was so very strange as to defy understanding.
I would love to read a history of Asians in the movies. If it is anything
like life was for them in this country...well history speaks for itself.
Thank you for your great insight and the time you have taken!
TGormley
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Kusumoto" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU>
Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 5:55 AM
Subject: [MOPO] Song of the South
** One last thing -- I believe Walt Disney's "Song of the South," a late
1940s "fanciful distillation of live-action and animation based on the
tales of Uncle Remus" -- will NEVER be released in mass market form. The
film that brought us the song, "Zip-De-Dee-Do-Dah" -- was last available
on VHS overseas in the 1990s. No more. Ask yourself whether today's
black community would accept the notion -- as presented as filmed
entertainment --
that slavery was all fun and games and some plantations had a wise old
slave somwhere imparting wisdom to kids. Despite the positive wisdom and
goodness represented by "Uncle Remus," some believe it's better to regard
"Song of the South" as an historical document of attitudes, and not
entertainment to be sold for profit today.
** I'd like to see it released and I can safely say I would regard it
entertaining without falling for the things others would perhaps rightly
find offensive about it today. Even in "Gone With the Wind," people still
rail about its depiction of slaves, and of course, Butterfly McQueen was
quoted as hating the role. I think intelligent people can accept the film
on its terms based on the attitudes of America or Hollywood in 1939. You
just couldn't make a film like this or release "Song of the South" today
without pissing somebody off.
-koose.
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