Film Greats: Song of the South - It’s on with the show. Gallery of photos!

Here comes the Zip-a-dee-doo-dah special magic!  

In 1947, a feature length colour film Walt Disney’s Song of the South brought to life the well-loved Uncle Remus stories by Joel Chandler Harris.  

By the combination of live actors and cartoons, the film tells how the wise old Uncle Remus teaches a small boy to deal with life’s problems. He compares them to troubles of the animals of ‘Briar Patch’ who have curiously human qualities. 

Four new stars are introduced, among them James Baskett (Uncle Remus)  and Bobby Driscoll. The movie also includes Hattie McDaniel, who gave an aspiring performance in the sweeping saga, Gone with the Wind in 1939. The film is still playing.
 

MAIN: The wise old Uncle Remus comforts young Johnny with stories about Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox and their adventures. 
 

Like Johnny, Brer Rabbit thinks he can escape from his worries by running away. 
 

During an argument between Brer Fox and Brer Bear as to the method of killing Brer Rabbit.
 

LEFT: Tar Baby is set up on a log and Brer Rabbit catches hold of him. RIGHT: Brer Bear and Brer Fox - enemies of Brer Rabbit …
 

LEFT: Two friends, Johnny and Sally need some company so they join Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox for a bit of bit of mayhem. RIGHT: Happy ending for the children and Uncle Remus and the cartoon figures as they sing merrily down the hill.
 

<< Adapted by Frank Morris from the Australian Women’s Weekly, March 15, 1947. 

Song of the South: Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox