FREE TO BE ME
I dare you to listen to the song below and not sing a long!
Song of the South
The impact this film had on me was profound. Being a little girl, watching Uncle Remus sing, well, I fell in love. Considering this film was made in 1946, the fact in the 1970s it was still being shown and enjoyed. I understand because of my African American class the intense controversy over the theme. And although I acknowledge the negative caricature Uncle Remus and the rich white family who "owned" him pretty much. But for this journal entry, I'd like to express my appreciation for the artistic value of the film.
I love singing; therefore, I love musicals. One of my top 5 favorite movies of all time is Sound of Music. Until I recently viewed Song of the South again, I forgot it was a musical. I sing "Little blue bird on my shoulder" still to this day. The voice of Uncle Remus is both rich as a storyteller and a singer. The accents were authentic and perfectly suited for each character. Using creativity to create a catchy song along with a wonderful soundtrack credits the artistic intention of the filmmakers.
The clothing colors of the "white folk" were bright and bold. The style of their clothing was beautiful in design and classy in presentation. In opposition, the black folk wore more drab colors, simple design, even an implication they were handmade. The contrast in both color and style made a powerful impact artistically creating a subconscious awareness of the difference in socio-economic status between the two ethnicities. There was a token white family who were "bad news" and also of a lower socio-economic status. At one point, the little girl in this family had a lovely simple dress her mother made for her and that dress meant so much to her. When it was dirtied, she seemed devastated, exemplifying the importance of clothing in the film. Using creativity with color and design, the filmmakers supported the theme of the film.
I guess I am bias, I must admit. I love this movie still, albeit there are many racial issues to be questioned and addressed. I did write about this in my African American Studies site if one is interested in reading more.
I love singing; therefore, I love musicals. One of my top 5 favorite movies of all time is Sound of Music. Until I recently viewed Song of the South again, I forgot it was a musical. I sing "Little blue bird on my shoulder" still to this day. The voice of Uncle Remus is both rich as a storyteller and a singer. The accents were authentic and perfectly suited for each character. Using creativity to create a catchy song along with a wonderful soundtrack credits the artistic intention of the filmmakers.
The clothing colors of the "white folk" were bright and bold. The style of their clothing was beautiful in design and classy in presentation. In opposition, the black folk wore more drab colors, simple design, even an implication they were handmade. The contrast in both color and style made a powerful impact artistically creating a subconscious awareness of the difference in socio-economic status between the two ethnicities. There was a token white family who were "bad news" and also of a lower socio-economic status. At one point, the little girl in this family had a lovely simple dress her mother made for her and that dress meant so much to her. When it was dirtied, she seemed devastated, exemplifying the importance of clothing in the film. Using creativity with color and design, the filmmakers supported the theme of the film.
I guess I am bias, I must admit. I love this movie still, albeit there are many racial issues to be questioned and addressed. I did write about this in my African American Studies site if one is interested in reading more.