First shot of animation: The world around Uncle Remus bursts into technicolor paint as he starts to sing Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah

I do not count myself qualified to talk about the reason people talk about this movie, except a note on the historical record. If anyone tells you this is a product of its time, or nobody in 1946 knew just how racist it was, they are lying to you. The one black person involved in the writing process quit because nobody would listen to him. The NAACP and other groups sent letters of advice on depicting plantation life, which were all thrown out. Anybody who cared to know, knew.

The real reason Disney doesn’t want you to see this is it’s boring as shit. Four years later, Bobby Driscoll would acquit himself well in Treasure Island, but he just can’t carry a movie this young. I’m not sure he can even carry a scene. Nothing in the live-action portions, two thirds of the movie, is engaging on a plot or visual level. It starts with the kids dad leaving him and I don’t know why or even if his parents are splitting up. The puppy is cute I guess. I wish they showed the bull actually gore the kid because I was sick of watching him. The other kids are worse.

The animated portions are, fine. The 720-degree hammer throw into the briar patch is great, but nothing else impresses. There are recycled shots among the segments. The best parts of Splash Mountain aren’t even in this? They’re ride original content?

James Baskett does deserve recognition as Uncle Remus. The only watchable actor (at least in daylight scenes because they don’t know how to light black faces and didn’t care to learn) he does more than anyone should be asked to. He’s the only actor to interact with animated elements, and his eyeline directs their pace and momentum just as well as we praise Bob Hoskins for, but 40 years earlier. All that and they held the premier in a segregated theater so he couldn’t even attend.

It sucks. It all sucks so bad. Sometimes lost media is a blessing. Catchy song.