Disneyland: A Tribute to Joel Chandler Harris (1956)

Synopsis of Disneyland: A Tribute to Joel Chandler Harris

Timed to coincide with the 1956 reissue of Walt Disney's 1948 theatrical feature Song of the South, this episode of Disneyland offers a dramatization of the early life of "Uncle Remus" creator Joel Chandler Harris. Played by David Stollery, best known as Marty Markham in the Mickey Mouse Club serial "The Adventures of Spin and Marty", young Joel develops a taste for storytelling and an appreciation of the environment under the guidance of friendly Southern newspaper publisher J.A. Turner (Jonathan Hale). But it is Turner's black servant Herbert (Sam McDaniel) who inspires Joel to spin yarns about such animal characters as Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Bear--stories related in a thick, stereotypical accent (which probably wouldn't pass muster in the race-conscious 21st century), each one illustrating a moral or life lesson in a humorous fashion. The episode is sprinkled throughout with excerpts from the animated sequences of Song of the South, with the "Tar Baby" sequence intact, and with full-out renditions of two of the film's songs, "Let the Rain Pour Down" and "That's What Uncle Remus Says." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Director(s):

William Beaudine, Clyde Geronimi

Producer(s):

Clyde Geronimi

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