Nineteenth century Georgia journalist Joel Chandler Harris wrote a series of stories about a character named Uncle Remus and the old South. The Uncle Remus series brought to life some of the characters Harris fondly remembered as a child growing up. The Walt Disney movie Song of the South was the condensed film version of those stories of Uncle Remus and was released in November 1946. The movie was an immediate hit across the country. Unfortunately, this was the final role for leading actor James Baskett who starred as Uncle Remus.
The Uncle Remus character has many good and valuable lessons for us that can be learned from his tales of Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Fox. Unfortunately the Marxists among us have demonized the character and the movie as somehow being “racist” and demeaning. Nothing could be further from the truth. The fictional character was brought to the movie screen in 1946 when Walt Disney Productions premiered Song of the South.
Baskett had initially auditioned for a speaking role for only one of the characters, but when Walt Disney recognized the power of his voice he asked him to consider the lead role as Uncle Remus. He did, and Disney hired him on the spot. The fit was perfect. Baskett and the movie became an immediate success.
Baskett had started off his young life by studying pharmacology as a young man but due to financial issues gave it up to pursue an acting career. That career led him to New York City where he joined up with Bill ‘Mr. Bojangles’ Robinson (“The Little Colonel” with Shirley Temple among other movies) acting under the name Jimmie Baskette. He later appeared on Broadway in 1929 with Louis Armstrong. That was followed by several movies including Walt Disney’s Dumbo where he was the voice actor of Fats Crow. Additionally, for the last four years of his career Baskett was the voice of lawyer Gabby Gibson on the hilarious Amos ‘n’ Andy Show live radio program.
During the entire filming of Song of the South, Baskett had been in ill health due to complications from diabetes. In December 1946 he suffered a heart attack shortly after the film’s release. As his health continued to decline, he was unable to perform and after a relatively short life, from 1904 to 1948, he passed away at age 44 from complications of the diabetes.
Baskett had been such a success in his role as Uncle Remus that on March 20, 1948, he was awarded posthumously an Academy Honorary Award for his performance as Uncle Remus. This made Baskett the first Black male actor to win an Academy Award. Baskett was the only adult actor to receive an Honorary Oscar for a single performance.
If you’ve never read one of the Uncle Remus books or watched Song of the South you owe it to yourself and your family to watch it! This movie is part of where our culture has evolved from and is an important part of who we have become today. It is an enjoyable family movie made back when Disney truly was family entertainment. You will enjoy spending time with the laughingest cartoon characters ever imagined! It’s actual, and very satisfactual!
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It’s sad how the cancel culture tries to subvert classics like this. I’ve heard Disney is going to do a remake on “Old Yeller,” casting a black lab to be politically correct!
This was an awesome story. I remember hearing his name growing up. I look forward to seeing the movie. Thank you for your story! Sincerely, Shannon Ray Cooper
If you read this and you have my DVD I loaned you please return it.
Good try! You’re not getting my copy of Song of the South DVD! Editor