Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) (25th Anniversary Edition)

[Joe Cain]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

Of course they're not. Last time they kicked up a fuss, Whitey killed damn near ALL of them.

Ouch. Well, comedy is truth and pain. If it weren’t for genocide, we probably wouldn’t be having conversations about the acceptability of the name of the Washington Redskins any more than we would the Baltimore Porch Monkeys.

Yeah, there’s a history of racial insensitivity in Disney films. Them Injuns in Peter Pan are a simpler problem in that they’re *’toons*; the Siamese cats in Lady and the Tramp are toons and *cats*. Caricature is a long-standing tradition in cartooning, but the black folks in SotS are actual human beings.

SotS’s big problem is twofold: not just that the audience is treated to an entirely unrealistic presentation of Reconstruction-era happy singing darkies on the plantation, but that such a portrayal could be so easily created and countenanced eight decades after the fact. Some folks know that James Baskett couldn’t even attend the film’s Atlanta premiere because of segregation laws; far fewer know the horrific story of African-American US Army soldier Isaac Woodard, which reached its (anti)climax the week before SotS's release. That's the big problem in re-releasing SotS...in good conscience, and to be seen as something besides a money grab, it would require a long hard look at the America that produced it.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by Joe Cain

Ouch. Well, comedy is truth and pain. If it weren’t for genocide, we probably wouldn’t be having conversations about the acceptability of the name of the Washington Redskins any more than we would the Baltimore Porch Monkeys.

Yeah, there’s a history of racial insensitivity in Disney films. Them Injuns in Peter Pan are a simpler problem in that they’re *’toons*; the Siamese cats in Lady and the Tramp are toons and *cats*. Caricature is a long-standing tradition in cartooning, but the black folks in SotS are actual human beings.

SotS’s big problem is twofold: not just that the audience is treated to an entirely unrealistic presentation of Reconstruction-era happy singing darkies on the plantation, but that such a portrayal could be so easily created and countenanced eight decades after the fact. Some folks know that James Baskett couldn’t even attend the film’s Atlanta premiere because of segregation laws; far fewer know the horrific story of African-American US Army soldier Isaac Woodard, which reached its (anti)climax the week before SotS's release. That's the big problem in re-releasing SotS...in good conscience, and to be seen as something besides a money grab, it would require a long hard look at the America that produced it.

I think some people can't look at the film and see a film. they want to project real life issues and "history lessons" on to it. people who get offended by SOTS have more issues than the film does by a long shot.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Joe Cain

Caricature is a long-standing tradition in cartooning

It's also a long-standing tradition live-action film. Doesn't make it any more right (or wrong, depending on which way you're looking at it). The idea that it's somehow less offensive if it's cartoons is as silly as the idea that written profanity is somehow less offensive if you substitute an asterisk for a vowel.

but the black folks in SotS are actual human beings.

Well, except for the Tar Baby.

[yhzmr]

I think the Bobby Driscoll character's love and admiration for Uncle Remus was commendable as well as his treatment of his black playmate as an equal in the story. Though not an altogether accurate view of the Reconstruction era South I think overall it was a step in the right direction for Disney.

[Mandalorian]

Originally Posted by wormraper

I think some people can't look at the film and see a film. they want to project real life issues and "history lessons" on to it. people who get offended by SOTS have more issues than the film does by a long shot.

That's a generalization, and it's unfair. If you don't know what it feels like to experience something, you shouldn't jump to such a conclusion about the people who are overly sensitive about that particular thing.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by Mandalorian

That's a generalization, and it's unfair. If you don't know what it feels like to experience something, you shouldn't jump to such a conclusion about the people who are overly sensitive about that particular thing.

sensitivity about something is a personal problem, not a societal. Just like the people who scream that we "owe" certain races, or minorities something because of past treatment. we aren't responsible for others treatments in the past, only our own in the present.

in terms of SOTS.... it wasn't a necessity to make it a "12 years a slave" story. we all know the blacks were treated wrongly. Disney was creating a story based in that era that a 6 year old could watch without crying... thus a happy man who tells stories to a child. simple as that.

[SedukiDude]

Still waiting for the the spanish audio for this movie.

[Khronikos]

Just watching this gem in Bluray for the first time. WOW. Older but it looks amazing. And the toon interaction with real people is just gorgeous stuff. What a classic.

[MifuneFan]

Down to $7.79 on Amazon.

[NostromoJoe]

Is there a reason Amazon only refers to this as a region free UK version?

[shinobipopcorn]

Originally Posted by NostromoJoe

Is there a reason Amazon only refers to this as a region free UK version?

You want the "multi format" one, I believe. Somehow the one listed under "blu-ray" is the UK release.

https://www.blu-ray.com/link/click.p...49&tid=020&c=7

That should be the right one.

[mike171979]

I don't know how this thread got so off track but here's my view. We as adults assume our kids see things as we do but they don't. Kids see a black old guy singing songs to a white kid and black kid sitting there as equals. This film was beloved by people of all color for decades, it was rereleased time after time and did well every time up until the 80s. Then a group of people decided it was racist so that's it, all it takes is a tiny minority to label something as racist and it's finished.

[NostromoJoe]

Originally Posted by shinobipopcorn

You want the "multi format" one, I believe. Somehow the one listed under "blu-ray" is the UK release.

https://www.blu-ray.com/link/click.p...49&tid=020&c=7

That should be the right one.

Awesome! Thanks!

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Im watching this blu ray on my fairly new 2016 Sony Bravia LED TV and I noticed something strange but positive. On my old TV I always noticed this odd coloration on Bob Hoskins as he first walks into the bar to see Jessica Rabbit sing (which I know is an issue with the black levels on the blu ray). It was never noticeable in HD on Netflix streaming though. On my new TV I didn't notice that issue at all and not only that but it looks just fine. That just strikes me as strange and didn't know if anyone else had the same thing happen to them and/or know why that is.

[Storm_1980]

I have the Vista Series DVD set I waited on upgrading to this on Blu Ray as could never find one with A SlipCover but Today when I was at FYE I found it Brand New on Sale for $7.99 with A SlipCover Was Shocked to finally find it with one. I'm still keeping the Vista Series to since I really like the packaging and the Memorabilia that came with it.

[shinobipopcorn]

Good find. I was able to snag one new from ebay earlier this year with a cover. Did you check to see if yours has the corrected widescreen DVD copy? It might be another reason to hang onto your DVD copy.

Mine is the pan and scan DVD copy, but that's okay because I have a R2 DVD copy in Japanese with the English track.

[Storm_1980]

I Checked it not The Corrected one like you said Another Good reason to hold onto the DVD set.

[mysticwaterfall]

$6.49 at WM with store pickup for those interested. Still holding on to the DVD, I can't bring myself to upgrade this.

[shinobipopcorn]

Originally Posted by Storm_1980

I Checked it not The Corrected one like you said Another Good reason to hold onto the DVD set.

Yup. I learned about the problem after buying the set, but it wasn't a big deal.

And if anyone is interested, I pulled my DVD and checked the controversial scenes to see how they were altered for the Japanese audience.

• Baby Herman's entire hand seems to have been altered, as he barely even shoves it under her skirt. Much 'cleaner' than the blu-ray.
• Betty Boop is clean.
• There is no spot on the paper towel in the "Allyson Wonderland" scene. (I remember seeing a debate over this.)
• Jessica's underwear CAN be seen as she's flung out of the car, but it is recolored white. The dress is not redrawn to hide it as in the blu-ray. This might be because panty shots aren't a big deal in Japan?

The best I can tell is that this is a 2006 release.

[grodd]

I cleaned up some of the poster artwork for WDSHE when prepping for Digital download. I'm hoping they will use it because I did a bunch of work and really improved some of the elements. Especially the sky above Jessica and Roger. I can't say I know anything about the video elements as I didn't work on those.