“SONG OF THE SOUTH”: NEW, UNKNOWN STARS TAKE LEADING PARTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 71, 21 July 1948, Page 3

“SONG OF THE SOUTH”: NEW, UNKNOWN STARS TAKE LEADING PARTS

Not only one star is born, but . three. Their birthdays are marked in Walt Disney’s “Song of the South” and in Technicolour. And, though this feature-length film is from Disney’s famous fantasy factory, the aforesaid stars are not drawing-board characters, but real, live players. This film, based on the Joel Chandler Harris Uncle Remus tales, produced as a flesh and blood heart interest drama of the Old South, visualises cartoon characters as well as human piayers, t often showing them together on 'the screen. The technique is revolutionary, even for Disney. It is revolutionary, too, in that Disney chose unknowns to play three of the principal human roles. Others, better known, are Ruth Warrick, a star since her first appearance with Orson Welles; Lucile Watson; and Hattie McDaniel, topranking character players. But the three unknowns, who are destined to become terrifically well known are James Baskett as Uncle Remus, the great central character of the story—“guide, philosopher and friend” of young hearts; Bobby Driscoll, 10, and Luana Patten, 17. Baskett’s is perhaps the strangest story of all. For while Bobby and Luana were among the many auditioned for their roles, Baskett went to Disney’s for audience for the voice of Brer Fox, not the role of Uncle Remus. However, when Disney saw him, a big man of benign presence with an organ of a voice he can modulate at will, Baskett .became Uncle Remus. (N.B. —He also became the voice of Brer Fox, that crafty fellow, thereby doubling in brass, so to speak). All three take their places among the stars on this, their first screen' appearance. „ Glenn Leedy, is a nine-year-old Negro boy, also never before on the screen, who plays Toby, the plantation owner’s Boy Friday. When some sequences filmed on location at Phoenix, Ariz., a Disney talent scout saw Glenn clowning for the amusement of companions on the playground of the Booker T. Washington, and promptly went into action. Glenn Leedy clicked from the first scene.