Song-of-the-south-1080-2023-restoration-v-29-cc-h-264

All credits for the restoration of this movie go to DigitalJanitor over on the Archive. I'm simply reposting it here because what he has done with it is nothing less than amazing, especially considering the material he had to work with.



If you're a fan of this movie, this is definitely the copy you'd want to have. And even if you don't like it, get a copy anyway.





DigitalJanitor:

For more than six months I have spent hundreds of hours restoring a well-worn print of Walt Disney’s Song of the South to be as close to the film makers’ intent as possible.



Even though I had no access to the original negatives or other studio elements I became aware of some generally-circulating but imperfect assets that appeared to offer enough information to possibly eke out a presentable version of the film. (These resulted apparently from the film being public domain in both Japan and Spain.)  



So I engaged in an intense restoration project largely because I wanted to finally see and enjoy one of my favorite films as it was intended.



And I am excited to announce that the result of the effort is a version of Song of the South that is more pristine than any version even Walt himself ever witnessed.





That may sound like hyperbole but it’s true.





Here are some of the highlights of this restoration:

1. Full High Definition video

2. Audio noise reduction and repair

3. Shot-by-shot Color Correction

4. Flicker removal

5. Blemish repairs

6. Dirt and Scratch removal

7. RGB record realignment

8. Image Sharpening using both AI and standard algorithms.

9. More visible picture area (less cropping)

10. Stereo-enhanced audio

11. Image stabilization

12. Grain reduction

13. Embedded closed captions in English



Since the film has been mistreated and misunderstood since before it was even completed in 1946, I am offering up the restoration of this beautiful film free to all as a public service and as a tribute to Walt’s legacy.