MovieChat Forums > Hold That Ghost (1941) Discussion > DVD edited for Political Correctness?

DVD edited for Political Correctness?

posted 18 years ago by aryxus-2
27 replies | jump to latest

I watched Hold That Ghost with my daughter the other day and was surprised at a scene near the beginning of the movie where Ted Lewis dances with his 'shadow'. My 10-year-old daughter turned to me and said "isn't that kind of racist?"

At one point, Lewis turns to introduce(?) the other guy and the sound suddenly goes out of sync and it cuts to another scene right as the 'shadow' (wish I knew his name) starts talking. I'm wondering if this is something new to these DVDs, or has it always been this way? It was quite jarring, and brought to mind the cuts that were made to some of the Tom & Jerry and Looney Toons cartoons.

[–] evanevan 10 years ago

This kind of thing was going on in Hollywood movies for a long time. I remember growing up and watching it on TV the "Me & My Shadow" scene was cut from viewing for a long time. But that's not as bad as other blacks that were portrayed in the comedies. See Willie Best in Bob Hope's "Ghostbreakers" as an example of how blacks had to act in movies. Even though it is a funny film, there are many Bob Hope lines that were very offensive: "You look like a blackout in a blackout" Or the way the black maids were always portrayed in the 30s and 40s. But that was hollywood.

[–] BobbyWaggs 10 years ago

It wasn't racist in 1941
Nor 1951
Not 1961 - 1971 1981 either ---

About 1990s people started getting offended by genuinely innocent things in films from the past --- they started destroying the 1st amendment by editing cartoons of Blacks and those about the Japanese made during WW2 ---

I find it sickening as by some ill thinking jerks history itself is being destroyed NO different than Nazis burning books in the 30s ---

If you aren't proud of the past don't look at the past --- watch great fulfilling films like Brokeback Mountain and American History X which show no racism or typecasting at all (SARCASM) ---

Not Racist AT ALL !!!

[–] tommary1962 9 years ago

The notion of that scene being racist is so absurdly ignorant. All I can say is I am sorry for anyone foolish enough to fall for such boorish notions.