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Norman Alden, Sebastian Cabot, Junius Matthews, The Mello Men, Alan Napier ... see more see more... , Rickie Sorenson , Karl Swenson , Martha Wentworth , Barbara Jo Allen , Richard Reitherman , Robert Reitherman , Rickie Sorensen , Ginny Tyler , Thurl Ravenscroft

1963's The Sword in the Stone is Disney's animated take on Arthurian legend. In the midst of the Dark Ages, when England has no rightful ruler, a sword imbedded in a stone mysteriously appears in a Lo... read more read more...ndon churchyard, bearing the inscription "Whoso pulleth out the sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of England." Scores of would-be kings travel to London to attempt the feat and thereby claim the throne. They all fail. Years later, in the English countryside, an 11-year-old squire nicknamed Wart (Rickie Sorensen) is devotedly helping his incompetent foster brother, Kay (Norman Alden), train to become a knight, when he meets the great magician Merlin (Karl Swenson). The well meaning, but absentminded, wizard declares himself Wart's mentor and claims that he will lead the boy to his destiny. Spirited and full of spunk, Wart (whose real name is Arthur) approaches Merlin's lessons with the same determination that he applies to Kay's hopeless training and to the monotonous chores he is assigned by his guardian. He soon finds himself accompanying Kay to London for a jousting tournament that will determine England's new king. There, Wart forgets to bring Kay's weapon to the joust, but finds an abandoned sword in a nearby churchyard -- which he effortlessly pulls out of a stone. ~ Aubry Anne D'Arminio, Rovi

Flixster Users

68% liked it

176,050 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

24 critics

G, 1 hr. 19 min.

Directed by: Wolfgang Reitherman

Release Date: December 25, 1963

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DVD Release Date: March 20, 2001

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Stats: 4,784 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (4,784)

  • jmanard52
    June 29, 2008
    jmanard52
    One of my favorite Disney movies as a kid.
  • ajv2688
    November 26, 2010
    ajv2688
    This movie is for really young kids and you can tell, it's very light and silly. I also find that it doesn't draw you in very well, especially with the wizard guy who can see the future and tends to mention modern stuff like TVs and cars. It's okay, but it's kind of annoying.
  • ythelastman89
    June 5, 2010
    ythelastman89
    A fun disney movie that translates the King Arthur storyline to fit their needs. It's more centered around Merlin and Morgana rather than Arthur though, which is actually fine since it's really interesting. The visuals are great, as always, and there's some great original thought... read mores and ideas thrown in. While it's not the definitive King Arthur, it's fine for what it is; a light hearted kid's movie.
  • erika250
    May 30, 2010
    erika250
    This is a really laid back film.
  • fb733768972
    January 14, 2010
    fb733768972
    It was okay! I did not like it much, but not that bad!
  • MeetMeinMontauk
    January 4, 2010
    MeetMeinMontauk
    Such a cute little movie. I thought the backwards, yet forwards, ideologies were cutely explained.
  • bbcfloridabound
    December 28, 2009
    bbcfloridabound
    A Disney Classic, Dare I say Anything Bad. A Family Christmas Film for sure. 3 Stars
  • stormyweather980
    September 8, 2009
    stormyweather980
    "The Sword in the Stone" is one of my top 5 favorite Disney films of all time. A young orphan boy who is bossed around too much by his family, meets Merlin, a marvelous wizard who befriends the boy and teaches him many great lessons. Soon Merlin, Wart, and Merlin's educated pet o... read morewl, Archimedes, are all having fun and spending a lot of valuable time together. These lessons and the magic wonders of Merlin could help the boy succeed instead of fail like his whole family is pretty much doing. Also, there's another great mystery. Whoever removes a mysterious sword from the stone will become King of England.
    Everything about "The Sword in the Stone" is great. I've seen just about all the Disney films and I definitely have to say that "The Sword in the Stone" is the funniest one of all the ones I've seen. Archimedes the owl with his grouchy personality and the squirrel chases are especially hilarious. Also, Merlin will change himself and Wart to a fish, squirrel, and later change Wart into a bird, and those are some of the most memorable parts of the movie. The wizard duel close to the end of the movie is the most memorable and it's also exciting. "The Sword in the Stone" also has good music, especially the song that Merlin and Wart sing while they're transformed into fish, "Two and fro, stop and go, that's what makes the world go round."

    I've been watching "The Sword in the Stone" all my life. Now I'm 20 and I still like watching it every now and then. It's not just a movie for kids, it's for anybody no matter how old you are. "The Sword in the Stone" is entertaining, funny, and it never gets old. I recommend anybody to get this movie, it's a timeless classic. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. One of, if not the most underrated of the Disney oldies but classics. Thir or "Robin Hood" would be most underrated to me.
  • FireStormStudios
    March 17, 2009
    FireStormStudios
    I need to see this one again, it was so long ago.
  • FilmFanatik
    September 25, 2008
    FilmFanatik
    My second favorite Disney Animated film.

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Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr
November 3, 2009
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

There is still some life in the characterizations, though the animation is turning stiff and flat. Full Review

Variety Staff
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety

The feature-length cartoon demonstrates anew the magic of the Disney animators and imagination in character creation. Full Review

Glenn Collins
May 21, 2003
Glenn Collins, New York Times

The humor sparkles with real, knowing sophistication -- meaning for all ages -- and some of the characters on the fifth-century landscape of Old England are Disney pips. Full Review

Nell Minow
December 29, 2010
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media

Delightful classic brings Arthur legend to life. Full Review

David Nusair
November 25, 2010
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

Well animated yet thoroughly tedious... Full Review

Tim Brayton
November 15, 2009
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

It makes a good effort at being something like My First Arthur Story. Full Review

November 3, 2009
Empire Magazine

It feels older than contemporary Disney work due to flat, creaky animation. The story still has resonance for kids, though. Full Review

November 3, 2009
Film4

Innocuous fun for all the family -- well, those under eight anyway. Grown-ups should seek out Excalibur instead. Full Review

November 3, 2009
TV Guide's Movie Guide

It is seldom mentioned in discussions of Disney's work, and no character in it evolved into a Disney favorite. Full Review

Kevin Carr
August 24, 2008
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures

Sadly, in viewing the film as an adult, I lost a bit of the magic. Full Review

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    • Merlin the Magician: Ha ha! Of course, of course. King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
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The Sword in the Stone Trivia

  • In Disney's Sword and The Stone what does Merlin call the Greatest force on Earth?  Answer »
  • Disneys animated version of the King Arthur legend?  Answer »
  • What is the name of the sword, in The Sword in the Stone?  Answer »
  • In what movie did a wizard, when casting a spell, said "WIZARD BLIZZARD!" and it started snowing?? HINT: It was an animated movie.  Answer »
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