The Sword in the Stone (1963)

Director:

Wolfgang Reitherman

Writers:

Bill Peet (story)
T.H. White (book)

Release Date:

25 December 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Walt Disney's newest and most hilarious all-cartoon feature

Plot:

Merlin the Magician teaches a young boy who is destined to be King Arthur.

Plot Keywords:

Sword In Stone | London | Round Table | Squirrel | Sword And Sorcery

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Sebastian Cabot	...	Sir Ector / Narrator (voice)
Karl Swenson	...	Merlin (voice)
Rickie Sorensen	...	Arthur / 'Wart' (voice)
Junius Matthews	...	Archimedes (voice)
Ginny Tyler	...	Little Girl Squirrel (voice)
Martha Wentworth	...	Granny Squirrel / Madam Mim / Scullery Maid (voice)
Norman Alden	...	Kay (voice)
Alan Napier	...	Sir Pelinore (voice)
Richard Reitherman	...	Wart (voice)
Robert Reitherman	...	Wart (voice)

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

USA:G (re-rating) (1972) | Norway:7 | USA:Approved (certificate #20519) (original rating) | Portugal:M/6 | Iceland:L | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | West Germany:o.Al.

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

Arthur was voiced by three different boys - Rickie Sorensen, Richard Reitherman and Robert Reitherman. The changes in voice are very noticeable in the film because of the way Arthur's voice keeps going from broken to unbroken, sometimes in the same scene. One of the easiest noticed is in the last scene in the throne room when Arthur asks in his "changed voice", "Oh, Archimedes, I wish Merlin was here!" Then, the camera cuts farther back and Arthur shouts in his "unchanged voice," "Merlin! Merlin!"

Goofs:

Continuity: When Wart is climbs the small dead tree behind Kay on his hunting trip, he is wearing red tights. In the next shot he has bare legs, but then he has his red tights again.

Quotes:

Merlin: Madam, I have not disappeared. I am very tiny. I am a germ. A rare disease. I am called malignalitaloptereosis... and you've caught me, Mim!
Madame Mim: What!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Disney Sing-Along-Songs: Under the Sea (1990) (V)

Soundtrack:

That's What Makes the World Go Round

One of those rare gems that deserve a "10!"

This story of the boy who growsup to be King Arthur is full of interesting life lessons on how you have to be clever and use your brains (more so than brawn) in the real world to survive, as well as the creative transformation sequences keep this film alive throughout its 90-minute running time. Kudos go to the characters of Merlin, the funny owl, and the hilarious witch.

I actually heard of this film for many years, but never had a chance to be able to track it down and watch a copy of it until fairly recently. The story definitely does not disappoint, and it is one of those rare gem of an animated film that both children and adults of all ages can enjoy.

This is a must see. If "Toy Story 1 & 2" are the best of the modern Disney films (yeah, the credit actually goes to Pixar..), then "The Sword in the Stone" is the best among the classic animated Disney features.

If you only watch one animated film per year, this is the one to see!! A definite 10/10, and a highly recommended viewing. :)