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The Sword in the Stone (1963)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6/10
Reviews Counted: 24
Fresh: 17 | Rotten: 7

A decent take on the legend of King Arthur, The Sword in the Stone suffers from relatively indifferent animation, but its characters are still memorable and appealing.

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 1

A decent take on the legend of King Arthur, The Sword in the Stone suffers from relatively indifferent animation, but its characters are still memorable and appealing.

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Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 176,050

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Movie Info

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 London 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

G, 1 hr. 19 min.

Drama, Animation, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Wolfgang Reitherman

Written By: T.H. White, Bill Peet

In Theaters: Dec 25, 1963 Limited

On DVD: Mar 20, 2001

Cast

Norman Alden
Kay
Sebastian Cabot
Sir Ector
Junius Matthews
Archimedes
The Mello Men
Alan Napier
Sir Pelinore
Rickie Sorenson
Wart
Karl Swenson
Merlin the Magician
Martha Wentworth
Granny Squirrel, Mad Ma...
Barbara Jo Allen
Scullery Maid [uncredit...
Richard Reitherman
Robert Reitherman
Rickie Sorensen
Ginny Tyler
Thurl Ravenscroft

Critic Reviews for The Sword in the Stone

All Critics (24) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (20) | Rotten (8) | DVD (19)

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

November 3, 2009 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comments (2)

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

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

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

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.

May 21, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Glenn Collins

New York Times

Top Critic

Delightful classic brings Arthur legend to life.

December 29, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Well animated yet thoroughly tedious...

November 25, 2010 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

| Comment

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

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

November 15, 2009 Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy

| Comment

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

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

November 3, 2009 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

| Comment

Empire Magazine

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

November 3, 2009 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

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

November 3, 2009 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

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

August 24, 2008 Full Review Source: 7M Pictures

| Comment

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

... the DVD leaves one yearning for a two-disc edition somewhere down the line.

July 2, 2008 Full Review Source: DVD Review

| Comment

Felix Gonzalez Jr.

DVD Review

For all of its inventiveness, the film's characters are never quite as endearing as they should be, and the central relationship between Arthur and Merlin is oddly detached.

July 2, 2008 Full Review Source: DVD Review

| Comment

Felix Gonzalez Jr.

DVD Review

Merlin's got the potion that will put your sword into motion.

June 22, 2008 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

| Comment

Eric Henderson

Slant Magazine

He had my heart racing like a squirrel. He had my body soaring into the stratosphere like a bird. He had me slippery and firm like a fresh young perch.

June 22, 2008 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

| Comment

Eric Henderson

Slant Magazine

[Wart's] curious, a bit goofy, a good but sometimes reluctant student, and visually his youthfulness is emphasized by clothes that leave the lad swimming in the excess space.

June 20, 2008 Full Review Source: KPBS.org

| Comment

Beth Accomando

KPBS.org

Fans of the fairy-tale format will recognize a little Cinderella in the structure.

June 15, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

James Plath

Movie Metropolis

A beautifully animated Disney feature.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Derek Adams

Time Out

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Sword in the Stone

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One of my favorite Disney movies as a kid.

June 29, 2008

John Manard

Super Reviewer

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.

September 5, 2010