It makes a good effort at being something like My First Arthur Story.
The Sword in the Stone (1963)
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Reviews Counted:22
Fresh:16
Rotten:6
Average Rating:6/10
Consensus: 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.
Runtime: 79 mins
Genre: Childrens
Synopsis: In London, during medieval times, there was a large stone with a heavy sword imbedded in it. The man who could pull the sword from the stone would become king of England, but no man, despite his... In London, during medieval times, there was a large stone with a heavy sword imbedded in it. The man who could pull the sword from the stone would become king of England, but no man, despite his strength, was able to complete the deed. However, when a young lad named Wart appears, he just might be able to pull off the impossible.... [More]
Starring: Ricky Sorenson, Karl Swenson, Norman Alden, Sebastian Cabot
Starring: Ricky Sorenson, Karl Swenson, Norman Alden, Sebastian Cabot, Martha Wentworth, Alan Napier, Junius Matthews
Director: Wolfgang Reitherman
Director: Wolfgang Reitherman
Screenwriter: Bill Peet
Composer: George Bruns
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Reviews for The Sword in the Stone
It feels older than contemporary Disney work due to flat, creaky animation. The story still has resonance for kids, though.
Innocuous fun for all the family -- well, those under eight anyway. Grown-ups should seek out Excalibur instead.
It is seldom mentioned in discussions of Disney's work, and no character in it evolved into a Disney favorite.
There is still some life in the characterizations, though the animation is turning stiff and flat.
The feature-length cartoon demonstrates anew the magic of the Disney animators and imagination in character creation.
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.
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.
Fans of the fairy-tale format will recognize a little Cinderella in the structure.
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.
Minor Disney fare, but still enjoyable. The climactic wizard's duel is a real high point.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 15% 15% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
| 67% 67% | Bruno |
| 47% 47% | My Sister's Keeper |
| 66% 66% | Is Anybody There? |
| 82% 82% | Thirst |
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