Click here for a detailed explanation of how we determine our grades.

The MPAA rated The Sword In The Stone (1963) G.

"Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of England." So says the plaque affixed to a mysterious sword that miraculously materializes after the good King passed away, leaving no heir to his throne. Despite the apparent simplicity of the task, the years pass by and still no man is able to accomplish it.

Yet the magician Merlin (voiced by Karl Swenson) is not concerned, for he has seen the future. Although sometimes befuddled, the soothsayer is convinced he knows whom the next monarch will be, and is busily preparing to be his tutor. When the soon-to-be sovereign finally does drop in—the candidate is a mere boy.

Although young, Arthur--more commonly known as Wart (voiced by Rickie Sorensen, Robert and Richard Reitherman.)--aspires to become a squire to a Knight in training named Kay (Norman Alden). But Merlin knows he has far greater potential than that. Gaining the grudging approval of Wart’s guardian Sir Ector (Sebastian Cabot), Merlin sets out to educate his pupil, using some unconventional methods.

These include turning the good-natured child into various animals. As Wart tries on the life of a fish, a squirrel and a bird, the movie’s storyline breaks into a series of vignettes. In each case the wizened wizard hopes valuable knowledge will be imparted. Unfortunately, just like the magician himself is oft confused, so are his messages. The power of love gets tangled up in the antics of some flirty tree dwellers, and the importance of education is downplayed by the use of magic to save the day. Even the supremacy of brains over brawn, which is carefully crafted between the scrawny Wart and the buffoon Kay, loses its impact when Wart’s forgetfulness proves to be the deciding factor in his fate.

While The Sword in the Stone contains few content concerns, such as mild name-calling, some medieval fighting portrayed in a comical fashion, and a stealthy wolf (who will only intimidate the youngest of viewers), the film is not one of Disney’s proudest accomplishments. Problems with an aging actor forced the production team to cast more than one voice to play the part of Wart (those who are particular about continuity may find this rather irritating). The animation is mediocre, and the disjointed plot contains sequences that stand better alone than together.

One of the best examples of this is the now famous duel between Merlin and the wicked witch Madame Mim (Martha Wentworth). During the war of the wands, each party is allowed to turn into a creature to combat their rival’s choice. The showdown offers the movie’s strongest teaching moment: Whoso watcheth this film, may he learn that survival of the fittest includes living by your creative wits.

Interested in owning a copy? Help support Grading The Movies by making your purchase through these links...
On DVD			On VHS

Talk about the movie with your family...

To afford Wart more time for education, Merlin bewitches the kitchen so the dishes will do themselves. If you had magical powers, how would you use them? Earlier in the film however, Merlin warned Wart that magic could not solve his problems. What kind of an education do we gain by having to work though challenges ourselves?

Video Alternatives...

The legend of King Arthur is featured in several movies including, Camelot and A Kid in King Arthur’s Court. The tradition of English boys and magic is carried on in the work of J.K. Rawlings stories about Harry Potter. Check out The Sorcerer’s Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, and The Prisoner of Azkaban.

Donna Gustafson

© 2004 One Voice Communications. All Rights Reserved