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| The Sword in the Stone (Disney Gold Classic Collection) | 
 enlarge | Directors: Wolfgang Reitherman, Les Perkins
Actors: Sebastian Cabot, Rickie Sorensen, Karl Swenson, Junius Matthews, Ginny Tyler
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $9.94
You Save: $10.05 (50%)
New (26) Used (28) Collectible (1) from $6.49
Avg. Customer Rating:  111 reviews
Sales Rank: 7554
Format: Animated, Color, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 79
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
DVD Layers: 1
DVD Sides: 1
Picture Format: Letterbox
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: D19691D
ISBN: 078882175X
UPC: 717951008671
EAN: 9780788821752
ASIN: B00004R9A0
Theatrical Release Date: December 25, 1963
Release Date: March 20, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Based upon T.H. White's beloved novel, this Disney-fied version chronicles the tutoring of the Once and Future King, Arthur, as handled by the magician Merlin. Sword was a portent of things to come, with slapstick upbraiding storytelling, and cultural in-jokes substituting for wonder. But there's much to enjoy here as Merlin shows Newt, the young Arthur, things that will help him become the ruler of the Britons. The transformation sequences, where the boy is turned into a fish, a bird, and a squirrel are vintage Disney. The oft-repeated scene of Merlin battling it out with the mean old Madame Mim still is worth a few chuckles, but it belies the problem with most of the film--the scenes are only there for the chuckles. References by Merlin to television and other items of modern life also mar the generally innocuous landscape. Children will like it, but they won't cherish it. --Keith Simanton
Description
Dazzling color and brilliant animation bring the medieval legend of King Arthur to life in THE SWORD IN THE STONE. With a forest full of charm, spectacle, and wizardry, Disney's classic tale conjures up delightful entertainment for all ages! England is in the midst of a dark age and without a proper king, Young "Wart," an orphan and squire-in-training, is content with kitchen duties in his foster home -- until he drops in on the extraordinary wizard Merlin and his articulate owl, Archimedes. Through three life lessons, Wart learns to set his "sights on the heights," armed with the most powerful forces on earth -- intellect, wisdom, and love. When it's time to contest who will be king, Wart must use his newfound knowledge to do what no mighty knight has done before! Join in all the magical marvels that make THE SWORD IN THE STONE a classic animated film and pure Disney gold!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 106 more reviews...
 Not Up To Your Standards? July 28, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Maybe that's because it's a movie for little kids you twit.
I didn't intend to review this but I see all these jack*ffs slamming a children's cartoon and I just had to say something.
"What do you get when you mix TH White and Disney and BLAH BLAH DIDDLEY BLEH!"
Oh you witty rascal you.
Shut up. Just shut up.
Very happy tp add to my collection July 26, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Old Disney movie that is fun to watch. Glad to have in DVD format for my collection of Disney movies
Yay July 17, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I love this movie, i am so glad that it is released again for Disney lovers everywhere
Much better than I once thought July 13, 2008
As other reviewers have duly noted, this film (first released in 1963) is based on the first of four parts of T.H. White's The Once and Future King (1958), focusing on Arthur's birth, childhood, and youth before he became king of England. The film has been reissued as a 45th anniversary edition. It features the well-selected voices of Sebastian Cabot (Sir Ector/Narrator), Karl Swenson (Merlin), Rickie Sorensen (Arthur/"Wart"), Junius Matthews (Archimedes), and Alan Napier (Sir Pelinore). Frankly, I was underwhelmed when I first saw it many years ago and had little patience with the antics. While seeing it again recently, I found the film much more entertaining and frequently charming.
In our family, a film's "acid test" for grandchildren is for them to want to see it again, immediately. After I watched it with several of the younger ones, they requested that but agreed, instead, to check out "Merlin's New Magical Academy Game," passing on the other bonus features. I would not rank The Sword in the Stone among the "classic" animated features produced by Disney (e.g. Bambi, Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo, Pinocchio, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) and Pixar (e.g. Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, and WALL-E) as well as DreamWorks' Antz and Shrek. However, how many animation features do?
Perhaps there are other grandparents and parents who also saw The Sword in the Stone years ago, as did I, and are not inclined to have a copy available for children to see. I urge them to reconsider because it possesses a unique "magic" of its own. I think they will also enjoy the bonus features. Hopefully this reissued version will attract the interest and gain the appreciation the film clearly deserves.
 3 1/2 Stars--Worth It For the Extras July 13, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Made in 1963 and based upon the 1938 story of the same name by Terence H. White, THE SWORD IN THE STONE was Disney's attempt to bring the legend of King Arthur under the Disney banner. The film begins with the wizard Merlin talking with his owl, Archimedes. Merlin is awaiting the arrival of a young boy who he wants to train and educate so he is prepared for his exciting future. The boy, nicknamed "Wart", literally falls through Merlin's roof. Merlin immediately begins Wart's education and returns with the boy to the castle where he resides as a squire for the son of his guardian.
THE SWORD IN THE STONE isn't as well known as many other Disney animated features. However, I remember watching the film on television as a child and there were a couple of scenes that stuck out in particular. The first was when Merlin turns himself and Arthur into squirrels. Arthur meets a young female squirrel and while trying to avoid her, causes her to fall in love with him. I'm not sure why, but I found that particular episode fascinating; what would you do if you could magically turn into an animal and a creature of the same species but of the opposite sex wanted to mate with you?
The second scene that stood out to me was the wizards duel between Merlin and the evil witch Mad Madam Mim. Merlin uses magic to help others while Mim uses magic for destruction and to hurt others. The duel is brought to a conclusion with some very creative thinking from Merlin.
Overall, though perhaps not as memorable, fascinating, or memorable as many other animated Disney films, THE SWORD IN THE STONE is an entertaining movie that families with little children can sit and watch together. It does stray from some of the more popular Arthur legends, but it may intrigue youngsters enough to cause them to investigate other Arthur stories. Also, the film is the first Disney animated feature with songs written by Richard and Robert Sherman.
Many Disney Platinum and Anniversary DVDs have been lacking in the extras department. There are actually some really good extras on this disc, especially considering THE SWORD IN THE STONE is a lesser-known Disney picture. There are two wonderful shorts on the disc. The first is "Knight for a Day". It features Goofy in a slightly different form as a medieval squire who has to take over when his knight "disappears" just before a joust. The second cartoon short on the disc is the classic "Brave Little Tailor". This short stars Mickey Mouse as a tailor who after a bit of misinterpretation is sent to slay a giant. If he's successful, the King has promised him riches beyond compare as well as the hand of his true love, Princess Minnie. I remember first reading this story in a volume of Disney storybooks as a child. It was one that stuck with me through the years and I fell in love with the short when I saw it on television years later. "Brave Little Tailor" also has a cameo by Pluto, but not in his now-familiar dog on four legs form.
In addition to these two great shorts, THE SWORD IN THE STONE 45th ANNIVERSARY DVD includes a featurette with the Sherman Brothers discussing and performing the two songs they wrote for the movie, but that were cut. Other extras include a song selection feature; a trivia game about the film entitled "Merlin's Magical Academy Game" that's surprisingly fun to play a few times; a clip of Walt Disney performing magic tricks; and a "making of" featurette.
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