Synopsis: Humor, spectacle and magic rule in Walt Disney’s legendary classic tale The Sword In The Stone. Embark on an adventure-filled quest for an unlikely hero! According to legend, only someone with honor, decency and inner strength can claim the throne of England – by pulling out the enchanted sword that lies locked in a massive stone. Many brave knights have tried, so it seems impossible that a young apprentice known as Wart could succeed. But with the guidance of the wizard Merlin, help from some hilarious friends and true strength of character, Wart just might become England’s greatest king.
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The Sword in the Stone 7.5

I was incredibly surprised by this animated film. I saw ‘The Sword in the Stone’ so long ago that I remembered very little about it going in. There was a certain pull, but I would have been at a loss to explain it is anyone had asked why.

Perhaps it was the tale of a young King Arthur finding his destiny. However, unlike many other Disney films, I haven’t seen this one to death. Hardly. So I had no sense of how the story unfolded or where it would take me.

But an inexplicable fondness drew me to it. Thank goodness, too: if not for this, the film would likely have languished at the bottom of my ever-increasing list of things to watch. (Of course, I suppose that the fact that I decided to finally get through my unwatched Disney films might have helped some. )

What I’ve discovered is that ‘The Sword in the Stone’ was mostly made for kids – unlike the Walt Disney films of yore, which were for all audiences. For good or bad, this one is clearly made for much younger audiences; it wouldn’t have much replay value for more mature audiences, who would likely get bored with its simple approach.

In particular, there is a serious lack of story, and what little there is could quite effortlessly have been told in a 7-10 mins short. One must not expect a meaty retelling of the legend of King Arthur: most of ‘The Sword in the Stone’ revolves around the misadventures of Merlin and Wart as they transform into various animals and wander about learning life lessons.

There is an excellent educational aspect to the picture in that Merlin imparts on Wart that he will only make something of himself if he furthers his education – hence why Merlin teaches him all sorts of things about the world. It’s useful both for the character and for the film’s intended audience, and it’s all done in a fun, light way – not in a professorial, boring fashion at all.

As is in keeping with Disney films of the first half-century or so, the film is also a musical. I’m terribly pleased to report that there are only a few short and unassuming songs, so it’s not annoying – it’s not really a musical in the proper sense, and it absolutely did not detract from my enjoyment in any way (given how much I dislike musicals, that’s saying something ).

I was very pleased with the artwork, which I found excellent. It’s of the old-school, hand-drawn animation variety; much of the character work gives the impression of having been penciled in – it’s not at all slick-looking. I always have had a fondness for this style, especially since Disney’s artists were always top-notch, making the end results quite appealing – from the character designs to the paneling to the overall direction.

In the end, ‘The Sword in the Stone’ is a piece of fluff, but it’s a pleasing picture for kids ages ten and younger. It might even play well with younger teens, but anyone older than this might want to seek out something more substantial. It’s fun, but it’s somewhat unfulfilling as a cinematic oeuvre. I’m positive that it could be remade in a much more three-dimentional way, with more depth and more substance.