Sword in the Stone | 
| Director: Wolfgang Reitherman
Actors: Sebastian Cabot, Rickie Sorensen, Karl Swenson, Junius Matthews, Ginny Tyler
Studio: Walt Disney Video
List Price: $22.99
Buy Used: $0.49
You Save: $22.50 (98%)
New (16) Used (74) Collectible (18) from $0.49
Rating:  89 reviews
Sales Rank: 904
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 80 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 6300691381
UPC: 012257229035
EAN: 9786300691384
ASIN: 6300275310
Theatrical Release Date: December 25, 1963
Release Date: September 29, 1993
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Used VHS may not have original jacket cover Used items may have grease marker or sticker on cover. Satisfaction guaranteed on all purchases. ** Possible marking on cover. 100% Satisfaction guaranteed on all purchases.
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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
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| Customer Reviews: Read 84 more reviews...
 Widescreen or not...that is the question. March 27, 2003
D. Diamond (Boston, MA United States)
88 out of 111 found this review helpful
I remember "The Sword in the Stone" as a widescreen movie, so I was dismayed to find that Disney had released this animated favorite to DVD in a cropped/pan-and-scan format. However, on further investigation, I discovered that, to my surprise, "The Sword in the Stone" was not a widescreen motion picture... at least not originally. Apparently, like "101 Dalmations" and other films of the late 1950s and early 1960s, "The Sword in the Stone" was made to be projected in one of two formats: either widescreen or full-frame, depending on the theater where it was shown. It seems that the Disney animators designed the film with a bit of 'extra picture' at the top and bottom of each frame; that way this 'extra' could be cut off without ruining the image in theaters playing it in widescreen. In other theaters, and on television, the film could be shown in a standard full-frame (1.33:1) format. So, according to Disney, the current full-frame DVD of "TSITS" is indeed the film in it's "original format'. Admittedly, it may not be the way that most of us remember this great little movie, but it is the way the folks at Disney made it.
 A much overlooked animated gem! February 11, 2005
John Lindsey (Socorro, New Mexico USA.)
21 out of 30 found this review helpful
Sometime in the medieval ages, there is a legend about this magic stone that contains a sword and according to the legend, who so pulls out the sword from the anvil shall become king of all England. Though many tried to pull it, no miracle and the sword was forgotten for ages in an age of no laws, brutality and darkness in just which magician Merlin has trouble with the days of no kings, he then meets a young squire named "Wart" ( a.k.a. Arthur) whom is a problemic young man with a mean foster father and big foster brother, Merlin then trains Wart through education in order to become more social and on adventures that will lead him to pull the sword out of the stone.
An underrated disney classic that is a delightful story with good animation for it's time, nice songs like "Higitus Figitus" and humor makes this a definite must have for the animation DVD collector everywhere.
The DVD has some great extras like two cartoons, Behind the songs with a deleted song that never made it into the film, still frame galleries, All Abou the Magic 1957 episode or "Walt Disney Presents", Film-facts, sing-alongs and great remastering with good sound quality.
"Big news from London" The Sword in the Stone is Great! May 24, 2000
G. Twietmeyer (State College, PA USA)
16 out of 20 found this review helpful
The Sword in the Stone is simply the best Disney animated film of all time! It's full of wonderful and unique animation. I can't stand how cookie cutter and overdone their current stuff is. (ie. Tarzan, could his chin get any bigger?) But the film is also full of brilliant well developed characters. Merlin and Archimedes are great fun as they bicker like a couple of siblings about how to teach Wart to think for himself. Wart is great fun and even side characters like Pelinor are full of quirks. (twitching his beard when ever he speakes) You'll understand when you see the movie. Give this film a chance and you'll love it. Leonard Maltin is either writing reviews from his Critics Cliff Notes or he accidently stuck his copy of "The Lion King II" in the VCR, because "Sword.." is great. The only reason I can think why people wouldn't like it is because we have forgot how to appreciate subtlety. This movie is great fun for both young and old. I'm 24 years old and I'm still watching it!
One of Disney's best classics December 5, 2000
retrowens (Alabama, USA)
14 out of 16 found this review helpful
"The Sword in the Stone" is one of my top 5 favorite Disney films of all time. A young orphan boy who is bossed around too much by his family, meets Merlin, a marvelous wizard who befriends the boy and teaches him many great lessons. Soon Merlin, Wart, and Merlin's educated pet owl, Archimedes, are all having fun and spending a lot of valuable time together. These lessons and the magic wonders of Merlin could help the boy succeed instead of fail like his whole family is pretty much doing. Also, there's another great mystery. Whoever removes a mysterious sword from the stone will become King of England.Everything about "The Sword in the Stone" is great. I've seen just about all the Disney films and I definitely have to say that "The Sword in the Stone" is the funniest one of all the ones I've seen. Archimedes the owl with his grouchy personality and the squirrel chases are especially hilarious. Also, Merlin will change himself and Wart to a fish, squirrel, and later change Wart into a bird, and those are some of the most memorable parts of the movie. The wizard duel close to the end of the movie is the most memorable and it's also exciting. "The Sword in the Stone" also has good music, especially the song that Merlin and Wart sing while they're transformed into fish, "Two and fro, stop and go, that's what makes the world go round." I've been watching "The Sword in the Stone" all my life. Now I'm 20 and I still like watching it every now and then. It's not just a movie for kids, it's for anybody no matter how old you are. "The Sword in the Stone" is entertaining, funny, and it never gets old. I recommend anybody to get this movie, it's a timeless classic.
Another must-have Disney classic! February 22, 2001
Kevin Hoffman (Portland, OR United States)
12 out of 14 found this review helpful
I remember the first time I saw this movie. I've always loved Arthurian legends, and in its usual style, Disney puts aside many historical facts in favor of a more entertaining movie, fun for the whole family. Sword in the Stone ranks up in the top 3 of my favorite Disney movies of all time. The characters are well done, Merlin is hilarious, and the artwork and colors are beautiful, making this movie great scenery for the younger kids, and great, enriching fun for the older ones.
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