The Sword in the Stone

The Sword in the Stone is set in a medieval England left without a king, where a sword embedded in stone carries an inscription promising the throne to whoever can pull it free. No one has managed it. Into this world comes Wart, a young boy serving as a squire in the household of Sir Ector, whose life changes when he meets Merlin, an eccentric wizard with knowledge of what lies ahead. Merlin takes it upon himself to educate the boy, using transformations and lessons that range beyond ordinary schooling, including a magical contest with the witch Madam Mim. Wart's preparation eventually brings him face to face with the sword and the destiny attached to it.

The film was directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, appearing in his filmography between One Hundred and One Dalmatians and Aquamania in 1961 and The Jungle Book in 1967. Bill Peet wrote the screenplay, and Walt Disney produced. The voice cast includes Sebastian Cabot as the narrator and Sir Ector, Karl Swenson as Merlin, Junius Matthews as Archimedes the Owl, Martha Wentworth as Madam Mim, Norman Alden as Kay, and Rickie Sorensen as Wart. Made for a modest budget, it became a commercial success, and its ratings sit at 7.1 out of 10 on IMDb and 7.2 out of 10 on TMDB, well above the 5.7 out of 10 from critics.