About The Sword in the Stone

The Sword in the Stone, released in 1963, is a captivating Disney animation inspired by T.H. White's novel of the same name. The film explores the youthful adventures of King Arthur (then known as Wart) under the guidance of Merlin the magician. The interesting journey sees Wart being transformed into various animals to learn life lessons, leading to him pulling the legendary sword from the stone, marking his destiny as England's future king.

Making/Production

The film was produced by Walt Disney Productions and directed by Wolfgang Reitherman. It was the last movie released before Walt Disney's death. The movie features rich, vibrant animation, characteristic of Disney's style, and follows a fairly linear narrative, punctuated with musical sequences.

Actors

• Rickie Sorensen: Sorensen lent his voice for the character Wart/Arthur. His youthful and innocent voice perfectly embodied the curiosity and courage of young Arthur.
• Karl Swenson: Portrayed the iconic character Merlin, showcasing a range of emotions from jovial to stern, reflecting the complex personality of the wizard.
• Martha Wentworth: Voiced the character Madam Mim. Her ability to convey both the comedic and vengeful aspect of her character is noteworthy.

Trivia/Interesting Facts

• The film was the last one for which the Sherman brothers wrote songs while Walt Disney was still alive.
• The character of Merlin was modelled after Walt Disney himself.
• The movie was based on the first book of T.H. White's novel series, "The Once and Future King".

Awards

The Sword in the Stone was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment.

Quotes

• "It's up to you, how far you'll go. If you don't try, you'll never know." - Merlin
• "For every to, there is a fro; for every stop, there is a go, and that's what makes the world go round." - Merlin

Music, Soundtrack

• "The Sword in the Stone" - Title song sung by Fred Darian
• "Higitus Figitus" - Merlin's magic song
• "That's What Makes the World Go Round" - Sung by Merlin and Wart while they are fish
• "A Most Befuddling Thing" - Sung by Merlin after Wart’s squirrel adventure
• "Mad Madam Mim" - Madam Mim's self-attribute song