The Sword in the Stone1963The Sword in the Stone
1963
Wart is a scrawny orphan serving as a squire in a drafty castle, until the wizard Merlin arrives to be his tutor. Turning Wart into a fish, a squirrel, and a bird, Merlin teaches him lessons he'll need when England searches for the one who can pull a sword from a stone.
The default: films the whole family can watch together; any scary or intense moments for the littlest viewers are flagged in the Context Notes.
Why it’s here
Merlin teaches an orphaned boy that knowledge, wit, and humility matter more than brute strength, and the humble boy becomes king.
Context notes
For parents, before you press play.
Wart is bullied by Kay and punished unfairly by his guardian. Madam Mim's wizards' duel is mildly scary, and there's a wolf and a pike.
The Sword in the Stone (1963)
Discussion questions
When the credits end, go around the room. Each person gives the film a score out of ten and says why.
- What did Merlin want Wart to learn?
- What did Wart learn as a fish, a squirrel, and a bird?
- How did Merlin beat Madam Mim?
- Why do you think Wart could pull the sword out?
Content advisory
Common Sense Media 5+: bullying, a spooky forest, and a scary witch; wine with meals.
Trailer
Best edition
The disc comes first.
The Sword in the Stone Blu-ray (50th Anniversary Edition)
Blu-ray · August 6, 2013
Coming later
Where to stream
Streaming services are not listed yet. When they are, this note stays secondary to the disc.