The Sword in the Stone

The Sword in the Stone

The Sword in the Stone is a Disney film from 1963 based on parts of The Once and Future King (1958) by T. H. White, in which Merlin the Magician gives social and magical lessons to a young boy known as Wart, who eventually pulls a magical sword from a stone and anvil to become hailed as King Arthur.

Year:
1963
1,924 Views

[Merlin is being chased by a corpulent female squirrel, eventually screaming and falling off a tree branch and into a bush.]

Merlin:
By George! I've had enough of this nonsense! ALAKAZAM! [In an atom bomb explosion, Merlin changes back into a human, causing the female squirrel to scream.] There! You see? I'm an ugly, horrible, grouchy old man!

[The female squirrel runs up a tree and chirps angrily at Merlin. In response, Merlin barks like a dog, scaring her off.]

Arthur:
Merlin!

[Merlin turns around to see a girl squirrel hugging Arthur tightly.]

Merlin:
So, here we are.

Arthur:
Quick, Merlin, the magic!

Merlin:
Snick, snack, snorum!

[Merlin turns Arthur back into a human and Arthur laughs, which causes the girl squirrel to gasp.]

Arthur:
There, now you see? I'm not a squirrel, I'm a boy. [The girl squirrel chirps as if asking a question.] I tried to tell you. I'm-I'm a boy. A human boy! [The girl squirrel climbs up to a knot on her tree and sniffs.] Oh! If you could only understand.

[The girl squirrel runs up to the hole in the tree and cries her heart out as Arthur and Merlin remorsefully walk away.]

Merlin:
Ah, you know, lad... that love business is a powerful thing.

[The girl squirrel, sobbing, pokes her head out of her tree hole and watches Arthur and Merlin slowly walk away.]

Arthur:
Greater than gravity?

Merlin:
Well, yes, boy, in its way, I'd, uh- Yes, I'd say it's the greatest force on Earth.

[The girl squirrel climbs to the top of her tree to get one last look at Arthur and sobs one last time as the screen fades to black.]

Merlin:
Archimedes, have you seen that flying machine model?

Archimedes:
I have nothing to do with your futuristic fiddle-faddle, you know that.

Arthur:
[pointing to the airplane model right above Merlin] What's that thing up there?

Merlin:
Hmm? Oh, yes, of course. Here we are. [takes it down]

Arthur:
Do you mean man will fly in one of those someday?

Archimedes:
[scoffs] If man were meant to fly, he'd have been born with wings.

Merlin:
[winding up the propeller of the model airplane, but not noticing his long beard getting caught in it] I am about to prove otherwise, Archimedes, if you care to watch. Here she goes! [He tosses it out the window] No, no, no - NO! [The plane unravels from his beard at the wrong angle, and starts to fall out of the sky.]

Archimedes:
[laughs] Man will fly, all right! Just like a rock! [The model plane lands in the moat with a crash, and is sunken out of sight. Archimedes then laughs harder.]

Merlin:
It would have worked if... if it weren't for this infernal beard! [Archimedes continues to laugh hysterically.] Man will fly someday, I tell you! I have been there! I have seen it!

Arthur:
Oh, I do hope so. I've always dreamed about flying; that I was a bird and that I could go sailing all over the sky, high above everything... [Merlin sneaks up behind him and quietly changes him into a sparrow] It's my favorite dream. [sighs] But then, I suppose everyone dreams about flying-- [notices his new form; happily] I'm a bird, I'm a bird, I'm a bird! [starts to flutter clumsily out the window]

Merlin:
[grabbing him in one hand] Hold it, boy! Not so fast, not so fast. First, I'd better explain the mechanics of a bird's wing. [grabs Archimedes' wing and runs his finger along the feathers] Now, these large feathers are called the primaries, and--

Archimedes:
And since when do you know all about birds' wings?

Merlin:
I have made an extensive study of birds in flight, and--

Archimedes:
[crossly] And if you don't mind, I happen to be a bird!

Merlin:
All right, Mr. Know-It-All! He's your pupil! [sets Arthur down firmly]

Arthur:
Ouch!

Archimedes:
Now boy, flying is not merely some crude mechanical process. [clears his throat offensively at Merlin, who clears his throat in return] It is a delicate art. Purely aesthetic! Poetry of motion! And the best way to learn it is to do it.


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