This is a fun family classic that doesn’t have staying power beyond the superficial. It wisely adopts a simple, straightforward plot, instead of the more complicated storylines of the novel by the same name or The Once And Future King. Instead the bulk of the film is dedicated to training antics which allows it to show off its main fantasy element: Merlin’s magic. The wizard’s duel is the most iconic scene and rightly so, as the rest of the movie is basically an extension of those few minutes, and makes it a solid entry in the catalog of classic Disney films.

Closest comparison: It’s like The Jungle Book (1967) by way of The Black Cauldron (1985).

Setting: Adventure
Plot: Fantasy
Tone: Family Comedy