Variety
The characters, though cute and cuddly and sweet and mean and ugly and simply awful, don't really have much to do that would remain of interest to any but the youngest minds.
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The Black Cauldron
A young pig keeper and his friends must destroy an ancient magical cauldron before the Horned King (John Hurt) uses it to conquer the world.
In the mythical land of Prydain during the Dark Ages, lowly pig herder Taran (Grant Bardsley) dreams of becoming a knight. He receives his heroic calling when the evil Horned King kidnaps Hen-Wren, a prophesying pig that had been entrusted to Taran. With help from his furry sidekick Gurgi (John Byner) and Princess Eilonwy (Susan Sheridan), Taran must locate the magical black cauldron before the Horned King is able to use its powers to summon an army of undead.
The Black Cauldron is the 25th entry in the Walt Disney Animated Classics and was the first in the series to utilise CGI.
Less1985Rating: PG, Low level violence80 minsUSAWalt Disney Pictures
AdventureAnimatedKids & FamilyFantasy
- Director:
- Ted Berman ('The Fox and the Hound')Richard Rich ('The Swan Princess', 'The King and I', 'The Fox and the Hound')
- Writer:
- David JonasVance GerryTed BermanRichard RichAl WilsonRoy MoritaPeter YoungArt StevensJoe Hale
- Cast:
- Grant BardsleySusan SheridanFreddie JonesNigel HawthorneArthur MaletJohn BynerJohn HurtLindsay Rich
The Black Cauldron | Reviews
55%33 reviewsRotten Tomatoes® Score
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Time Out
As usual it is technically excellent, but the charm, characterisation and sheer good humour that made features like Pinocchio and Jungle Book so enjoyable are sadly absent.
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The New York Times
This is the 25th full-length animated feature from Walt Disney studios, and professionally put together as it is, many of the ingredients may seem programmed to those who have seen some of the others.
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Roger Ebert
By the end of The Black Cauldron I was remembering, with something of a shock of nostalgia, the strength and utter storytelling conviction of the early Disney animators. The Black Cauldron is a return to the tradition.
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Empire Magazine
Possibly not the worst animated feature the House Of Mouse has produced, but certainly stumbling around the darker recesses of the Disney vault.
Full reviewThe Black Cauldron | Release Details
The Black Cauldron is available to stream in New Zealand now on Google Play and Apple TV and Disney+.