| | | | The Princess Bride
(1987) |
hen "The Princess Bride" was first released in theaters in 1987, it only performed okay in the box office; it didn't truly acquire it's devoted fans and deserved cult hit until after the video release.
At that point word of mouth spread quickly and it became a huge college hit and was subsequently deemed a "cult classic."
Currenty rated as the 8th most popular 80's movie on the IMDb and as such in the vaunted company as "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Raiders of The Lost Ark" you'd have expected that availability on video would be no problem. In fact, for a few years, in the USA, the video was out-of-print and could not be found anywhere. Every available copy had pretty much been sold. Luckily, for those who had searched fruitlessly for years, it was re-released in 1997 for its 10th Anniversary and is now available in most places (though the case has changed, and many fans have objected to the plastic covering, as well as the fairly dopey description of the movie on the back in which they even misspell Westley's name). availability in Europe is no problem.
In any case, the movie is incredible. From the phenomenal cast (including Cary Elwes, Robin Wright Penn, Mandy Patinkin, and others [see cast listing for full cast], as well as guest appearances by Billy Crystal, Peter Falk, Carol Kane, Mel Smith, and Fred Savage); to the beautiful photography and scenery (no wonder most of the movie was filmed in aesthetically pleasing spots in both England and Ireland); to the many memorable lines, such as the famous: "My name is Inigo Montoya; you killed my father; prepare to die;" and to the fun twists and turns of the plot.
The movie opens with a Grandfather (Peter Falk) reading his Grandson (Fred Savage) one of his favorite books, "The Princess Bride." The story takes us to the land of Florin where a young woman, Buttercup (Robin Wright Penn) is tormenting her "Farm Boy," Westley (Cary Elwes).
"Death cannot stop true love; all it can do is delay it for a while."
However, she soon realizes she actually loves him and of course, he loves her (as he displays by saying "as you wish" to everything she requests). Because he's poor, Westley must leave her to find "his fortune across the sea," but Buttercup soon finds out that his ship has been captured by the Dread Pirate Roberts "who never left captives alive."
Upon learning of this news, Buttercup promises herself that she will never love again. This is, of course, the background for the slew of fantastic events that occur to Buttercup afterwards; she becomes betrothed to the Prince of the land (Chris Sarandon), is then kidnapped by three unusual men (Wallace Shawn, Mandy Patinkin, and Andre the Giant), is kidnapped again from the kidnappers, and it gets better and better from there (I can't give away the whole story now, can I?)
And one should not forget the infamous six-fingered man, Count Rugen (Christopher Guest), R.O.U.S's, Miracle Max (Billy Crystal) and Valerie (Carol Kane), lightning sand, "Mawaige," and all the other memorable creatures, characters, and quotes! If you haven't seen this movie or it¹s been ages since the last time you watched it, rent it immediately; you won't be disappointed!.
 Don't forget that The Princess Bride is now available to order on Widescreen DVD using our special 80s Retro Assistant...
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Certainly one of the best "all rounders" from the 80's. A worthy cult hit.
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There actually was a Dread Pirate Roberts. Bartholemew Roberts, aka "Black Bart," was a very well-known and ruthless priate who plundered the Atlantic Ocean in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He drew up the "Pirates Code," which most pirates of the day were forced to sign, upon joining a pirate crew. The British finally caught up with him in 1722 off the coast of Africa and he was killed in the ensuing battle. There were also two pirate ships named "Revenge." The first was "Queen Anne's Revenge," which was one of Blackbeard's ships and one of those involved in his famous raid on Charleston in 1718. The second was a ship commanded by the Scottish pirate John Gow, beginning in 1724.  -Thanks to Constantine
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My mom and I saw Mandy Patinkin on tour and also witnessed the dramatic quote ("I am Inigo Montoya...") You could hear which fans only knew his Broadway music and which fans were familiar with Princess Bride... and the Princess Bride fans definitely made a lot more noise! Personal note: Mandy is a wonderful, sweet man in person, I got to meet him backstage after that performance and have my pic taken with him. He played a doctor on Chicago Hope and a psychological profiler on the show Criminal Minds (2006). -Thanks to Colette
Cary Elwes (Westley) was able to use the swordfighting skills he picked up from "The Princess Bride" in his later film, "Robin Hood: Men in Tights"
Miracle Max is played by Billy Crystal, but the makeup is so good you can only tell it's him by the voice. -Thanks to Kevin Allustiarti
Mandy Patinkin (Inigo Montoya) is also a well-known musical theater star and won a Tony Award for his performance as Che in the original Broadway cast (with Patti LuPone as Eva Perone).
Chris Sarandon (Prince Humperdink) was related to Susan Sarandon--they were once married!
The countries in the story, Guilder and Florin, are not real countries but the name of two Dutch coins. -Thanks to Chris Casino
Mandy Patinkin also plays the Hunchback of Notre Dame in the TNT Original Movie. -Thanks to Ryan
William Goldman just re-released his novel for its 25th anniversary (1998) and in it there is the first chapter of the "supposed" sequel to the novel, called "Buttercup's Baby." Some fans are skeptical that the actual completed sequel will ever be released. So cross your fingers!
Estimated budget for the movie was a mere $16 million. Shot in DeLuxe color at Lee International Studios in Shepperton, England and in Ireland. Filming began August 18, 1986 and was completed December 1986. Screened at the 1987 Toronto Festival of Festivals and London Film Festival. Released in USA September 25, 1987.
It's not fantastically important, (and I'm not even sure it's true) but many of my friends have asked me why Fezzik is so hard to understand. The reason is that his character is Turkish, but the actor was French and the movie was English! With so many accents and languages, no wonder! -Thanks to Michelle
The Princess Bride remains one of the most quoted films of all time and is rated 8.2 on the Internet Movie Data Base. -Thanks to Louise
Chris Sarandon who played Prince Humperdink starred as a Professor during the 1st season of 'Felicity'.
Christopher Guest, the 6 fingered man, has starred in/directed the movies "This is Spinal Tap", "Best in Show", "Waiting for Guffman", and "A Mighty Wind". In real life he is married to Jamie Lee Curtis, for over 20 years. -Thanks to Ashley
S. Morgenstern is a psuedonym for Goldman. S. Morgenstern is also credited with "The Silent Gondoliers".
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Find much more great trivia in the filmmaker's commentary on the Princess Bride DVD.
Rediscover your favorites! If you like
The Princess Bride or 80's Romantic Comedy classics, then be sure to
check out this list: ..... Can't Buy Me Love ..... Say Anything ..... Some Kind Of Wonderful ..... Sixteen Candles ..... Valley Girl ..... Switching Channels ..... Grandview, U.S.A. ..... Dance 'til Dawn ..... Don't Tell Her It's Me ..... Mannequin ..... Teen Wolf ..... Secret of My Success ..... Secret Admirer ..... Pretty In Pink ..... She's Having a Baby ..... Dream A little Dream .....[More]
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It has been alleged that "The Princess Bride" screenplay is, in fact, a version of the original Princess Bride by the author S. Morgenstern. The version that Goldman wrote was apparently structured the way that Goldman's own father had read to him when he was sick as a boy. Goldman, much later in life as an adult, tracked down the book in New York and upon reading it himself he realized that his father cut out hundreds of pages, including an entire chapter detailing what exactly happened to Buttercup in the three years between Westley's departure and his return as the Dread Pirate Roberts (much of that chapter involved her being taught how to be a princess and Goldman agreed with his father's omission of it because of it's sheer boredom). You can find more details on all of this if you pick up the 25th anniversary edition of the book "The Princess Bride". -Thanks to Brian SheridanHowever, the S. Morgenstern story may have been made up by author William Goldman, presumably to give the book/movie a more genuine fairy tale feel to it. Goldman has admitted publicly in one of his screenplay books that every word in the novel and screenplay were his and he made the whole Morgenstern thing up. -Thanks to Chris Casino
During the opening scenes of the movie, a grandfather (Peter Falk) begins reading the Princess Bride story to his sick grandson (Fred Savage) in the boy's bedroom. You will catch a glimpse of the boy's baseball cap hanging near his bed. This cap was placed there by the movie's director, Rob Reiner, to fulfill a request by Mark Knopfler, who composed the music for the movie. Knopfler, former frontman for Dire Straits, agreed to write and perform the music for the movie, if Reiner would place somewhere in the movie a cap he had worn in the movie "Spinal Tap". -Thanks to Sian
Director Rob Reiner had auditioned over 500 women for the role of Buttercup before hiring Robin Wright Penn for the role. This was also her major film debut. -Thanks to David Jones
In the scene where Cary Elwes jumps on Andre the Giant's back, a body double was used for some of the shots. Andre's back was unable to support more than about 100 pounds. In the closeup shots, Cary Elwes is actually walking along a raised platform behind Andre. Also, when Andre catches Buttercup at the end, Robin Wright Penn is being supported by cables. -Thanks to Brad Jacobsen
When Goldman was trying to get the movie made in the 1970's, several problems with every studio he took it to occurred. At any rate, at the time, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was an unknown bodybuilder at the time, wanted to play Fezzik. Goldman was considering him strongly because he could never get his first choice, Andre the Giant, to read for it because he was always wrestling. By the time the film was made in '85-86, Schwarzenegger was such a big star they couldn't afford him, Andre was cast after all and Schwarzenegger presumably held no grudges since Andre had a part in the second Conan movie during which the pair became friends. -Thanks to Chris Casino
When the Count whaps Westley over the head, the actor playing Westley (Cary Elwes) told the Count (Christopher Guest) to really go all out and and hit him. Well, he did and production had to be shut down for a day while Elwes made an unscheduled trip to the hospital! -Thanks to Dani Krejci
My Mother claims this is true whenever I watch the movie. Goldman asked his two daughters what his next book should be about. One answered "A princess," the other answered, "Brides.". Hence, The Princess Bride. -Thanks to Jen
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|  |  |  | | The Princess Bride
Locations |
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The film was shot at Lee International Studios, Shepperton, England, with additional locations in rural Derbyshire and Kent. Haddon Hall, once owned by the illegitimate son of William the Conqueror, represented Florin Castle. Medieval Penshurst Place, Hever Castle, Burnham Beeches and the forboding Cliffs of Moher on the southwest coast of Ireland, which doubled for the Cliffs of Insanity, were also among the locations.
The scenes where westley and buttercup are running over limestone rocks and grass is shot in the Burren in the West of Ireland. [Thanks to Anna]
The scenes were Westley is catching up to Buttercup and fights Andre were, I think, filmed at Brimham rocks in Yorkshire, England. [Thanks to Gillian]
The poisoned wine contest of wits scene appears to have been filmed at Malham Cove, also in the Yorkshire Dales national park, but some distance northwest of Brimham Rocks.[Thanks to Dean Meservy]
Some of the scenes where they are running across moorland could also be in the Hope Valley/Castleton area at a hill called Carl Wark. [Thanks to Dawn Harrison]
The scene where Westley fights the giant was filmed near 'Fox House' in Derbyshire, roughly 15 miles from the centre of Sheffield.
Where Westley and Buttercup fall down the hill together is in Castleton, Derbyshire [Thanks to neil robinson]
I live in Derbyshire about 4 miles from Haddon Hall, in a place called Matlock. When Wesley fights Andre the Giant the rock he gets pushed onto when he's on Andre's back I'm 100% sure that it's at a place called 'Robin Hoods Stride' which is a large outcrop of rocks surrounding a larger rock formation. I took a walk up it this weekend and it all ties in with whats on screen plus it makes sense because all the Derbyshire locations are a matter of miles away. I also think that in the opening scenes when you see Buttercups Farm and all the countryside around it there are a few views of the fields leading down from stanton in the peak which is a small village. [Thanks to Andrew Yates]
In 1986 I was working at Penshurst Place in Kent, and had the pleasure of organising the filming of various sequences for The Princess Bride. We filmed the sequence where Count Rugen and Inigo Montoya fought to the end in the Barons Hall at Penshurst. More time however went into preparing the undercroft, which in the final cut of the film appeared for no more thgan a second or two, as the two combatants ran through it. The staff at Penshurst spent the next months eating their way through the sackloads of vegetables that were used as props.
Later that year i moved jobs, and ended up at Haddon Hall in Derbyshire, a major location for the film. Although the crew had moved on by then, there were certain lasting remenants of their visit, including the remains of the village built below the Castle, and additional bridges that were built over the River Wye.
An additional tower was built on the roof of Haddon Hall, presumably at Rob Reiner's request (apparently to make the 13th Century building look more authentic!) A visiting commercial photographer was sufficiently fooled by this Hollywood addition to photograph the building, with modern addition, and then print 2500 postcards. He came to my office to offer me the postacrds to sell in the gift shop, and was mightily perplexed when I took him to the courtyard and showed him that the Tower in the picture was no longer there! Those postcards could become collectors items now! [Thanks to Nick Day]
Can you help? Do you know any of the (or any other) filming locations used for The Princess Bride? [Please send them in]
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The latest CD is a specially remastered HDCD version. The music was all written by Mark Knopfler of "Dire Straits" fame, but the song "Storybook Love" was written by Willy DeVille. There's also a funny story by Princess Bride Movie Director Rob Reiner in the liner about how the soundtrack came to be.
The quote: "My name is Inigo Montoya; you killed my father; prepare to die!" was stated in a recent poll to be one of the most recognized quotes from a movie. In 1997 I attended a Mandy Patinkin concert. He finished his (spectacular) main performance and of course the audience stood and demanded an encore. The stage was dark for several minutes. Then a single spotlight came on, Mandy walked out to the microphone and repeated that famous line. The audience went crazy and it was another several minutes before he could begin his actual encore song. -Thanks to Elizabeth
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