Recovered Classic: The Princess Bride


Considered by some to be the Shrek of the 1980s, the universal appeal of The Princess Bride quickly catapulted director Rob Reiner’s irresistibly quirky movie into nailed-on instant classic territory. Based on William Goldman’s book (the author also penned the screenplay), Reiner hit upon a can’t-miss formula to craft a rampantly enjoyable tale of friendly giants, legendary pirates, vengeful swordsmen, wicked princes and heroic derring-do which nudges the entertainment needle off the scale.

Basically the story of a princess being rescued by her one true love, the film simultaneously celebrates and parodies the once upon a time genre and it’s Reiner’s ability to brilliantly pull off this nifty balancing act which is central to the movie’s storming success.

Then there’s the pitch perfect casting. Robin Wright as the kidnapped Princess Buttercup, Cary Elwes as her lost love Westley, who is presumed dead and later turns up alive to save her from the clutches of the dastardly crown prince Humperdink (Chris Sarandon). Not to mention swordsman Mandy Patinkin, colossus Andre the Giant and self-confessed genius Wallace Shawn as the trio of henchmen assigned to carry out Sarandon’s dirty work. It’s faultless, and we’ve not even mentioned Christopher Guest’s six-fingered man or Billy Crystal’s Miracle Max yet.

The rollicking adventure unfolds as a modern-day Peter Falk reads a book to sick grandson Fred Savage, the action pausing only occasionally to allow the youngster to butt in and moan about the kissing. This also allows the audience to catch its breath as the rip-roaring tale journeys to fantastical places such as the Cliffs of Insanity, the dreaded Fire Swamp and the Pit of Despair.

But The Princess Bride is so multi-layered that it’s memorable for so many standout features that it’s unfair to single out just a few. But we’ll have a go. First up, the film is eminently quotable, most famously for Patinkin’s “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die,” (a line he’s been saving since he was a boy to deliver to a murderous six-fingered man). As for the sword fight between Elwes and Patinkin, it’s an absolute corker, regarded by many as being one of the best in cinema history. Plus there's the buffoonery, the tongue-in-cheekery, the slapstick, the sparkling performances, the list goes on.

Infused with a palpable Monty Python sensibility and rife with hilarious knockabout banter, The Princess Bride is simply a joy from start to finish. Aside from that genuinely outstanding sword fight, there are countless wonderful scenes to marvel at, such as Elwes’ battle of wits with Shawn, Westley and Buttercup’s encounter with the Rodents of Unusual Size, Crystal’s guffaw-laden cameo as a man of magic and Patinkin’s thrilling showdown with Guest.

As movies go, it’s one of a kind. A unique slice of cinematic nirvana which deserves to be treasured and viewed again and again.

Reviewed by:
David Lichtneker

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