The Princess Bride (1987)

Director:

Rob Reiner

Writers:

William Goldman (screenplay) and
William Goldman (book)

Release Date:

25 September 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

Scaling the Cliffs of Insanity, Battling Rodents of Unusual Size, Facing torture in the Pit of Despair. - True love has never been a snap.

Plot:

A classic fairy tale, with swordplay, giants, an evil prince, a beautiful princess, and yes, some kissing (as read by a kindly grandfather).

Plot Keywords:

Storyteller | Loss Of Boyfriend | Drunkenness | Magic | Stabbed In The Chest

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Cary Elwes	...	Westley
Mandy Patinkin	...	Inigo Montoya
Chris Sarandon	...	Prince Humperdinck
Christopher Guest	...	Count Tyrone Rugen
Wallace Shawn	...	Vizzini
André the Giant	...	Fezzik (as Andre the Giant)
Fred Savage	...	The Grandson
Robin Wright Penn	...	Buttercup / The Princess Bride (as Robin Wright)
Peter Falk	...	The Grandfather / Narrator
Peter Cook	...	The Impressive Clergyman
Mel Smith	...	The Albino
Carol Kane	...	Valerie
Billy Crystal	...	Miracle Max
Anne Dyson	...	The Queen
Margery Mason	...	The Ancient Booer
Malcolm Storry	...	Yellin
Willoughby Gray	...	The King
Betsy Brantley	...	The Mother
Paul Badger	...	The Assistant Brute
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sallie McLaughlin	...	(uncredited)
Derek Pykett	...	Villager (uncredited)

Directed by
Rob Reiner

Writing credits
William Goldman		(screenplay)
William Goldman		book

Produced by
Norman Lear	....	executive producer
Steve Nicolaides	....	associate producer
Rob Reiner	....	producer
Andrew Scheinman	....	producer
Jeffrey Stott	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Mark Knopfler

Cinematography by
Adrian Biddle

Film Editing by
Robert Leighton

Casting by
Janet Hirshenson
Jane Jenkins

Production Design by
Norman Garwood

Art Direction by
Richard Holland
Keith Pain		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Maggie Gray

Costume Design by
Phyllis Dalton

Makeup Department
Lois Burwell	....	makeup supervisor
Andy Clement	....	special makeup effects assistant
Eithne Fennel	....	supervising hair stylist (as Eithne Fennell)
Nick Forder	....	makeup artist
Jan Jamison	....	hair stylist
Peter Montagna	....	makeup designer: Mr. Crystal
Peter Montagna	....	makeup designer: Ms. Kane
Barbara Ritchie	....	hair stylist
Peter Robb-King	....	makeup artist

Production Management
David Barron	....	production manager: UK
Loretta Ordewer	....	unit manager: Derbyshire
Mark E. Pollack	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ken Baker	....	assistant director
Peter Bennett	....	assistant director
Paul Taylor	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Bruce Bigg	....	property master
Sharon Cartwright	....	draftsperson
Derek Creedon	....	dressing propman
Mick Flanders	....	dressing propman (as Michael Flanders)
Brian Harris	....	dressing propman
Les London	....	stand-by propman
Jill Quertier	....	production buyer
John Ralph	....	draftsperson
Lucy Richardson	....	draftsperson
Alfie Smith	....	stand-by propman
Bill Stallion	....	storyboard artist
Micky Swift	....	stand-by propman (as Mickey Swift)
Peter Verard	....	construction manager
Peter Wallis	....	dressing propman
Keith Short	....	sculptor (uncredited)

Sound Department
Tom Bellfort	....	sound editor
Lon Bender	....	supervising sound editor (as Lon E. Bender)
Sandy Berman	....	special sound effects
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording engineer
Jacqueline Cristianini	....	sound editor (as Jacqueline Christianini)
Cameron Frankley	....	sound editor
Chris Hogan	....	sound assistant
Michael Hoskinson	....	sound assistant (as Michael R. Hoskinson)
Joe Hutshing	....	sound assistant
David John	....	sound mixer
Randy Kelley	....	sound editor
Larry Kemp	....	sound editor
Matthew Launay	....	boom operator
Joseph A. Mayer	....	adr supervisor (as Joe Mayer)
Vince Melandri	....	sound editor
John T. Reitz	....	sound re-recording engineer
Dan M. Rich	....	sound editor (as Dan Rich)
Ronald Roose	....	sound editor (as Ron Roose)
Gregg Rudloff	....	sound re-recording engineer
Hugo Weng	....	sound editor
William Dotson	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Craig Harris	....	special sound effects (uncredited)
Barbara McBane	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Bob Newlan	....	sound editor (uncredited)
David Young	....	sound transfer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Nick Allder	....	special effects supervisor
Robert Harman	....	cliff climbing effects: second unit: Ireland (as Bob Harmon)
John Hatt	....	special effects technician
Ron Hone	....	special effects technician (as Ronald Hone)
Phil Knowles	....	special effects technician (as Philip Knowles)
Terry Schubert	....	special effects technician
Rodger Shaw	....	animatronic supervisor
Neil Swan	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Bob Cuff	....	matte artist (as Bob Cuffe)
John Grant	....	matte supervisor
Kent Houston	....	matte supervisor
Edward Jaffe	....	grip: model photography unit
Ken Marschall	....	additional matte painter
John Morgan	....	camera operator: model photography unit
Nigel Stone	....	loader: model photography unit
Jonathan Taylor	....	focus: model photography unit (as Jonathon Taylor)
Paul Wilson	....	model photographer: model photography unit

Stunts
Andy Bradford	....	stunts
George Lane Cooper	....	stunts (as George Cooper)
Sue Crosland	....	stunts (as Sue Crossland)
Peter Diamond	....	stunt coordinator
Reg Harding	....	stunts
Terry Richards	....	stunts
Jason White	....	stunts
Kevin Hudson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ray Andrew	....	director of photography: Ireland second unit
Philip Aylewood	....	assistant camera: Ireland second unit
Clive Coote	....	still photographer
Gary Cross	....	electrician
Kevin Day	....	gaffer
John Deacon	....	assistant camera: Ireland second unit
Alfie Emmins	....	electrician
John Flemming	....	grip
Brian Harris	....	camera operator: Ireland second unit
Martin Hume	....	focus puller
Andy McDade	....	electrician
Terry Nightingall	....	camera loader
Shaun O'Dell	....	camera operator
John Outred	....	assistant camera: Ireland second unit
Nick Phillips	....	assistant camera: Ireland second unit
Larry Randall	....	best boy electric
Dave Ridout	....	electrician (as David Ridout)
Toby Tyler	....	electrician
Al Wilson	....	generator operator
Severin Woxholt	....	assistant camera: Ireland second unit
Lee McLaughlin	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Chris Warren	....	video operator: second unit (uncredited)

Animation Department
Nigel Trevessey	....	mechanical designer (as Nigel D. Trevessey)

Casting Department
Michael Hirshenson	....	casting assistant: USA

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Judy Bagley-Shaw	....	wardrobe assistant
John Birkinshaw	....	wardrobe assistant (as John Birkenshaw)
Jane Hamilton	....	assistant costume designer
Richard Pointing	....	wardrobe supervisor
Joyce Stoneman	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Phil Downey	....	color timer
Paul Hodgson	....	assistant editor
Jack Hooper	....	negative cutter
Andrew MacRitchie	....	assistant editor
Steven Nevius	....	assistant editor (as Steve Nevius)
Adam Weiss	....	associate editor

Music Department
Marc Di Sisto	....	music recording engineer (as Marc De Sisto)
Michael Dittrick	....	music editor
Guy Fletcher	....	musician
Mark Knopfler	....	musician

Transportation Department
Michael Bevan	....	unit driver (as Mike Bevan)
Roy Clarke	....	unit driver
Gordon Curran	....	unit driver
Terry Pritchard	....	unit driver
Terry Tapping	....	unit driver

Other crew
Bob Anderson	....	sword master
Gillian Bates	....	production coordinator
John Beharrell	....	production accountant
Bi Benton	....	assistant to producers
Danny Blackner	....	R.O.U.S. performer
Jennifer Collen-Smith	....	unit publicist
Leslie Cornyn	....	post-production accountant
Kevin De La Noy	....	production runner
Ceri Evans	....	script supervisor
Penelope Forrester	....	assistant accountant
Barry Fowler	....	mold making supervisor
Anthony Georghiou	....	R.O.U.S. performer
Paul Gregory	....	location projectionist
Alex Harwood	....	pattern maker
Bob Jordan	....	assistant location manager
Vivien Jordan	....	production secretary: UK
Trevor Kaye	....	production runner
Beverley Keogh	....	crowd coordinator
Emily Maupin	....	personal assistant: Mr. Reiner
Peter Morley	....	location projectionist
Philip Morley	....	location projectionist
Susan Nicholson	....	assistant accountant
Lori Patterson	....	production secretary: USA
Paul Shersby	....	location manager
Li Chin Tye	....	first aid
Bill Tomlinson	....	advisor: swordfighting choreography (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Act III Communications (presents)
• Buttercup Films Ltd.
• The Princess Bride Ltd.

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1987) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox Network (1990) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Nelson Entertainment (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Nelson Entertainment (1988) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (1989) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• PolyGram Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Jugendfilm-Verleih (1988) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• LW Editora (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Vestron Video International (1988) (Belgium) (video)
• Vestron Video (????) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Video Film Express (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  movie studio
• A&M Studios  music recorded at
• Entertainment Completions Inc.  completion bond
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Joel Optics Ltd.  contact lenses supplier
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Lions Gate Studios  sound re-recording
• Pacific Titles & Optical  opticals
• Peerless Camera Company  matte paintings
• Warner Bros. Records  soundtrack released by

Also Known As:

The Bridges' Bride (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

South Korea:All | Iceland:L | West Germany:6 | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Finland:K-10 | France:U | Netherlands:AL | Norway:10 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Canada:G (Nova Scotia) | Philippines:G

Filming Locations:

Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Act III Communications

Trivia:

Mel Smith (The Albino) has confessed to never having watched his performance in this film due to the painful experience involved in filming the role. His character required him to wear coloured contact lenses and, unknown to Smith and the costume department at the time, he was actually allergic to the lens solution used. This meant that Smith was in constant pain and discomfort throughout filming; hence, he is reluctant to relive the memory.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the king's palace, Inigo battles four of Count Rugen's henchmen. He stabs all four of them, yet there is not a drop of blood on his sword. Later, while battling Count Rugen, his sword suddenly has a lot of blood on it, but this is before he has stabbed Rugen. Meanwhile, Rugen's sword has blood on it from stabbing Inigo, until it all disappears in one shot, and he's fighting with a clean sword.

Quotes:

[first lines]
The Mother: Hi, honey.
The Grandson: Hi, mom.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The Curse of Monkey Island (1997) (VG)

Soundtrack:

The Friends Song

"As you wish" means "I love you."

By virtue of the "under 29" female vote, "Princess Bride" is somewhat overrated on the IMDB, but still is a good, fun movie. I rate it "8" of 10.

The recently-released special edition DVD is the one to view. The colors are nicely saturated in most scenes, it has 5.1 Dolby Digital sound, and there are lots of extras, including one of the better "making of" specials. One of my favorite actors is Mandy Patinkin, and here he is great as the Spanish swordsman seeking revenge for his father's death at the hand of the six-fingered swordsman played by Christopher Guess. This was Robin Wright's first film, as a 19-year-old, playing Buttercup. Cary Elwes is also perfect as her love interest. Andre the Giant, who died in 1993 at age 45, was so fitting in his role as the giant. Overall a fine cast and a fine, entertaining, funny film. A "comic fairy tale in a strange land" as read to a child.

The moral of the film, "True love conquers everything." How could anyone dislike such a story??