The Princess Bride

Rob Reiner's 1987 adaptation of William Goldman's novel did polite business in cinemas and then became one of the most quoted films ever made. Pirates, giants, a six-fingered count, a Sicilian who thinks he is the smartest man alive, and a revenge speech that people still recite word for word almost forty years later.

Shop officially licensed The Princess Bride t-shirts featuring Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, Vizzini, Miracle Max, Westley as the Dread Pirate Roberts, and the lines that escaped the film entirely — As You Wish, Inconceivable, To the Pain, and Have Fun Stormin' Da Castle. Most designs come in a full run of colours, with plus sizes to 6XL and Tall fits available.
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Questions

When did The Princess Bride come out?
The Princess Bride was released on September 25, 1987, by 20th Century Fox.
Who directed The Princess Bride?
Rob Reiner directed it, coming off This Is Spinal Tap (1984) and Stand by Me (1986). He had received a copy of the novel from his father, Carl Reiner.
Is The Princess Bride based on a book?
Yes. William Goldman wrote the screenplay from his own 1973 novel of the same name.
Who is S. Morgenstern?
S. Morgenstern is the fictional author Goldman invented for the novel. The book presents itself as Goldman's abridgment of Morgenstern's longer work, complete with Goldman's commentary.
Who was in the cast of The Princess Bride?
Cary Elwes played Westley, Robin Wright played Buttercup, Mandy Patinkin played Inigo Montoya, and André the Giant played Fezzik. The cast also included Wallace Shawn as Vizzini, Chris Sarandon as Prince Humperdinck, Christopher Guest as Count Rugen, Billy Crystal as Miracle Max, Carol Kane as Valerie, and Peter Falk and Fred Savage as the grandfather and grandson.
Did other directors try to make The Princess Bride first?
Yes. François Truffaut, Robert Redford, and Norman Jewison all tried at various points. Fox paid Goldman $500,000 for the rights in 1973 with Richard Lester set to direct, but the project stalled when Fox's head of production was fired.
Did Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin really sword fight?
They spent about three weeks learning to fence before filming and practiced in most of their off-camera free time. They trained with fencing instructor Bob Anderson and stunt coordinator Peter Diamond, who had both worked on the original Star Wars trilogy.
Did André the Giant really carry Robin Wright?
No. André had major back surgery before filming and could not support other actors' weight. When he appears to carry Robin Wright, she was suspended by cables, and in the wrestling scene Elwes walked on ramps below the camera during close-ups.
Was Billy Crystal's Miracle Max improvised?
Partly. Billy Crystal and Carol Kane worked out their characters' backstory before traveling to England, and Reiner let them improvise some of their lines.
How late was Robin Wright cast?
Robin Wright was cast very late, about a week before filming began.
Where was The Princess Bride filmed?
It was shot in England and Ireland in 1986. The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland stood in for the Cliffs of Insanity, and Haddon Hall in Derbyshire served as the castle.
Who did the music for The Princess Bride?
Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits composed the score. The song "Storybook Love" was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Was The Princess Bride a hit?
It made about $30.8 million in the U.S. on a $16 million budget, a modest result at first. Its reputation grew over time, and audiences gave it an A+ CinemaScore.
What awards and honors has The Princess Bride received?
It won the 1988 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation and was selected for the U.S. National Film Registry in 2016. It also ranked #88 on AFI's list of the greatest love stories.
Is there a Princess Bride musical?
Several attempts stalled over the years. According to Wikipedia, a version with music by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez is scheduled for Chicago's Nederlander Theatre in summer 2027.