Way Back Wednesday - The Princess Bride

"Have fun stormin' the castle!"



(From IMDB) The Princess Bride is a 1987 film, based on the 1973 novel of the same name by William Goldman. It is a story of comedy, adventure, romance and fantasy.

The movie was directed by Rob Reiner from a screenplay by Goldman. The story is presented in the movie as a fairy tale being read by a grandfather (Peter Falk) to his sick grandson (Fred Savage), thus echoing the book's narrative style.

A beautiful woman named Buttercup (Robin Wright) lives on a farm in the fictional country of Florin. She delights in ordering the farm hand Westley (Cary Elwes) to perform chores for her. Westley's only answer is "As you wish."

Eventually Buttercup realizes his true affection for her, and she returns his love. Westley leaves to seek his fortune so that they can marry, but Buttercup later receives word that his ship was attacked by the Dread Pirate Roberts, who is notorious for taking no prisoners. Five years later, believing Westley to be dead, Buttercup is reluctantly engaged to Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), heir to the throne of Florin.

From here the story dissolves into a kidnapping plot by a trio of outlaws: a Sicilian criminal named Vizzini (evilly played by Wallace Shawn), the Spanish fencing master Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) - my favorite character - and the gigantic wrestler Fezzik (André the Giant) - who is a pussy cat. They are pursued by a masked man in black (Westley in disguise).





Our tale takes us into the Fire Swamp where Humperdinck finally "rescues" Buttercup. She agrees to return with Humperdinck in exchange for Westley's release, but Westley ends up in the torture chambers.













By the end of the story, Buttercup is saved from marriage to Humperdinck - who is exposed as the bad man he is - Inigo and Fezzik rescue Westley and Inigo learns who killed his father. Buttercup and Westely are finally married, and Inigo and Fezzik go off to resume the duties of the Dread Pirate Roberts.

This is a truly wonderful love story that is safe to watch with all members of the family. No foul language, only implied mild violence and many acts of courage and chivalry. Our family watches this movie at least once a year and it is a movie I can't wait to share with my grandchildren.