After William Goldman’s novel The Princess Bride was published in 1973, film studios immediately saw its potential and vied for the movie rights. 20th Century Fox won out, paying Goldman to adapt his novel into a screenplay. But after languishing in development hell for over a decade, Rob Reiner and Norman Lear finally brought Goldman’s fantastical fairy tale to the big screen in 1987. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue the 1988 Academy Awards Best Visual Effects Nominees series with a conversation about one of our non-nominees The Princess Bride.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about:
We discuss the film’s classic quotable lines, unforgettable characters like Inigo Montoya and Fezzik, the comedic yet sinister Prince Humperdinck, and the palpable on-screen chemistry between Robin Wright and Cary Elwes. We also analyze Goldman’s brilliant meta approach to the novel and script, the film’s purposefully unrealistic visual effects, and how Rob Reiner adeptly brought this iconic fairy tale parody to life.
Here are a few other points in our discussion:
- The film’s unexpected Christmas movie connections
- Mandy Patinkin’s fantastic performance as Inigo Montoya
- How the story skewers notions of love, royalty, and leadership
- The amazing swordfight paired with Mark Knopfler’s score
- Why fans adamantly resist remakes or sequels
The Princess Bride is beloved for good reason – it’s clever, funny, beautifully shot, and full of indelible moments. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
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- Original Material
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