There are many contenders for greatest children’s film of all time. Mary Poppins, Toy Story, E.T but they are all wrong. There is and can only be one to rule them all and it is ‘The Princess Bride’. Written by the legendary William Goldman, this timeless tale of everlasting love, kindly giants, vengeful swordsmen, human sized rats and the greatest declaration of a characters intentions of all time, The Princess Bride has it all. Funny, sweet and heartburstingly charming it should be on adult and child’s must see movie list.
Most of us can quote the film but many of you may not know some of the amazing facts behind the film so let us present...
Things You May Not Have Known About...THE PRINCESS BRIDE!
Before Goldman wrote The Princess Bride, he asked his two daughters what he should write about. One said “a princess” and the other said “a bride,” and the title was born.
Director Rob Reiner auditioned over 500 women for the role of Buttercup, including Courtney Cox, Meg Ryan, Uma Thurman and Whoopie Goldberg.
During cold filming days, André the Giant would put his hand on Robin Wright’s head — which reached past her eyes and covered the back of her neck — to keep her warm. WE LOVE YOU ANDRÉ!
The final scene of the movie was originally going to be The Grandson looking out his window and seeing the four heroes, sitting on white horses, waving from below. Reiner decided against it and reshot the final scene.
In a scene where Westley gets hit on the head by Count Rugen, Carey Elwes told Christopher Guest to actually hit him. He did, and it sent Cary to the hospital and stopped production for a day.
Reiner’s first choice to play Vizzini was Danny DeVito, but the role ultimately went to Wallace Shawn.
You can see the hat Reiner wore during filming for Spinal Tap hanging in The Grandson’s room.
Shawn was terrified of heights, and in the scene when Fezzik climbs the Cliffs of Insanity, André the Giant comforted Shawn by softly patting him and saying “I’ll take care of you.” Ahhhh!
There may be a sequel, someday. Goldman has long teased a follow-up to be titled Buttercup’s Baby. The furthest he’s gotten is a first chapter, which has been included in some printings of the Princess Bride.
