The Princess Bride (1987)

Director:

Rob Reiner

Writers:

William Goldman (screenplay) and
William Goldman (book)

Release Date:

25 September 1987 (USA)

Genre:

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:

Prince | Pirate | Giant | Princess | True Love

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)
• Finnkino (1989) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Jugendfilm-Verleih (1988) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Film & Teater (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Atlantic Film (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• LW Editora (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Lionsgate (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1997) (Finland) (TV)
• Oy Europa Vision AB (1989) (Finland) (VHS)
• Pan Vision Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Vestron Video International (1988) (Belgium) (video)
• Vestron Video (????) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Video Film Express (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2001) (Finland) (TV)

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

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | West Germany:6 | South Korea:All | Brazil:Livre | 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:

During the filming of some scenes, the weather became markedly cold for Robin Wright Penn. André the Giant helped her by placing one of his hands over her head; his hands were so large that one would entirely cover the top of her head, keeping her warm.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Clear landing pad in the first fight scene when they jump off the rock. The landing is elevated and one can see the rubber mat ripple as they land. The pad can also be seen when Inigo and Fezzik walk to the edge to look down at Westley climbing up.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Featured in "I Love the '80s Strikes Back" (2003)

Soundtrack:

I Will Never Love Again

A great adventure film in somewhat the same style as other great fantasy adventures like The Neverending Story, The Princess Bride takes us on a wonderful trip along with fascinating and enormously amusing c

I'm not exactly sure what exactly it is that makes The Princess Bride such a spectacular film. Or, at the very least, I just can't pinpoint a single characteristic about it that really rises above all others as the main reason that no one should miss it. Indeed, it has a title that should prove to be remarkably uninteresting to the typical action adventure fan (okay, MALE action adventure fan), but even the most die-hard Die Hard fan would love this film. It is extremely important not to judge this film just because it has such a flowery and dangerously (at the risk of sounding shallow) girly name, because it is full of wonderful adventure and even some good killing and violence. Does this belong in this kind of romantic comedy? Absolutely! The cover box of the film looks like that of a cheesy romance novel, but the film is truly great from start to finish. And, indeed, the film is very aware of the superficial impression that it leaves, and it even presents it directly through Fred Savage's initial response to his grandfather reading him the story. But as the film goes on, we begin to have the same reaction that Fred has. We can't get enough.

Cary Elwes delivers by far the most outstanding performance of his career as Westley, the love-struck servant to Buttercup, a beautiful blonde woman living in a misty romantic fantasy world. Sadly, Elwes' later career has been punctuated by roles that do not serve him well, especially after such a stunning performance in this role. Liar Liar and Twister come immediately to mind. Robin Wright also gives one of the best performances of her career in her film debut here as Princess Buttercup, but the real quality of the performances that makes the movie so great is the fact that they were able to pack the film full of comic relief (it was nearly nonstop from start to finish) without taking anything away from the tension or the overall respectability of the film. It is interesting to consider the polar opposite effect of the comic relief on the vast majority of the James Bond films. Wallace Shawn is absolutely hilarious as Vizzini, the bonehead villain who is completely convinced that he has the whole world figured out, Andre the Giant delivers a lumbering but highly impressive performance as Vizzini's enormous, idiot sidekick, and by far my favorite of all, Mandy Patinkin creates one of the most entertaining and likeable characters created in a film in the entire decade of the 1980s (`My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!').

This is great stuff. Told as a story read from a book, just like The Neverending Story, The Princess Bride provides a magical mix of romance and fantasy and action and comedy to provide an enormously entertaining film for moviegoers of all ages. The Princess Bride is an absolutely wonderful film that is truly not to be missed.