| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Cary Elwes | ... | Westley | |
| Mandy Patinkin | ... | Iñigo Montoya | |
| Chris Sarandon | ... | Prince Humperdinck | |
| Christopher Guest | ... | Count Rugen | |
| Wallace Shawn | ... | Vizzini | |
| André the Giant | ... | Fezzik (as Andre the Giant) | |
| Fred Savage | ... | The Grandson | |
| Robin Wright | ... | The Princess Bride | |
| Peter Falk | ... | The Grandfather | |
| Peter Cook | ... | The Impressive Clergyman | |
| Mel Smith | ... | The Albino | |
| Carol Kane | ... | Valerie | |
| Billy Crystal | ... | Miracle Max | |
| Anne Dyson | ... | The Queen | |
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Margery Mason | ... | The Ancient Booer |
An elderly man reads the book "The Princess Bride" to his sick and thus currently bedridden adolescent grandson, the reading of the book which has been passed down within the family for generations. The grandson is sure he won't like the story, with a romance at its core, he prefers something with lots of action and "no kissing", but he lets grandfather continue, because he doesn't want to hurt his feelings. The story centers on Buttercup, a former farm girl who has been chosen as the princess bride to Prince Humperdinck of Florian. Buttercup does not love him, she who still laments the death of her one true love, Westley, five years ago. Westley was a hired hand on the farm, his stock answer of "as you wish" to any request she made of him which she came to understand was his way of saying that he loved her. But Westley went away to sea, only to be killed by the Dread Pirate Roberts. On a horse ride to clear her mind of her upcoming predicament of marriage, Buttercup is kidnapped by a... Written by Huggo
This film is an intelligent, sardonic send up of several genres that pokes fun (affectionately) at fairy tales, swashbucklers, love stories and basic conventions of film. One of my favorite scenes is where Inigo Montoya first confronts his quarry after years of searching. His adversary does the unexpected-and what most villains in real life WOULD do under the same circumstances, with hilarious results in the scene. Basil Rathbone probably whirled in his grave!
Not by any means Citizen Kane (we already have one of those, anyway) but a champ in its weight class, with a perfect score, a fine script and good performances. Far more true to the flavor of the original fairy tales that it spoofs than even the best of Disney's takes. I loved it the first time I saw it and love it more now. Well worth watching. Recommended.