The Princess Bride is a novella by William Goldman, a renowned author and screenwriter. Set in 1941, it is framed as an “abridged” retelling of a centuries-old tale set in the fabled country of Florin. The novel follows the adventures of one of seven children from the same family as they seek their own happily ever afters despite their reluctant fairy-godfather. The novella is rich in character and satire, with snappy dialogue and great acting.
Goldman’s novella is built on a fictional frame claiming to be an abridgement of an old book by someone named S. Morgenstern. The film is built as a story that knows itself to be a retelling, with the message being that the novel is rich in character and satire. The novella is rich in character and satire, and is more fun when read as part of the Entwined Tales series.
The Princess Bride is a romantic fairy tale novella that can be read on its own or as part of the Entwined Tales series. It combines elements of comedy, adventure, fantasy, drama, romance, and fairy tale. The novella is metafictionally presented as an abridgment of a longer work by Simon Morgenstern, who wrote the original story.
The Princess Bride is a tale of true love, high adventure, pirates, princesses, giants, miracles, fencing, and a frightening assortment of wild beasts. The screenplay for the novel is a perfect example of the old saw “If you want something done right, do it yourself.”
📹 Everything Wrong With The Princess Bride In Inconceivable Minutes Or Less
The Princess Bride is one of the greatest movies ever made, full stop. We still sinned it, because that’s sort of what we do, and …
How accurate is The Princess Bride to the book?
The Princess Bride movie is almost the same as the book. This movie is almost exactly like the book. Both were written by William Goldman.
How is The Princess Bride a story within a story?
The Princess Bride is a frame story because it has two stories. In the first story, William Goldman explains how he first heard the story of Wesley and Buttercup and how he changed it to make it more modern.
Is The Princess Bride based on history?
In The Princess Bride, author William Goldman tells two stories that aren’t true but seem real. The first is the “classic tale” of The Princess Bride, which Goldman says was written by S. Morgenstern from the country of Florin. Morgenstern and Florin are made up, but Goldman refers to them as if they exist. This story is about Westley, who fights for Buttercup against Prince Humperdinck. Goldman says he’s shortening this story for readers. He calls it the “good parts version.” Goldman isn’t actually abridging anything because he made up the “original.” Goldman’s second story is about his father, a Florinese immigrant to the U.S., reading him The Princess Bride as a child. Goldman tries to share this story with his son, Jason. Goldman makes readers think about the purpose of literature. Goldman mixes fact and fiction, showing that the two aren’t that different. Fiction can have real truths. Goldman gets pneumonia as a kid and his dad reads him The Princess Bride. Stories can bring people together. They entertain us and help us interact with each other. Goldman and his father become closer as his father reads to him. Before this, Goldman and his father were not close because of their different cultures and languages. He says his father was ugly, unlucky, and unsuccessful. His father immigrated to the U.S. and never learned English, so Goldman says his father’s speech was embarrassing. Reading The Princess Bride to Goldman lets his father connect with him in a new way. Goldman learns to forgive his father’s poor English because he’s so excited about the story. This shows how stories can break down cultural barriers. Goldman says that after this, he and his father only connected over their love of The Princess Bride. He would sometimes ask his father to read him passages. His father always agreed, helping them to build a relationship again. This is made up. In real life, Goldman’s father wasn’t an immigrant from Florina because Florina doesn’t exist. He killed himself when Goldman was a teenager, so they couldn’t be close. Goldman’s life isn’t like this, but he’s saying that literature can connect people even if it’s not true. The story itself is true.
What is Princess Bride a parody of?
In The Princess Bride, William Goldman mocks fairy tales and traditional writing.
What was the inspiration for The Princess Bride?
They were daughters of Oscar-winning screenwriter William Goldman. Goldman wrote The Princess Bride and the 1987 movie adaptation. The original story was written by S. Morgenstern. Goldman was inspired by fairy tales he made up for his daughters. He told Entertainment Weekly that when they were around four and seven, he asked them what they wanted to hear a story about. One said a princess, the other said a bride, and that’s how he came up with the title. In his introduction to the 25th anniversary edition of the book, Goldman said he almost didn’t get to make the movie. Fox bought the book rights when The Princess Bride was published. Goldman wrote a screenplay, but the studio wouldn’t buy it until they knew the movie was going ahead. Fox hired Richard Lester to direct, but the project fell through. Goldman realized Fox could hire another writer, so he bought back the rights. He made many deals and was disappointed before he found the perfect partner in director Rob Reiner. Robin Wright would still make a great Buttercup. Wright nearly lost the part after a bad audition.
What was the point of Princess Bride?
The Princess Bride is about Westley and Buttercup. Westley is a farm boy when he works on Buttercup’s family farm. Westley says, “As you wish.” Buttercup and Westley fall in love.
Is The Princess Bride book considered a classic?
Answer: The Princess Bride is a classic. Many readers consider The Princess Bride a classic. A classic is often the same as a canon. The canon is a list of important works of literature.
What is the message of The Princess Bride?
Love, loyalty, and friendship. The characters in the stories and in The Princess Bride are asked what it means to be a good friend, parent, or partner. William Goldman sets out to tell two different stories in The Princess Bride. Neither is entirely true, but they are presented as factual history. The first is the “classic tale” of The Princess Bride, which Goldman says was written by a writer named S. Morgenstern from the country of Florin. The story of The Princess Bride is about Buttercup, the most beautiful woman in the world. After Westley dies, Buttercup agrees to marry Prince Humperdinck. Before their wedding, Humperdinck plots with Vizzini and Fezzik.
Is The Princess Bride based on a fairy tale?
Goldman told stories to his daughters (aged 7 and 4) about princesses and brides. He describes the characters as silly. Buttercup, Humperdinck. The novel is often seen as a parody of adventure stories, but Goldman didn’t intend to write it that way. He just wanted to write a fun fairy tale for his daughters. The themes of romance, escape, and revenge also make this a parody. The countries are both named after coins. The florin was an Italian gold coin minted in Florence. It later became a name for various currencies. The guilder was a Dutch gold coin and later the name of various currencies used in the Netherlands and its territories. The two names are often the same. Goldman said he wrote the first chapter about Buttercup, which was about 20 pages long. Then he wrote the second chapter, The Groom, about her future husband. Goldman only wrote four pages before running out of ideas. Then he had the idea to write a shorter novel. When that idea came to him, everything changed. Tennessee Williams says there are three or four days when you write a play and the good parts come to you. The Princess Bride opened itself to me. I’d never had a writing experience like it. I went back and wrote the chapter about Bill Goldman being at the Beverly Hills Hotel. It just came out. I’ve never felt so connected to my writing. It was new and satisfying. It was a contrast to the films I’d been doing. I wanted to be a novelist again.
Is The Princess Bride book based on another book?
The Princess Bride is a book within a movie. The movie is based on a real book, but there are differences between the two versions. William Goldman’s The Princess Bride was first published in 1973. The Princess Bride is a book within a movie. The movie is based on a real book, but there are differences. William Goldman’s novel The Princess Bride was first published in 1973. Goldman was also a screenwriter, known for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men. He adapted The Princess Bride for the screen. The Princess Bride, a great fantasy movie from the 80s, starts with a man reading a fairy tale to his grandson, who is home sick. Most of the film is based on the book. The story is about Princess Buttercup of Florin. The princess falls in love with a farmhand named Westley. After Westley is thought to have died in a shipwreck, Buttercup is forced to marry a prince. She is kidnapped before the wedding. Westley is found alive, and the movie follows their journey to find each other and live happily ever after. The Princess Bride was changed from the original book. The film was changed to make it better for the screen. Here are the biggest differences between the film and the book.
Why do Christians like Princess Bride?
Richard Greene says Westley’s words show Humperdinck’s weaknesses and cowardice. He never uses the sword, like Christ did with the Pharisees. The film also uses the Christ-like archetype in other ways. Westley climbs the Cliffs of Insanity, like Satan challenged Jesus to jump from a high place to prove he was divine (Matthew 4:5-7). Westley loves Buttercup even though she rejects him. This is like how Jesus says the Heavenly Father loves us. The most identifiable phrase from the film has a biblical origin. Just as Christians can choose to accept God’s love and salvation, Westley’s gentle response to Buttercup’s scorn is a reminder of God’s mercy. Buttercup is the Church, the bride of Christ. Hewlett says that Buttercup doesn’t know who he is, like Israel didn’t know who Jesus was. Westley criticizes her for being unfaithful. After Westley dies, Buttercup’s faith helps her believe she will go to heaven. This is like the Church, the bride of Christ, waiting for the second coming to be with God. The religious characters in The Princess Bride have meaning in their stories and in the end. Mike Lewis says that the two main relationships in Goldman’s film are between the grandfather and grandson and Westley and Buttercup. The framing element shows these two relationships are similar. The audience likes the characters and wants them to get better. They want them to be like their archetypal counterparts. If you learn about mindfulness or empathy by working with those close to you, your relationships with everyone else will improve. These relationships must be reconciled for the characters and readers to grow spiritually. When Westley first sees Buttercup in the film, he says, “I told you I would always come for you.” Why didn’t you wait for me? Buttercup replies, “You were dead.” The story has many parallels to the Christ story. For example, Jesus asked His disciples why they could not wait and pray with Him as He asked (Luke 22:39-46). He also interacted with Thomas, who did not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead even though He had promised to return (John 20:24-29). Westley says that death cannot stop true love. It can only delay it. Buttercup’s reply shows that her journey to transformation has begun.
How close is the movie The Princess Bride to the book?
The Princess Bride is a novel about Princess Buttercup and Westley’s love story. The film is a fairy tale. The stories are similar, but the book is more detailed. The Princess Bride is a book within a movie. The movie is based on a real book, but there are differences between the two versions. William Goldman’s The Princess Bride was first published in 1973. Goldman was also a screenwriter. He wrote Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men. It was only natural that he adapted The Princess Bride for film. The Princess Bride, a great fantasy movie from the 80s, starts with a man reading a fairy tale to his grandson, who is home sick. Most of the film is based on the book. The story is about Princess Buttercup of Florin. The princess falls in love with a farmhand named Westley. After Westley is thought to have died in a shipwreck, Buttercup is forced to marry a prince. She is kidnapped before the wedding. Westley is found alive, and the movie follows their journey to find each other and live happily ever after. The Princess Bride was changed from the original book. The story was changed to make it better for the screen. Here are the biggest differences between the film and the book.
📹 THE PRINCESS BRIDE Review- Fantasizing About Fantasy Films
It’s inconceivable to think of a better fantasy movie than Rob Reiner’s The Princess Bride, based on the book by famed Hollywood …
I cant believe you overlooked the amazing delivery of Mandy as Inigo when he plunges the sword Rugen’s chest saying “I want my father back you son-of-a-bitch!” I believe that total deserved a sin reversal especially given the context of why he delivered it so passionately. The actors real father had recently lost his battle with pancreatic cancer before filming and that was him demanding his real father back. really touching.
2:42 The book (and yes, believe it or not, the movie about a book is actually based on a book about a book) actually gives some more context in that it provides some backstory for Fezzik and Inigo. Thing is, Fezzik was always pretty big as a kid and so his parents eventually decided that they wanted to make him a wrestler. But it really made him unhappy since, even though he won all of his fights, people booed at him because he was utterly massive and only winning due to his strength, making it seem like he was picking on his opponents. He also was being bullied all the time. It was in greenland that both of his parents passed on from a disease and Fezzik was just very lonely with not even the faintest idea on what to do, even more scared of other people than they were of him. Suffice to say, Fezzik doesn’t have pleasant memories in regards to Greenland.
From André the Giant\r’s wiki “He appeared most notably as Fezzik, his own favorite role, in the 1987 film The Princess Bride. Both the film and his performance retain a devoted following. In shoot interviews, wrestlers have stated that he was so proud of being in the film that he carried a copy everywhere he went and insisted a VCR be available in his hotel rooms on the road so he could watch it repeatedly.”
“Where are the parents?” As a mom tbh if my dad was reading to one of my kids I wouldn’t be checking on them constantly because I’d use that time to do chores or run errands. Having a sick kid can actually cause a lot of issues if you have a busy schedule so having a grandparent entertain or distract your kid can be a god send
Inigo’s phrase “I do not think it means what you think it means” is a joke about how those feats cannot really be inconceivable since Wesley conceived them. I’m sure I’m not the only one to know this, but you’d be surprised by how many seem to think this is a lexical error correction rather than a joke at Vizzini’s expense.
True story: Director Rob Reiner and his fiancee decided to get married on an impulse, but they didn’t have any witnesses to stand with them. A car drove up and a lady rolled down her window to say, “Princess Bride was a delight from start to finish!” Reiner asked her if she wanted to be in a wedding. Good things can come from saying something NICE about a movie.
Fun fact: they shot the scene outside the fire swamp before they filmed Westley and Inigo’s duel. Somebody in production told the 6 finger man to straight up hit Cary Elwes on the head with the pretty realistic prop sword. So Christopher Guest hit him, knocked Elwes out and sent him to the hospital with a concussion, and that is the one and only take they were able to get of that shot. So when they got to the end of the duel, no one was allowed to actually hit anybody.
Inigo’s “inconceivable” line does make perfect sense. He’s pointing out how it shouldn’t be used to describe things that are happening in plain sight right in front of them. It’s like when people use “literally” to mean “figuratively” – it crosses the line from exaggeration to being the opposite of the word’s definition.
The fencing scene was truly a masterpiece. And the fact that they were so polite about it kinda is historically accurate, since fencing was a gentlemen’s sport in the setting of the movie. Also, my dad yells “Have fun stormin’ the castle!” every time someone leaves. When my former teacher’s son was married, his brother, who was the pastor, quoted the wedding scene’s pastor at the wedding rehearsal. This is truly one of the best movies out there.
Obviously during the story read the Mom came in to check in on them, and brought PB&J; Maybe rifled through the closets for dirty clothes for the washer, but was careful not to disturb the storytime because A) it was cute having her son so engrossed to his grandpa, and 2. her son was finally off his beep-beeping machine.
Interesting fact about this movie: when they were in the middle of shooting this movie Mandy Patinket who plays Inago lost his father to cancer so when he didn’t the scene where he duels with the count he imagined the count as cancer and that he was actually fighting for his father which not only made the scene more authentic and memorable but also help Mandy Patinket through his grieving process.
At 8:56, the R.O.U.S’s have an impeccable sense if smell and will try to kill anything that has blood on it or is injured. Westly stabs the R.O.U.S so that the others will be distracted eating it instead of hunting them, meanwhile he (in the book) tries to cover his wound as they make their escape. 🙂
I thought he’d sin Inigo’s line regarding the horses: “Fezzik… you did something right!” I mean… it’s not exactly the first time Fezzik did something right. And Inigo IS right about inconceivable. Vizzini is using it to replace “unbelievable” or “unlikely.” But it is the opposite of “conceivable” as in, something that you can conceive. It IS conceivable that someone could catch onto rocks and then begin climbing on a rock face.
How did you NOT sin this line??? “Fezzik… you did something RIGHT!” Excuse me? Fezzik captured Buttercup, saved her from the shrieking eels, got your group up the Cliffs of Insanity, found YOU drunk in the Thieve’s Forest, Sobered your ass up, got you to the Albino’s grove, picked up a holocaust cloak and a wheelbarrow even before you knew you needed one, played the hardest part in the plan to get through the Castle Gate, AND intimidated the Captain of the Guard… How is Inigo somehow surprised when Fezzik does something right?? Fezzik is the one who kept hope alive THIS far!!!
“I don’t even exercise” He wasn’t being a dickhead, he was being serious, Andre didn’t exercise at all and he was a beast. In the behind the scenes book Cary Ewes (My man Wesley) made, they talked about a lot of this type of stuff. Like how in the fight scene with Inigo he had a broken toe from riding Andre’s 4 wheeler lol Also, Billy and Carole improvised nearly every line for their scenes. Freaking incredible people.
They don’t check on Grandpa because he’s GRANDPA. He’s not some weirdo from out of town. Grandparents often keep kids for days, even weeks, on end. Buttercup acts like that because she is a young girl in love. Don’t you remember high school? “Inconceivable” doesn’t mean “incredible” – it means “cannot be thought of”. inigo is correct – it doesn’t mean what the Sicilian thinks it means. I can’t believe you sinned “No – lemme sum up.” 🙂 The biggest sin that I see – and that you missed – is this: the Dread Pirate Roberts isn’t just a fictional character; he’s one who always kills all of the captives – in fact, the previous DPR killed all of his, except for Wesley. So this is a continuing part of the DPR story. Therefore, Wesley spent at least five years putting his victims to death. Somehow, Buttercup overlooks this completely.
-The reason Inigo is correct about “inconceivable” is because everything he was reacting to that way was indeed conceivable…unlikely, but conceivable. Hence, his quote was precisely on point, because the word wasn’t a total whiff but was just wrong enough to merit the criticism! -Taking a sin off without comment for IM’s line…I feel like Ken Watanabe’s character at the end of The Last Samurai. -It’s fitting that a number of the sins in this article are really pointing out the parody/tongue-in-cheek humor of this film, a tone that helps make it so incredible in the first place. -“Star Wars fans”…I’m Ken Watanabe again!
I hate to be a “wElL AcTchUAllY” guy here, but, no. “Inconceivable” is not synonymous with “unbelievable”. To be inconceivable means a thing could not be conceived of, ie, could not have been foreseen. The joke here is that he’s a self-styled genius who thinks anything he didn’t foresee is “inconceivable” when really, any half-wit could have guessed that the “inconceivable” thing might happen.
Wait wait wait I just noticed one huge plot hole here. How in the ever-loving f*ck did Westley know that Buttercup had been kidnapped by Vizzini in the first place??? Like he’s just magically following them after they kidnap her, but he was away pirating for years? How in the world did he learn that information??
14:16 At the end, Andre the Giant hooks them up with those horses and Inigo Montoya’s like: “Fezzik, you did something right”. And it’s like, bro, Andre’s been doing stuff right the whole movie. Knocking out servants, bustin’ down castle doors – basically carrying your revenge and sangria soaked ass. So instead of being a patronizing jerk, how about a simple, “hey, thanks for the horses, bro.”
9:25 Fun Fact; Cary Elwes(lead actor) around this time in the film was literally knocked unconscience by the very pommel(under the grip, on a sword) the character was meant to be knocked out by. The prop guy didn’t swap out the pommel for a fake one and when the other actor was to hit Cary on the head. The blow actually knocked the poor guy out. Good job prop guy!
I would like the point out, that in his book “As You Wish”, Cary Elwes mentions that during the shooting of the fire swamp scene, her dress DID catch fire unintentionally. So even if it didn’t in that shot, points for safety? Also, he shot most of the movie with a broken foot, he broke it early in shooting playing around on an ATV.
Inconceivable is not just “I find this hard to believe”, it means “I cannot conceive or imagine this situation to happen”. Now, in the sense of it being used in a hyperbolic way, it makes sense. But in the literal sense, it definitely is not impossible to conceive of the idea that someone climbs a cliff.
“Lying to her helps no one.” Stephen King used to go on and on about this. If you’re in a terrifying situation you can’t control, and someone you love is having unpleasant feelings about it, you comfort them as best you can, even if you know the comfort is false. It’s kind of like how we all pretend to each other from moment to moment that we’re not all going to die soon. I used to read his prose and think it was dishonest, till I found myself doing the same thing.
Reading many of these comments makes doubt the survival of the human species 🤣 First off, I agree with you about being one of the greatest movies ever made. It’s been one of my all-time-favorites since it was first released. In addition, your entire snarky commentary was absolutely hilarious and made me legitimately…L.augh O.ut L.oud!!! Well done. Unfortunately most of the comments here seem to have sincerely and drastically missed the point. Oh well. Loved this. New subscriber!
I’d remove some of the few sins this movie actually has. I always thought that the parts that don’t make logical sense like the way she is pulled out of water, climbing, fighting and yanking her up onto the horse were done on purpose. I thought it was to look like it would in someones head/imagination as they were reading the book. Everyone pictures what they’re reading and they don’t stop their own imagination to make sure it’s all logistically correct. Maybe I’m wrong but that’s how I saw it when I was younger.
SHAME ON YOU! …for not including this incredible prediction. Fezzik: Why do you wear a mask? Were you burned by acid, or something like that? MIB: Oh no, it’s just that they’re terribly comfortable. I think everyone will be wearing them in the future. Also, 11:51 made me laugh. “Savage.” Because it’s Fred Savage. Lol
He’s berating her to see if she’ll say she’s still holding a torch for her dead boyfriend. That’s why he reveals himself as he’s rolling down the hill — she’d just made the “I love Westley” speech. Also, Inigo wasn’t lucky. He was guided by the spirit of his father. Are you sure you’ve seen this movie? Also, I’m sorry you were abused by your grandfather.
08:47 among other places… is it just good luck for the story participants or is it that things worked out in this story well for the people we are supposed to care about and that made it a story to be retold? In the alternate universe where Buttercup/Wesley die rolling down that hill or get killed by lightning sand or R.O.U.S.’s or where Inigo doesn’t accidentally open the secret passage, etc, there just is no happy ending and it is a sad story we never hear about.
I’m not offended that you would sin this masterpiece of a movie. It’s your job, after all. I am, however, offended you didn’t remove sins for: 1. You are the Brute Squad 2. Get used to disappointment 3. I want my father back, you son of a theremightbeyoungchildrenreadingthis 4. Drop your sword I’m also offended you didn’t remove all the (or at least 10) sins at “My name is Inigo…father — prepare to die.” And also that you didn’t address the masks line, whether to give or remove a sin.
This movie was my absolute FAVORITE growing up. So much so that, at my wedding, we played the theme music (storybook love). Anyway, my dad is a pastor and both he and my mom walked me down the aisle. Now, my dad was actually performing the wedding, and being funny, he ACTUALLY DID the “mahwaige” bit DURING THE CEREMONY. My mom threatened to kill him. Everyone laughed their butts off. 22+ years later, this still puts a smile on my face. Love this movie, faults and all!
Humperdinck and co were on top of the hill when Buttercup and Westley entered the Fire Swamp, so I think they just went around to the other end to catch up to them. Since they’re on horseback and Buttercup and Westley are on foot, it’s reasonable that they would be faster. I’m surprised you didn’t sin Humperdinck recognizing the iocane powder by smelling the container – something that should be impossible as Westley said it was odorless. 10:48 I think Humperdinck is basically ruling on his father’s behalf while still a prince, since the King is shown to be basically senile (when Buttercup tells him she’s going to kill herself, he’s just like “won’t that be nice”). So that might be why he is called “Majesty.”
No one ever does, but I’m surprised he didn’t add a sin for Westley being the Dread Pirate Roberts. I can’t be the only one who’s thought of this. The Dread Pirate Roberts has earned a reputation as a ruthless, bloodthirsty pirate who “never takes prisoners”, and Westley filled that role for years. He even complains in one scene that he can’t afford NOT to kill his victims because then word gets around and people begin to disobey you, so it’s not like he made Roberts go soft. The hero of the freaking movie is a psychopathic, mass-murdering sea-mugger.
Objection: ‘inconceivable’ is a word used to describe something that is so preposterous or unlikely that the very idea of it can practically only be fictional. Example: Human beings are flying from the earth into space without any means of lift or breathing? Inconceivable! Vs. He caught himself? Inconceivable!
“How does Buttercup not recognize the voice?” That’s the question should be asked when in superhero movies outside of the one’s where they don’t wear a mask on when the hero is in the presence of those who they are related to, love, or friends when their alter ego shows up when the civilian disappears.
4:06 Yes, like many things (begging the question) people have removed the distinction between these in use… but that’s Inigo’s point. You can certainly conceive of something that you don’t actually believe, or think is so improbable that it is difficult to believe. You definitely can’t believe (in the probability of) something you can’t actually conceive of in the first place, though… So it’s certainly “conceivable” (in that one could create a mental image) how the things Vizzini finds improbable occurred, or even that they did, it’s just that they’re so unlikely, to his mind, that they strain credibility.