Review: As You Wish by Cary Elwes

The only disappointing thing about this behind-the-scenes memoir about the making of The Princess Bride is that I’ve finished reading it. 

Like It’s A Wonderful Life and The Wizard of Oz, the 1987 movie, The Princess Bride, took on a new life years after its release. It’s the swash-buckling adventure tale of true love between a farm hand and a beautiful maiden, his apparent death and the Prince who wants to marry her. It’s funny and it works on both the adult and the kid levels. The movie struggled at first to find an audience because no one was sure what it was. The title said “girl stuff” but the story said danger and sword-fighting.

Rob Reiner was fresh off This is Spinal Tap when he directed Elwes (rhymes with Elvis), a teenage Robin Wright, Chris Sarandon, Mandy Patinkin, Andre the Giant and others in the film written by William Goldman, who wrote the original story as a gift for his daughters. Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, Christopher Guest are all memorable and the movie spawned several catch-phrases that have endured: Have fun storming the castle!  Inconceivable! As you wish. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!

Elwes, a British actor, was barely out of his teens when he was cast in the lead role of Westley/The Man in Black. And although he’s been in a long list of films since then, he will probably always be best known for The Princess Bride. He tells the entire story from his audition through a punishing schedule of fencing lessons to any and all behind-the scenes details he can remember. Other cast and production members also have their say.

Andre the Giant, who died in 1993 at just 46, was the most positive, sweet man who took reactions to his size in stride. Teeny spoiler: they decided to film an alternate ending that involved putting the four main characters on horseback but the Clydesdale brought in for the 500 lb. Andre was having none of it. The horse refused to allow him to mount. So they had to rig up a series of straps and pulleys to lower Andre above the horse to make it seem as if he was sitting on it. After all of this effort and several takes of the scene, it was never used in the film.

The Princess Bride is one of those films that’s passed down to new generations. It’s good clean fun and the four-month shoot in England appears to have been a special time for those involved. A 25th anniversary reunion apparently inspired the idea for the book and it’s a must for any fan of the movie.