First| Previous| Up| Next| Last
The Princess Bride (1987)
Front Cover Actor
Cary Elwes Westley
Peter Falk The Grandfather
Billy Crystal
C. Thomas Howell
Robin Wright
Fred Savage The Grandson
Mandy Patinkin Inigo Montoya
Chris Sarandon Prince Humperdinck
Christopher Guest Count Tyrone Rugen
Wallace Shawn Vizzini
André the Giant Fezzik (as Andre the Giant)
Robin Wright Penn Buttercup/The Princess Bride (as Robin Wright)
Peter Cook The Impressive Clergyman
Andre the Giant Fezzik
Movie Details
Genre Drama; Romance; Family
Director Rob Reiner
Producer Rob Reiner; Andrew Scheinman
Writer William Goldman
Studio Magna
Language English
Audience Rating PG
Running Time 98 mins
Country USA
Color Color
IMDb Rating 8.2
Plot
Director Rob Reiner's The Princess Bride is a gently amusing, affectionate pastiche of a medieval fairytale adventure, offering a similar blend of warm, literate humour as his Stand By Me (1985) and When Harry Met Sally (1989). Adapted from his own novel, William Goldman's script plays with the conventions of such 1980s fantasies as Ladyhawke and Legend (both 1985), and with the budget never allowing for spectacle, sensibly concentrates on creating a gallery of memorable characters. Robin Wright makes a delightful Princess Buttercup, Cary Elwes is splendid as Westley and "Dread Pirate Roberts", while Mandy Patinkin makes fine Spanish avenger. With winning support from Mel Smith, Peter Cook, Billy Crystal and Carol Kane there is sometimes a Terry Gilliam/Monty Python feel to the proceedings, and the whole film is beautifully shot, with a memorably romantic main theme by Mark Knopfler. Occasionally interrupted by Peter Falk as a grandfather reading the story to his grandson, The Princess Bride is an elegant post-modern family fable about storytelling itself; a theme found in other 1980s films The Neverending Story (1984) and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988). A modest, small-scale work that manages to be both cynically modern and genuinely romantic all at once. As charming as you wish.

On the DVD: The 1.77:1 anamorphic transfer is strong, if not quite as detailed as it might be. Colours lack just a little solidity and some scenes evidence a fair amount of grain. Released theatrically in Dolby stereo, the Dolby Digital 5.1 remix spreads the sound effectively across the front speakers but makes very little use of the rear channels indeed. Extras are limited to filmographies of five of the leading actors, and a 4:3 presentation of the theatrical trailer, which gives far too many of the film's surprises away.--Gary S Dalkin

Personal Details
Seen It Yes
Index 61
Collection Status In Collection
Links IMDB
Amazon US
Product Details
Format DVD
Region 4
Screen Ratio 1.85:1
027616806420
Release Date 2001
Subtitles French; Spanish
Audio Tracks English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1
Extra Features
Widescreen PAL