@@sadlobster1 Recognizing the actor in other roles, like Grand Nagus Zek or Sheldon's professor in Young Sheldon and elsewhere, I keep hoping for them to drop the line into his dialogue.
Mandy Patinkin's father had just died of cancer when this was filmed, so Inigo's revenge has that added layer of depth. That line when he kills Rugens has such power because Mandy _meant_ it.
By far my favorite bit of trivia. He channeled all his rage toward the cancer into viewing Count Rugen as the embodiment of the cancer that killed his dad. So powerful.
Ronald Elkins Same. I saw this as one of my first dates with a girl i later married (and divorced, lol). At the time I was like, ‘wtf?’ But once I had a chance to watch it at home a couple times, I realized how smart the screenplay really was. It’s definitely in my top 40-50 movies all time.
I saw it in college with a bunch of friends, in a theater. We were quoting it all night, and went back to see it again the next day. Instant classic. So fun. Great memories :)
The princess bride is a movie you can watch a thousand times and it never gets old. The mark an educated and cultured person is measured by how accurately you can recite the dialog from memory.
Remember that this movie was made on a budget of only $16 million. That doesn't put it in "low budget" territory, but most adventure films of the 80's cost at least twice as much. It was only ever supposed to be a kids movie. Nobody at the time knew it was going to become a "classic" film that people of all ages would still be enjoying 30+ years later.
By all accounts, Patinkin loves this role. He's a Broadway star, yet recognizes that a lot of people coming to see him perform know him as Inigo Montoya, and he's happy to hang with fans.
YESSS!!! The Princess Bride is an all-time wonderful classic that is objectively great. If you meet someone who doesn't like this movie, DO NOT TRUST THAT PERSON. Another great react, Shan.
I think this movie is just incredible. The story itself isn’t the story of the book, it’s about how good stories build bridges between generations. The child heard this story, and he will now read this story to his kids and his grandchildren for generations to come, and that is why we make movies, we write stories, and storytelling exists to begin with. That’s what Hollywood needs more of today.
The first time I'd seen her, was 1981 as Latka's wife in the television series Taxi. She'd been immediately recognized since then. I loved her role in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. It wouldn't have been the same without Lilian and Tituss.
@@mgordon1100 Wow, that takes me back! I was a little kid who grew-up watching "Taxi." That's definitely where I first knew her from, too, and likewise, never forgot her face.
This is the ultimate feel good movie (And one the most quoted moive ever). The only other feel good movie I have seen more often than this one is Clue (1985) Mandy Patinkin played Inigo Montoya methodically by equating Count Rugen with the cancer that killed his own father and he did it with such emotion that Christopher Guest (Who played Count Rugen) recounted how he genuinely feared for his life in that final duel between the two.
Princess Bride is one of the most quoted movies of all time. It's a must see! Yes, that was Billy Crystal as Miracle Max and Carol Kane, another comedian, was his wife Valerie. They have great chemistry.
Saw Mandy doing an interview years later where he was asked what his favorite line from the movie was. He stated: "not a lot of profit in revenge" which is funny at the time then profound when you think about it
Every time I have showed friends this movie, I have been met with eye rolling and a sigh. But by half way through they have been laughing and really enjoying it
Inigo Montoya's revenge line is delivered so well because Mandy Patinkin channeled his real life pain of losing his father to cancer. He's said in interviews that he felt that he wasn't just killing the 6 fingered man, but also that cancer that killed his father.
I've never clicked on a vid of yours so fast. This is a touchstone of my childhood. And Patinkin's final line to Count Rugen is the best delivered line I've ever heard in a film.
Thanks for watching man! I read a comment from one of my patrons about Patinkin's father's passing and how he channeled all those emotions for this role!
@@shanwatchesmovies Very true. He channeled his grief into the role and it elevated Inigo beyond what even Patinkin's skills would normally allow. He's stated that he cried the first time he saw the film because he knew he'd likely never be in another production where everything came together so well.
Shan, I know you don't usually talk much about the screenwriters, but I wanted you to know that William Goldman (who also wrote the book) has quite a resume - All the President's Men, A Bridge Too Far, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Marathon Man, Misery, The Stepford Wives and many more films which he wrote the screenplay for
He’s written a couple books about his experiences in Hollywood and screenwriting. “Adventures in the Screen Trade” is the name of his first, each chapter talks about a different movie, and he mainly goes in chronological order. The sequel talks about the more recent movies. He got paid $400k for Butch Cassidy, an astronomical amount at the time for a script, and that pissed off a lot of people.
Though not as successful, his brother James was also a screenwriter. His best known work is definitely the Peter O'Toole/Katherine Hepburn movie The Lion In Winter
When my dad tried to take me to see this as a kid I ran away and hid in the backyard. A boy seeing 'The Princess Bride'!? I was found and made to watch it... and it's been a favourite ever since!
Billy Crystal is also in the movie ("Miracle Max"), and based on his friendship with Andre the Giant in this film, that was the basis for his movie, "My Giant".
I could tell you really liked it. It was the look in your eyes and how far you got sucked into it. It's my wife's favorite movie. When we got married, the pastor started out saying, " Marriage... Marriage is what brings us together, today." Without the overly ostentatious voice though. My wife's sisters both started giggling.
The sword-fights were choreographed by Bob Anderson, and Olympic fencer and professional fight choreographer. If you have a favorite sword-fight scene in a Hollywood film, Bob Anderson was likely behind it. From Star Wars to Lord of the Rings, he was *the* sword master in Hollywood. Many Patinkin said they were lucky to have him on the film. He was a consummate professional and a hard taskmaster. And Inigo, per the script, was *the* greatest swordsman in the world. And Anderson was the guy who made you put in the work to believe it. He'd work you all day. And Patinkin said, "And you can't say 'I'm tired' because *he* was 65 years old"!
This is Spinal Tap is another necessary Rob Reiner film. And the old woman with Billy Crystal is Carol Kane, who you'd recognize as the Fairy Ghost of Christmas Present in Scrooged.
No matter what genre Mandy Patinkin is working in, comedy, drama, musical, etc. he brings sincere intensity. He is amazing! I also believe this is why he never lasts long as a regular on a TV series. Both Chicago Hope and Criminal Minds he left after the first season or in the middle of the second. Maintaining his intensity for one character over the time an episodic series runs...he just burns himself out too fast. The grandfather was played by Peter Falk who was most famous for playing the police detective Colombo, on television. The grandson was Fred Savage most famous for starring in the TV series, The Wonder Years. Miracle Max's wife was played by Carol Kane who has played many memorable characters in TV and film. She played Sempka, Latka Gravis' wife in the TV show Taxi, and she was The Ghost of Christmas Present in Scrooged. The six fingered man was played by Christopher Guest who was a writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live (the same year Billy Crystal and Harry Sheared were cast members). He also starred in Reiner's first movie, This is Spinal Tap along with Michael McKean and Harry Shearer who also joined Guest in an AMAZING cast (Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Jane Lynch, Parker Posey, Fred Willard, and so many others) in four more great mockumentary movies that Guest directed: Waiting For Guffman Best in Show A Mighty Wind For Your Consideration If you ever decide to watch Robin Hood: Men in Tights again, I hope you first watch Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, and Alan Rickman. Quite a bit of jokes in Men in Tights are references to Prince of Thieves , which is a pretty good popcorn movie in its own right. It definitely has its issues, but except for Men in Tights, it's easily the best Robin Hood movie of the last 30 years.e I also hope you will eventually watch Willow, another sword and sorcery film, written by George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard. It's a terrific movie!!! Best Regards!
What's funny is that your reaction to the movie prior to seeing it was the same as Fred Savage's character's reaction to the book when he heard the title.
@@shanwatchesmovies I was more thinking that the title is specifically designed to provoke that reaction you had to it. It purposely builds the expectation of one thing (such as a schmaltzy fairy tale love story) in order to have you be pleasantly surprised by what it actually turns out to be. Your reaction wasn't wrong. It was exactly the mindset you were supposed to have to get the full enjoyment out of the movie. That revelation of "I was wrong about this" is part of the experience.
I was about the same age as Fred Savage's character when my dad brought home the VHS tape for this movie for me and my younger sister to watch and my reaction was exactly the same. I don't want to watch a princess movie! But he said to try it out, and I did and it was obviously fantastic. Fred Savage's character is so relatable to the movie, and the movie as a whole does such a good job subverting initial expectations but yet still delivering a satisfying story.
I'll always love the way they handled the storytelling element of this adaptation. The framing device in the book is that it's supposedly an abridged version of a story that the author's father used to read to him. The narrative often breaks away from the story itself to recount something specific his father would do in his telling, or to say they cut out a big section because it was boring, and his father always skipped over it anyway. This is one of the few cases where I think the book and the movie are almost equals. It's really worth a read.
They were choreographed by the same swordsman. Two amazing masters of fencing who also worked on Errol Flynn movies, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Three Musketeers taught both Elwes and Patankin(?) for almost a year to learn and execute that three minute sword fight. The only part of the fight that was done by a stunt double was where Inigo does a backflip off a rock.
all those years ago, I was at my sister's house and we watched The Princess Bride again. then after that, we watched Star Wars: A New Hope for the millionth time. that was when we discovered something that we never saw before: when Govener Tarkin told Vader to stop Force choking one of the other guys at the round table, Vader said: "As you wish....." my sister and I howled with laughter!
Another classic Rob Reiner movie is When Harry Met Sally (written by Nora Ephron). I would love to see you react to it! P.S. I might be wrong but I think Billy Crystal’s makeup was intentionally unrealistic because it was a surprise cameo and it makes him recognizable yet extra hilarious-looking. His wife was played by Carol Kane who was also very famous/recognizable at the time.
Don't forget the framing of the story, and how well it ties into the theme of The Princess Bride: Peter Falk's lovely, sweet, understated last line ties in perfectly how and why this framing device works so well. Wallace Shawn was Vizzini; he's another well-known character actor you will get to know as you make your journey. Carol Kane was Billy Crystal's wife. Yes, very well known then, unfortunately less well known now. A very funny and touching actress, who did a serious and wonderful turn as an immigrant wife in "Hester Street". Christopher Guest was Count Rugen. If you react to "Spinal Tap", (also directed by Reiner) you'll see him as Nigel, who also gets a famous line that has come into popular speech. The screenplay is based on a novel, "The Princess Bride", both authored by the professional screenwriter, William Goldman, who scripted, among other great movies, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". I've read the novel, and seen the movie, and the experience is a study in how to adapt a book to screen. Happy that you enjoyed this, which is a favorite movie in our family.
This is my all time favorite movie! I actually saw it in the theater as a test viewing after the main feature I went to see. I quote this movie all the time. :D The fact that most of the cast was unknown is what helped make this movie so great. Because there were no preconceptions about most of the actors in this movie. In fact, when advertising the movie they would try to sell it by pointing out Billy Crystal was in it, with no mention to the other actors.
I forget the name of that trope where people complain a certain media is "cliche", not realizing they are watching the origin of what later became cliche.
You’ve covered pretty much all my childhood favourites in the last couple months! If you haven’t seen it, you should take a look at Who Framed Roger Rabbit. A terrific film that’s still quite spectacular.
2 mad Python addicts in my year saw it at the movies and that's how I heard about it - they'd sit up the back in English quoting lines from it 🤣 (And, might I say, most quotable movie EVA?!)
Mandy Patinkin is so fantastic in this movie. Worth noting the line "I want my father back, you son of a bitch". Patinkin had lost his father a few years before filming, and he channeled that into his performance, particularly in this scene.
This is a story that, having seen the movie, you should also read the novel by Goldman. The frame story is much more in depth involving Goldman himself buying a birthday present (the novel The Princess Bride by the great Florinese writer S. Morgenstern) for his son. It also goes more in depth into the backstories of Inigo, Fezzik and Vizzini, and fleshed out the dungeon where Westley was tortured. Good stuff.
When Wesley remarked on the six fingered man, he was struck on the head by mistake with the true sword pommel instead of the softer prop sword. It literally knocked him out.
I watched this movie late in the day too. I was much more interested in horror movies than fantasy and The Princess Bride sounded like it wasn't for me. When I eventually watched it, I loved it. Chris Sarandon, who plays the prince, is in a great 80's horror movie called Fright Night. Also starring the late, great Roddy McDowell. Great creature effects too.
The actor who played the Albino (Mel Smith) was quite a famous comedian in the UK in the 1980s and 90s, appearing in several popular sketch shows. He also directed the first Mr Bean film.
I always felt the stage play like sets (especially the local atop the cliffs of insanity) of some of the sets was perfect for the film. That being said, it does pull you out when some sets/locations are too good/real. More consistency would have helped. That being said, this film is a treasure. Thank you for giving it a go.
I have enjoyed both your reaction and your well-thought-out and insightful review. One point I would make is that the plot point of a grandfather sharing a favorite book with his grandson is a device from the original Goldman novel, in which Goldman himself goes looking for a book from his own childhood to share with his grandson. It gets complicated in the novel, and he wisely left only a bit of that story in the screenplay. Peter Falk was perfect for that bit since he has such an immediately warm and accessible stage presence.
One of my favourite parts of this movie is Peter Cook as the bishop who is carrying out the wedding ceremony. "Mahwage... Mahwage is wot bwings us togeder today. Mahwage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam..."
Just in case you're wondering; in the book, it's explained that Buttercup became princess after her parents introduced her to Humperdink. They hoped their marriage would help make their family financially secure
Great video! I appreciate your willingness to give an older "fantasy romance" film a fair chance and let the story speak for itself. Your reactions reminded me of the first time I saw this film as a child and how it just swept me away and I've loved it ever since. Such great characters, quotable lines, and a flow that never drags or skips. As others have commented, this is a movie meant to be shared with the people you love. Share this movie with all the special people in your life and let it make more wonderful memories!
Everyone I know that has thought, oh, I don't think I will like it.........Loves it! It's a movie you can see many times. Glad you finally joined us. ;-)
Fun trivia When asked what his favorite thing about making this film was, André the Giant replied, without skipping a beat, "Nobody looks at me." He felt treated as an equal, without people staring at him because of his grand height Fun trivia Robin Wright and Cary Elwes were smitten with each other during filming, naturally helping their chemistry in the movie. Elwes said that he "couldn't concentrate on much of anything after that first encounter with Robin." Fun trivia When Count Rugen hits Westley over the head, Cary Elwes told Christopher Guest to go ahead and hit him for real. Guest hit him hard enough to shut down production for a day while Elwes went to the hospital. Fun trivia André the Giant called almost everybody on set (be they director, producers, co-stars or crew) "boss", a technique he employed to defer to people he liked and go some way towards counteracting the way he would tower over them. Fun trivia In order to create the Greatest Swordfight in Modern Times, Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin trained for months with Peter Diamond and Bob Anderson, who between them had been in the Olympics; worked on Bond, Lord of the Rings, Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), and Star Wars films; and coached Errol Flynn and Burt Lancaster. Every spare moment on set was spent practicing. Eventually, when they showed Rob Reiner the swordfight for the movie, he was underwhelmed and requested that it be at least three minutes long rather than the current one minute. They added steps to the set, watched more swashbuckling movies for inspiration, re-choreographed the scene, and ended up with a three minute and 10 second fight which took the better part of a week to film from all angles. Fun trivia The giant rodents were created with diminutive actors inside rat suits. On the day Westley was supposed to wrestle the main actor, Danny Blackner, he was nowhere to be found. Finally, Blackner arrived on set with a long story about being pulled over for speeding the night prior on his way home from the bar, and subsequently being put in jail for a few hours for drinking (after the police officer didn't believe his story about having to work as an actor/stuntman playing a rat). Fun trivia Before filming, Wallace Shawn (Vizzini) had come to understand that he was second choice for the part after Danny DeVito (although there is some confusion about whether DeVito was ever seriously pursued). He became convinced that he was wrong for the role and in danger of being fired at any moment. He was extremely nervous throughout filming and co-star Cary Elwes (Westley) noted that he was visibly sweating during the 'battle of wits' scene. He said to Rob Reiner that he didn't feel he'd get the part because he isn't Sicilian; Rob assured him that his voice was exactly the same as Vizzini's in the book. Fun trivia Most characters within the fairy tale (i.e.: excluding the modern-day scenes) speak in a British accent, including American actors like Robin Wright and Chris Sarandon. The only actors who speak in an American accent are Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal and Carol Kane. Fun trivia According to author William Goldman, when he was first trying to get the movie made in the 1970s, a then-unknown Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to play Fezzik, and he was strongly being considered because Goldman could never get his first choice, André the Giant, to read for the role. By the time the movie was made about twelve years later, Schwarzenegger was such a big star they could not afford him. Andre was cast after all, and the two big men had gone on to become friends. Fun trivia Despite his character Fezzik's almost-superhuman strength, André the Giant's back problems at the time prevented him from actually lifting anything heavy. Robin Wright had to be attached to wires in the scene where Buttercup jumps from the castle window into Fezzik's arms because he couldn't support her himself.
this movie is a one of a kind gem. fantastic. I remember one time it was on TV and my friends refused to watch it because its name. I wonder if they ever saw it.
Another great movie reaction is always. I still think you're the best. Cloris Leachman died yesterday the Emmy award-winning actress that played Frau Blücher in Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks. I'm still looking forward to your reaction on that one.
Yeah I had to laugh when you suggested the Atari 2600, as the game is far too advanced graphically for the poor Atari to render. The Commodore 64 may have been an 8-bit machine like the Atari but the difference in capability is immense :D
Great reaction! I loved that you never wanted to see it until you discovered it was more than romance. Also loved the priceless look on your face at hearing the “I am Inigo Montoya ... “ line and realizing it came from this film. Your commentary was WONDERFUL as well. (A heartfelt thanks for omitting the summary you used to do. This way was sooo much better and engaging. 😉) Loved that you were honest about it being a little cheesy and over-the-top and being perfectly fitting for the story. So glad you enjoyed it. And you incl all the best bits in the editing too. Amazing! Perfect! 👨🍳😘
I met Wallace Shawn or Vincene and Chris Sarandon or Prince Humperdinck at Comic con. I saw Cary Elwes in Person when he made an appearance to host a showing of this movie. He told a story about Andre the Giant. Andre had to use a four wheeler ATV to get around the filming area. He let Cary drive the ATV. He broke his toe on the ATV.
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
😂😂
I still use that phrase today
Every time I see someone who hasn't seen this movie I always think "inconceivable". LOL. Great cast. Great movie.
I do not think that word means what you think it means... ;o)
You didn't write it the way it's been said. It's "INCONCEIVABLE!" 😋
@@RitsychServare You're absolutely right. My bad. 😄👍😂
The perfect word to use foe such a scenario
@@sadlobster1 Recognizing the actor in other roles, like Grand Nagus Zek or Sheldon's professor in Young Sheldon and elsewhere, I keep hoping for them to drop the line into his dialogue.
Mandy Patinkin's father had just died of cancer when this was filmed, so Inigo's revenge has that added layer of depth. That line when he kills Rugens has such power because Mandy _meant_ it.
He even mentioned this in one of the interviews, him in this role is definitely my favourite part of the movie
By far my favorite bit of trivia.
He channeled all his rage toward the cancer into viewing Count Rugen as the embodiment of the cancer that killed his dad. So powerful.
I want my father back you sonova bitch!
My father had just died 2 yrs. earlier in 1985. I too was eleven years old. Indigo instantly became my favorite character
And that's why he lost his accent for that line. Mandy was confronting the cancer, not Inigo confronting Rugen
In 1987, I was nineteen years old, and really didn't think I'd like this movie. Thirty-four years later, it's one of my favorite movies.
Ronald Elkins Same. I saw this as one of my first dates with a girl i later married (and divorced, lol). At the time I was like, ‘wtf?’
But once I had a chance to watch it at home a couple times, I realized how smart the screenplay really was. It’s definitely in my top 40-50 movies all time.
It's a timeless film really!
Yes, I was 10 and still remember seeing it in the theater.
I saw it in college with a bunch of friends, in a theater. We were quoting it all night, and went back to see it again the next day. Instant classic. So fun. Great memories :)
My dad was the same way. His girlfriend loved it, but he didn't like it. Now he quite enjoys it.
The princess bride is a movie you can watch a thousand times and it never gets old.
The mark an educated and cultured person is measured by how accurately you can recite the dialog from memory.
Lol
My husband is not American so he didn't grow up with it and he loves to hear how well I can recite every scene lol.
I must be a genius 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@amandawilson1948 inconceivable!
@@tjsogmc I've watched the film COUNTLESS times....... it's one of my all-time favourites 😍
Remember that this movie was made on a budget of only $16 million. That doesn't put it in "low budget" territory, but most adventure films of the 80's cost at least twice as much. It was only ever supposed to be a kids movie. Nobody at the time knew it was going to become a "classic" film that people of all ages would still be enjoying 30+ years later.
No, it wasn't just supposed to be a kid's movie but the studio didn't know how to advertise it
By all accounts, Patinkin loves this role. He's a Broadway star, yet recognizes that a lot of people coming to see him perform know him as Inigo Montoya, and he's happy to hang with fans.
I love Mandy Patinkin! He's a treasure💜
@@hobbitpeddler4267 Same with Andre, rest his soul
The reason the movie seems so exaggerated is because it’s the story as imagined by the child. It’s his perception of the tale that we’re watching.
Yeah wasn’t the story like a satire of medieval fantasy stories?
Not in the book, it's not. And since the author of the book also wrote the screenplay, I suggest to you that your take on this is incorrect.
Miracle Max's witch-wife was played by Carol Kane, whom you recognise as the Ghost of Christmas Present, in "Scrooged."
@ed petree agreed!
Also the TV series, Taxi
And the teacher from Jawbreaker!
Thank you for the trivia! I recognized Crystal's voice but not her's!
You can see Carol Kane in a more recent performance in The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
There aren't many perfect movies out there in the world, but there are a few.
This is one of them.
YESSS!!! The Princess Bride is an all-time wonderful classic that is objectively great. If you meet someone who doesn't like this movie, DO NOT TRUST THAT PERSON. Another great react, Shan.
Thanks James!
I was gonna say about the same thing. Not liking this movie is just wrong in so many ways.
That film is so quotable.
A true timeless classic.
Agreed
Cary Elwes wrote a book called "As You Wish" that talks about his time making this movie. It is a good book.
Goldman also novelized the movie
Let me reinforce what you said. It is a good book. Especially if you can listen to the audiobook because the actors from the movie narrate the book.
there is audiobook where cary is narrator about making this movie. it's so good better than reading a book.
Elwes' voice is so soothing. I'm sure the book is infinitely better when he's reading it...
YES!! I _just_ mentioned it in my post as well. 🥰🥰
I think this movie is just incredible. The story itself isn’t the story of the book, it’s about how good stories build bridges between generations. The child heard this story, and he will now read this story to his kids and his grandchildren for generations to come, and that is why we make movies, we write stories, and storytelling exists to begin with. That’s what Hollywood needs more of today.
"I'm not a witch, I'm ya wife!" That was the same actress who played the Ghost of Christmas Present in SCROOGED. I think her name is Carol Kane.
It was... One of the most enjoyable comediennes of the 80s...
They had to work hard to make Carol look old and unattractive.
Even now, Carol is still very pretty.
The first time I'd seen her, was 1981 as Latka's wife in the television series Taxi. She'd been immediately recognized since then. I loved her role in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. It wouldn't have been the same without Lilian and Tituss.
@@mgordon1100 Wow, that takes me back! I was a little kid who grew-up watching "Taxi." That's definitely where I first knew her from, too, and likewise, never forgot her face.
The grandfather is Peter Falk who played Columbo.
Wow!
Just one more thing....
@@SGlitz 🤣😂🤣
....and even better, two of the greatest John Casavettes movies: "Husbands" and especially "Woman Under The Influence", whew. Incredible performance.
This is the ultimate feel good movie (And one the most quoted moive ever). The only other feel good movie I have seen more often than this one is Clue (1985)
Mandy Patinkin played Inigo Montoya methodically by equating Count Rugen with the cancer that killed his own father and he did it with such emotion that Christopher Guest (Who played Count Rugen) recounted how he genuinely feared for his life in that final duel between the two.
What’s amazing about the ROUSs is that it’s not an animatronic, it’s an actor in a suit!! Great reaction Shan, keep it up 👍🏻
Wow! Didn't know that! Thank you for the trivia Emily!
Princess Bride is one of the most quoted movies of all time. It's a must see!
Yes, that was Billy Crystal as Miracle Max and Carol Kane, another comedian, was his wife Valerie. They have great chemistry.
Willow is another classic for this period of film-making, well worth a watch.
Willow is maybe my favourite movie if I would need to choose one. :)
Watched that movie so many times! lol
Hell yeah! Willow kicks ass!
You've just described my childhood
I love how Inigo pays his father's killer back with every wound exactly. The two face slashes, two shoulder stabs and the abdomen stab in the end.
Oh man, such a timeless story. And with such an abundance of amazing one-liners. "Have you ever considered piracy?" is one of my all time favorites.
Saw Mandy doing an interview years later where he was asked what his favorite line from the movie was.
He stated: "not a lot of profit in revenge" which is funny at the time then profound when you think about it
Every time I have showed friends this movie, I have been met with eye rolling and a sigh. But by half way through they have been laughing and really enjoying it
Inigo Montoya's revenge line is delivered so well because Mandy Patinkin channeled his real life pain of losing his father to cancer. He's said in interviews that he felt that he wasn't just killing the 6 fingered man, but also that cancer that killed his father.
Thanks for the trivia, one of my patrons pointed it out and it makes the scene even more emotional in retrospect!
Shan: "Subscribe to the channel ."
People of TH-cam: :As you wish."
I've never clicked on a vid of yours so fast. This is a touchstone of my childhood. And Patinkin's final line to Count Rugen is the best delivered line I've ever heard in a film.
Thanks for watching man! I read a comment from one of my patrons about Patinkin's father's passing and how he channeled all those emotions for this role!
@@shanwatchesmovies Very true. He channeled his grief into the role and it elevated Inigo beyond what even Patinkin's skills would normally allow. He's stated that he cried the first time he saw the film because he knew he'd likely never be in another production where everything came together so well.
Shan, I know you don't usually talk much about the screenwriters, but I wanted you to know that William Goldman (who also wrote the book) has quite a resume - All the President's Men, A Bridge Too Far, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Marathon Man, Misery, The Stepford Wives and many more films which he wrote the screenplay for
O, Butch & Sundance is one of my all-time favorites. Hearing this, I'm not surprised, considering the great dialogue.
Holy Crap I had no idea he was that big! I've definitely got to look him up more!
He’s written a couple books about his experiences in Hollywood and screenwriting. “Adventures in the Screen Trade” is the name of his first, each chapter talks about a different movie, and he mainly goes in chronological order. The sequel talks about the more recent movies. He got paid $400k for Butch Cassidy, an astronomical amount at the time for a script, and that pissed off a lot of people.
Though not as successful, his brother James was also a screenwriter. His best known work is definitely the Peter O'Toole/Katherine Hepburn movie The Lion In Winter
@@clash5j NO WAY! I didn't know that! That's one of my top 5 favorites!
When my dad tried to take me to see this as a kid I ran away and hid in the backyard. A boy seeing 'The Princess Bride'!? I was found and made to watch it... and it's been a favourite ever since!
The exquisite music composed by an exquisite musician, Mark Knopfler.
Wow, thanks for that information. I had no idea...off to listen to 'Sultans of Swing' now!!!!
One of the best movies ever. Flawless classic. You will love this film.
And I did Cadleo!
Billy Crystal is also in the movie ("Miracle Max"), and based on his friendship with Andre the Giant in this film, that was the basis for his movie, "My Giant".
I could tell you really liked it. It was the look in your eyes and how far you got sucked into it.
It's my wife's favorite movie. When we got married, the pastor started out saying, " Marriage... Marriage is what brings us together, today." Without the overly ostentatious voice though.
My wife's sisters both started giggling.
The sword-fights were choreographed by Bob Anderson, and Olympic fencer and professional fight choreographer. If you have a favorite sword-fight scene in a Hollywood film, Bob Anderson was likely behind it. From Star Wars to Lord of the Rings, he was *the* sword master in Hollywood.
Many Patinkin said they were lucky to have him on the film. He was a consummate professional and a hard taskmaster. And Inigo, per the script, was *the* greatest swordsman in the world. And Anderson was the guy who made you put in the work to believe it. He'd work you all day. And Patinkin said, "And you can't say 'I'm tired' because *he* was 65 years old"!
Thank you for Bob Anderson's background. I didn't know who he was and I'll definitely be looking him up now!
@@shanwatchesmovies You're quite welcome. He deserves to be more well-known.
He also worked with Errol Flynn!
Except the sword fight in Star Wars sucked
This is Spinal Tap is another necessary Rob Reiner film. And the old woman with Billy Crystal is Carol Kane, who you'd recognize as the Fairy Ghost of Christmas Present in Scrooged.
Thank you so much for this bit of trivia Randy! I really appreciate it!
Didn't she also play Andy Kauffman's girlfriend in Taxi? I guess I could just look it up but...
@@dezo343 Yeah, but I think she played Latka's wife.
YES!! It’s a great movie!
He also did The Story of Us with Michelle Pfeifer and Bruce Willis. Excellent film. Much more meaningful if you've been married with kids than if not.
No matter what genre Mandy Patinkin is working in, comedy, drama, musical, etc. he brings sincere intensity. He is amazing! I also believe this is why he never lasts long as a regular on a TV series. Both Chicago Hope and Criminal Minds he left after the first season or in the middle of the second. Maintaining his intensity for one character over the time an episodic series runs...he just burns himself out too fast.
The grandfather was played by Peter Falk who was most famous for playing the police detective Colombo, on television. The grandson was Fred Savage most famous for starring in the TV series, The Wonder Years. Miracle Max's wife was played by Carol Kane who has played many memorable characters in TV and film. She played Sempka, Latka Gravis' wife in the TV show Taxi, and she was The Ghost of Christmas Present in Scrooged.
The six fingered man was played by Christopher Guest who was a writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live (the same year Billy Crystal and Harry Sheared were cast members). He also starred in Reiner's first movie, This is Spinal Tap along with Michael McKean and Harry Shearer who also joined Guest in an AMAZING cast (Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Jane Lynch, Parker Posey, Fred Willard, and so many others) in four more great mockumentary movies that Guest directed:
Waiting For Guffman
Best in Show
A Mighty Wind
For Your Consideration
If you ever decide to watch Robin Hood: Men in Tights again, I hope you first watch Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, and Alan Rickman. Quite a bit of jokes in Men in Tights are references to Prince of Thieves , which is a pretty good popcorn movie in its own right. It definitely has its issues, but except for Men in Tights, it's easily the best Robin Hood movie of the last 30 years.e
I also hope you will eventually watch Willow, another sword and sorcery film, written by George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard. It's a terrific movie!!!
Best Regards!
What's funny is that your reaction to the movie prior to seeing it was the same as Fred Savage's character's reaction to the book when he heard the title.
I'm always happy to be proven wrong when it's justified :)
@@shanwatchesmovies I was more thinking that the title is specifically designed to provoke that reaction you had to it. It purposely builds the expectation of one thing (such as a schmaltzy fairy tale love story) in order to have you be pleasantly surprised by what it actually turns out to be. Your reaction wasn't wrong. It was exactly the mindset you were supposed to have to get the full enjoyment out of the movie. That revelation of "I was wrong about this" is part of the experience.
I was about the same age as Fred Savage's character when my dad brought home the VHS tape for this movie for me and my younger sister to watch and my reaction was exactly the same. I don't want to watch a princess movie! But he said to try it out, and I did and it was obviously fantastic. Fred Savage's character is so relatable to the movie, and the movie as a whole does such a good job subverting initial expectations but yet still delivering a satisfying story.
One of my favorite movies ever and a thoroughly odd film. Not many films are genuine and cynical at the same time.
18:49 Count Rugen turns his cowardice up to 11
I'll always love the way they handled the storytelling element of this adaptation.
The framing device in the book is that it's supposedly an abridged version of a story that the author's father used to read to him. The narrative often breaks away from the story itself to recount something specific his father would do in his telling, or to say they cut out a big section because it was boring, and his father always skipped over it anyway. This is one of the few cases where I think the book and the movie are almost equals. It's really worth a read.
Rob Reiner also directed the best RomCom of all time, When Harry Met Sally.
My favorite RomCom! And yes, Mr. Zero knew.
Grandpa is Peter Faulk and grandson is Fred Savage; great reaction!
The swordplay style I think is a nod to the old Errol Flynn swashbukler type of movies.
You can definitely hear the 'hmm' and 'hah' from the sword thrusts in the old Flynn films.
They were choreographed by the same swordsman. Two amazing masters of fencing who also worked on Errol Flynn movies, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Three Musketeers taught both Elwes and Patankin(?) for almost a year to learn and execute that three minute sword fight. The only part of the fight that was done by a stunt double was where Inigo does a backflip off a rock.
and the book, oh the book! one of my all time favourites, more sarcastic and mature than the movie, equally amazing.
all those years ago, I was at my sister's house and we watched The Princess Bride again. then after that, we watched Star Wars: A New Hope for the millionth time. that was when we discovered something that we never saw before: when Govener Tarkin told Vader to stop Force choking one of the other guys at the round table, Vader said: "As you wish....." my sister and I howled with laughter!
It took half a second to click the vid and the other half a second to say "WTf you haven't seen Princess Bride?"
My sister loves this movie! "My name is Ingnio Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die." "Stop saying that!"
Same with my sister!
Another classic Rob Reiner movie is When Harry Met Sally (written by Nora Ephron). I would love to see you react to it! P.S. I might be wrong but I think Billy Crystal’s makeup was intentionally unrealistic because it was a surprise cameo and it makes him recognizable yet extra hilarious-looking. His wife was played by Carol Kane who was also very famous/recognizable at the time.
Don't forget the framing of the story, and how well it ties into the theme of The Princess Bride: Peter Falk's lovely, sweet, understated last line ties in perfectly how and why this framing device works so well.
Wallace Shawn was Vizzini; he's another well-known character actor you will get to know as you make your journey.
Carol Kane was Billy Crystal's wife. Yes, very well known then, unfortunately less well known now. A very funny and touching actress, who did a serious and wonderful turn as an immigrant wife in "Hester Street".
Christopher Guest was Count Rugen. If you react to "Spinal Tap", (also directed by Reiner) you'll see him as Nigel, who also gets a famous line that has come into popular speech.
The screenplay is based on a novel, "The Princess Bride", both authored by the professional screenwriter, William Goldman, who scripted, among other great movies, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". I've read the novel, and seen the movie, and the experience is a study in how to adapt a book to screen.
Happy that you enjoyed this, which is a favorite movie in our family.
Thank you for so much background and trivia Maria. It was a wonderful read!
@@shanwatchesmovies Glad you liked it!
I have had this film 100% memorized since _at least_ 1992. One of the biggest classics of all time.
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
This is my all time favorite movie! I actually saw it in the theater as a test viewing after the main feature I went to see. I quote this movie all the time. :D
The fact that most of the cast was unknown is what helped make this movie so great. Because there were no preconceptions about most of the actors in this movie.
In fact, when advertising the movie they would try to sell it by pointing out Billy Crystal was in it, with no mention to the other actors.
Umm Peter Falk, Peter Cook, Fred Savage, Andre the Giant? These were all well known at the time
17:05 - it is Billy Crystal. Fantastic make-up work.
I saw this movie in a theater (in a mall, how 80s) when I was 9 years old and my journey was exactly the same as Fred Savage's.
This is such a wonderful and fantastic well made film. And I like how unique this movie is in the way it tells the story. :)
Propably the most entertainining of Reiner's movies. It's some kind of parody/pastiche of fantasy genre. Like Shrek.
Shrek was also fantastic Radoslaw!
I think this is my favorite Rob Reiner movie.
@@shanwatchesmovies I'm pretty sure that Humperdink was the direct inspiration for lord Farquaad...
I forget the name of that trope where people complain a certain media is "cliche", not realizing they are watching the origin of what later became cliche.
Trope Maker
Trope Codifier
or
Ur Example
Seinfield is Unfunny
You’ve covered pretty much all my childhood favourites in the last couple months!
If you haven’t seen it, you should take a look at Who Framed Roger Rabbit. A terrific film that’s still quite spectacular.
omfg haha "sappy romantic film" . Youre like the kid in the beginning who will fall in love with the book after hearing it. haha
I swear I could relate to that kid more than anyone in the film followed closely by Montoya!
Saw this twice in the theater as a kid. I consider it a badge of honor. No one at my school had even heard of it, but it blew up many years later.
2 mad Python addicts in my year saw it at the movies and that's how I heard about it - they'd sit up the back in English quoting lines from it 🤣
(And, might I say, most quotable movie EVA?!)
Mandy Patinkin is so fantastic in this movie. Worth noting the line "I want my father back, you son of a bitch". Patinkin had lost his father a few years before filming, and he channeled that into his performance, particularly in this scene.
This is a story that, having seen the movie, you should also read the novel by Goldman. The frame story is much more in depth involving Goldman himself buying a birthday present (the novel The Princess Bride by the great Florinese writer S. Morgenstern) for his son. It also goes more in depth into the backstories of Inigo, Fezzik and Vizzini, and fleshed out the dungeon where Westley was tortured. Good stuff.
If The Princess Bride can win over Fred Savage the grandson, it can win over Shan 😊
When Wesley remarked on the six fingered man, he was struck on the head by mistake with the true sword pommel instead of the softer prop sword. It literally knocked him out.
I watched this movie late in the day too. I was much more interested in horror movies than fantasy and The Princess Bride sounded like it wasn't for me. When I eventually watched it, I loved it. Chris Sarandon, who plays the prince, is in a great 80's horror movie called Fright Night. Also starring the late, great Roddy McDowell. Great creature effects too.
An unforgetable classic from my childhood.
9:10, that stunt almost went terribly wrong, as Elwes was knocked unconscious during filming.
Lol! I love how you connected with the kid even with the age difference. So funny.
The actor who played the Albino (Mel Smith) was quite a famous comedian in the UK in the 1980s and 90s, appearing in several popular sketch shows. He also directed the first Mr Bean film.
This I did not know
9:23 . . . It is everything.
It is a comedic fantastical swashbuckling romantic adventure of epic proportions.
This is one of my favorites films. You hit all of my favorite beats and absorbed the theme and the emotions really well. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
🙂
I always felt the stage play like sets (especially the local atop the cliffs of insanity) of some of the sets was perfect for the film. That being said, it does pull you out when some sets/locations are too good/real. More consistency would have helped. That being said, this film is a treasure. Thank you for giving it a go.
And thank you for watching!
I have enjoyed both your reaction and your well-thought-out and insightful review. One point I would make is that the plot point of a grandfather sharing a favorite book with his grandson is a device from the original Goldman novel, in which Goldman himself goes looking for a book from his own childhood to share with his grandson. It gets complicated in the novel, and he wisely left only a bit of that story in the screenplay. Peter Falk was perfect for that bit since he has such an immediately warm and accessible stage presence.
Thank you for your keen observations Jean, I really appreciate it!
One of my favourite parts of this movie is Peter Cook as the bishop who is carrying out the wedding ceremony.
"Mahwage... Mahwage is wot bwings us togeder today. Mahwage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam..."
I made friends with a huge bunch of PB fans at university and when people started marrying off we'd sit up the back whispering: Marrwage.
5:50, Wallace Shawn! He voiced Rex in Toy Story, and Stewie's half brother Bertram in Family Guy.
The Grand Nagus, Star Trek DS9
And apparently they wanted Danny Devito for the role. Can you imagine???
LOL! At 8:59 he says everyone will be wearing masks in the future. No argument here!
Another great Rob Reiner film is "A Few Good Men". A true classic, and jam packed with great actors.
2:48, Robin Wright. This was her first film. She would later star in Wonder Woman.
And, she is Jenny, in Forrest Gump !
It was set before the discovery of carrot cake and after the invention of the cannon.
That's oddly specific 😂😂
@@shanwatchesmovies the book is filled with author's notes like this 😜
Just in case you're wondering; in the book, it's explained that Buttercup became princess after her parents introduced her to Humperdink. They hoped their marriage would help make their family financially secure
17:12 That's Carol Kane. She was most recently in the Netflix show The Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt.
Great video! I appreciate your willingness to give an older "fantasy romance" film a fair chance and let the story speak for itself. Your reactions reminded me of the first time I saw this film as a child and how it just swept me away and I've loved it ever since. Such great characters, quotable lines, and a flow that never drags or skips. As others have commented, this is a movie meant to be shared with the people you love. Share this movie with all the special people in your life and let it make more wonderful memories!
Cary Elway is in one of my favorite movies. "Glory" starring Matthew Brodewick. I would LOVE if you reacted to that.
Everyone I know that has thought, oh, I don't think I will like it.........Loves it! It's a movie you can see many times. Glad you finally joined us. ;-)
Another enjoyable classic. It’s a wonderful film. I’ve been enjoying your reactions for awhile now, Shan. Keep them coming.
Thank you as usual Jessica!
2:18,;Peter Falk plays the grandfather. And Fred Savage plays the little boy.
Fun trivia When asked what his favorite thing about making this film was, André the Giant replied, without skipping a beat, "Nobody looks at me." He felt treated as an equal, without people staring at him because of his grand height
Fun trivia Robin Wright and Cary Elwes were smitten with each other during filming, naturally helping their chemistry in the movie. Elwes said that he "couldn't concentrate on much of anything after that first encounter with Robin."
Fun trivia When Count Rugen hits Westley over the head, Cary Elwes told Christopher Guest to go ahead and hit him for real. Guest hit him hard enough to shut down production for a day while Elwes went to the hospital.
Fun trivia André the Giant called almost everybody on set (be they director, producers, co-stars or crew) "boss", a technique he employed to defer to people he liked and go some way towards counteracting the way he would tower over them.
Fun trivia In order to create the Greatest Swordfight in Modern Times, Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin trained for months with Peter Diamond and Bob Anderson, who between them had been in the Olympics; worked on Bond, Lord of the Rings, Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), and Star Wars films; and coached Errol Flynn and Burt Lancaster. Every spare moment on set was spent practicing. Eventually, when they showed Rob Reiner the swordfight for the movie, he was underwhelmed and requested that it be at least three minutes long rather than the current one minute. They added steps to the set, watched more swashbuckling movies for inspiration, re-choreographed the scene, and ended up with a three minute and 10 second fight which took the better part of a week to film from all angles.
Fun trivia The giant rodents were created with diminutive actors inside rat suits. On the day Westley was supposed to wrestle the main actor, Danny Blackner, he was nowhere to be found. Finally, Blackner arrived on set with a long story about being pulled over for speeding the night prior on his way home from the bar, and subsequently being put in jail for a few hours for drinking (after the police officer didn't believe his story about having to work as an actor/stuntman playing a rat).
Fun trivia Before filming, Wallace Shawn (Vizzini) had come to understand that he was second choice for the part after Danny DeVito (although there is some confusion about whether DeVito was ever seriously pursued). He became convinced that he was wrong for the role and in danger of being fired at any moment. He was extremely nervous throughout filming and co-star Cary Elwes (Westley) noted that he was visibly sweating during the 'battle of wits' scene. He said to Rob Reiner that he didn't feel he'd get the part because he isn't Sicilian; Rob assured him that his voice was exactly the same as Vizzini's in the book.
Fun trivia Most characters within the fairy tale (i.e.: excluding the modern-day scenes) speak in a British accent, including American actors like Robin Wright and Chris Sarandon. The only actors who speak in an American accent are Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal and Carol Kane.
Fun trivia According to author William Goldman, when he was first trying to get the movie made in the 1970s, a then-unknown Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to play Fezzik, and he was strongly being considered because Goldman could never get his first choice, André the Giant, to read for the role. By the time the movie was made about twelve years later, Schwarzenegger was such a big star they could not afford him. Andre was cast after all, and the two big men had gone on to become friends.
Fun trivia Despite his character Fezzik's almost-superhuman strength, André the Giant's back problems at the time prevented him from actually lifting anything heavy. Robin Wright had to be attached to wires in the scene where Buttercup jumps from the castle window into Fezzik's arms because he couldn't support her himself.
Mongo is back with ALL the trivia in the comments condensed into one. Thank you again my friend!
@@shanwatchesmovies you're welcome my friend
8:55
Masks are so terribly comfortable. I think everyone will be wearing them in the future.
That’s it! This film predicted 2020!
In this hard world, sometimes we need to enjoy just a sweet, fun movie.
The "inconceivable" guy is Wallace Shawn. He's been an actor for around 40 years, but, he's best known these days as Dr. Surges on "Young Sheldon".
this movie is a one of a kind gem. fantastic. I remember one time it was on TV and my friends refused to watch it because its name. I wonder if they ever saw it.
This was my favorite review of yours yet ❤️ Loved it!
Thank you so much for taking the time to watch Esther!
I love how detailed and insightful your reviews are. It brings so much more value to the experience.
Did you recognize Nigel from Spinal Tap as the six fingered man? Yep, Christopher Guest played both. Very well I might add.
Cheers and nice work!
Another great movie reaction is always. I still think you're the best. Cloris Leachman died yesterday the Emmy award-winning actress that played Frau Blücher in Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks. I'm still looking forward to your reaction on that one.
The video game in the first scene is actually on the Commodore 64 called "Hardball."
Ahh damn! Thanks for the correction though :)
Yeah I had to laugh when you suggested the Atari 2600, as the game is far too advanced graphically for the poor Atari to render. The Commodore 64 may have been an 8-bit machine like the Atari but the difference in capability is immense :D
Everything in the movie is extra and I love it. This is what a parody made from pure love for the source material looks like
Yes, Miracle Max is played by Billy Crystal and his wife is played by Carol Kane, mostly known for the horror movie, When A Stranger Calls.
Great reaction! I loved that you never wanted to see it until you discovered it was more than romance. Also loved the priceless look on your face at hearing the “I am Inigo Montoya ... “ line and realizing it came from this film. Your commentary was WONDERFUL as well. (A heartfelt thanks for omitting the summary you used to do. This way was sooo much better and engaging. 😉) Loved that you were honest about it being a little cheesy and over-the-top and being perfectly fitting for the story. So glad you enjoyed it. And you incl all the best bits in the editing too. Amazing! Perfect! 👨🍳😘
This is my favorite movie of all time. My top ten list can often fluctuate but this one never moves and never changes.
I met Wallace Shawn or Vincene and Chris Sarandon or Prince Humperdinck at Comic con. I saw Cary Elwes in Person when he made an appearance to host a showing of this movie. He told a story about Andre the Giant. Andre had to use a four wheeler ATV to get around the filming area. He let Cary drive the ATV. He broke his toe on the ATV.