Retro Geek Film Throwback: Princess Bride

Previously on Retro Geek we have looked at classic comic book series that had elevated themselves above and beyond and last week we dove into the past to the film Predator. This time around, we are looking at a standout film that was released in 1987; the cult classic The Princess Bride. Inconceivable!

The 1987 film is a romantic-comedy-fantasy-adventure film, (try and say that three times fast) directed and produced by film legend Rob Reiner. It’s also based on the 1973 novel of the same name by William Goldman. The story is framed by a grandfather (Peter Falk) reading to his sick grandson (80s legend Fred Savage) which served the novels narrative style quite well. The actual plot follows a young girl named Buttercup who lives on a farm and her farm boy Westley in a classic fairy tale, with swordplay, pirates, giants, an evil prince, a fire swamp and quite a bit of comedy.

The Princess Bride was nominated for one Oscar and several other awards at the time of its release. The film is number 50 on Bravo’s 100 Funniest Movies, number 88 on The American Film Institute’s ‘100 Years 100 Passions’ list of the greatest love stories and is surely an easy bet to be on any list of great films of the 80s or classic comedy/romance. Above all of that, if there were to be a list made of most quotable movies, surely this gem would be very highly ranked in that regard. Since its release, it has developed into quite the cult classic with fans of the film who weren’t even born at the time of its release.

It has been over a quarter century since the film was released and the world was introduced to Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, Miracle Max, the clergyman with a speech impediment and all the other superb supporting cast members that provided such quotability to this movie. Few movies can manage to be as quotable and diverse as The Princess Bride. It has aged so well that even kids now are quoting this film, and it has spawned a plethora of memes on the internet with many people having their own go to favourite lines from the film. Such things as Inigo and Fezzik rhyming on the boat, or when Westley fights Fezzik and Fezzik is letting Westley attack him, and says “I just want you to feel you’re doing well. I hate for people to die embarrassed.” Of course there is Westley’s line of “As you wish” which is quite iconic to the film as well. Now obviously none of the quotes in the movie match up to the ultimate quote that has lived long after the movie and is used more often than not which is Inigo’s quote of “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die.” The point is, this movie is a irrefutable quote machine and has such a rich script that was so well written, it makes for one of the most enjoyable viewing experiences of the last 30 years.

While it only enjoyed a modest amount of success in theatres (it only grossed 30 million dollars at the box office in North America), it did garner rave reviews from critics, and even now it maintains a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Its legacy that it has gained the moniker of the “Wizard of Oz of our time”.

The cast of the film is star studded and talented actors are the ones that bring the film to the heights it has seen with Cary Elwes as Westley/Dread Pirate Roberts, Robin Wright as Buttercup, Chris Sarandon as the evil Prince Humperdinck, Christopher Guest as Count Rugen, Mandy Patinkin in one of his signature roles as the sword fighter Inigo Montoya, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Mel Smith and more.

The great part is that with the script being so rich, it’s the perfect film for almost any occasion. It has sword fighting and action scenes to appease those looking for action and thrills, it has romance and princes and dramatic pieces to appease the female audiences, and comedy to make viewers laugh. It has every possible scenario and can’t fit into just one genre, which again makes this one of the greatest movies of all time.

So if you are looking for a classic retro film to entertain for a throwback, there is no more classic and more entertaining retro film than The Princess Bride. It can be found extremely cheap at the local video store and you may be able to stream it on Netflix

As a bonus here are some of the best quotes of the film (in the comments tell us yours);

Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die. – Inigo

As you wish. – Westley

Inconceivable. – Vizzini

What about the R.O.U.Ses. Rodents of Unusual Size, I don’t think they exist. – Westley + Buttercup

Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for awhile. – Westley

Tyrone, you know how much I love watching you work. But I’ve got my country’s 500th anniversary to plan, my wedding to arrange, my wife to murder, and Guilder to frame for it. I’m swamped. – Prince Humerpdinck