The Princess Bride (1987) – Fantasizing About Fantasy Films

What makes a classic?  How do you somehow create a perfect film?  Is it luck, talent, or just meant to be?  When people think about perfect movies there aren’t that many usually that can be thought of.  But typically, one that will be on that list is The Princess Bride.

Released in 1987, The Princess Bride did okay business but over time viewers, fans, and history have come to show that it is that rare film that is just magically perfect.  And all of those facts mean it’s perfect for us.  On this episode of Fantasizing About Fantasy Films, we’re going to journey into the storybook story of the inconceivably wonderful The Princess Bride.

The Princess Bride was a passion project of director Rob Reiner from the time he was given the book to read by his father Carl…who was given the book by the author William Goldman.  It would seem that The Princess Bride was always destined to have family links as it was inspired by Goldman’s own daughters back in 1973.  He told them when they were around the ages of 7 and 4 “I’ll write you a story, what do you want it to be about?”  One said, “A princess!”  the other said “A bride!”  and Goldman told them “Then that’s the title.”  Cary Elwes would be gifted the book from his stepfather when he was 13 years old, and he would always identify with Westley.

Goldman was a prolific screen writer whose work won and was nominated for multiple Academy Awards.  Most notably was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in 1969, The Stepford Wives, All The Presidents Men, Magic, Misery and that’s just some of them.  Goldman wasn’t stuck in any one genre but seemed a master of them all.  He notably loved working in the realms of Stephen King, writing 4 screenplays based on his work.  

Fantasizing About Fantasy Films is written and narrated by Jessica Dwyer, and edited by Bill Mazzola. Each episode takes a deep dive into the world of 1980’s fantasy epics. Check out some of our previous episodes below: