The Princess Bride (movie) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Princess Bride |
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Theatrical release poster by John Alvin
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| Directed by | Rob Reiner |
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| Screenplay by | William Goldman |
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| Music by | Mark Knopfler |
| Cinematography | Adrian Biddle |
| Editing by | Robert Leighton |
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| Release date(s) | September 25, 1987 |
| Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $16 million |
| Money made | $30.9 million |
The Princess Bride is a popular American movie from 1987. It's a mix of romance, comedy, fantasy, and adventure. Rob Reiner directed and helped make the movie. It's based on a novel written by William Goldman in 1973.
The movie tells its story like a book being read aloud. A grandfather (Peter Falk) reads to his sick grandson (Fred Savage). This way, it feels like you're listening to a story. Many people love The Princess Bride. It's often called one of the funniest movies ever. It's also on lists of great love stories. In the United States, it's a 'cult movie', meaning it has a very dedicated fan base. Critics really liked the film when it came out.
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Main Characters in The Princess Bride
This movie has many memorable characters. Here are some of the main actors and who they play:
- Cary Elwes as Westley/the Dread Pirate Roberts
- Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya
- Chris Sarandon as Prince Humperdinck
- Christopher Guest as Count Tyrone Rugen
- Wallace Shawn as Vizzini
- André Roussimoff as Fezzik
- Fred Savage as the grandson
- Robin Wright as Buttercup, the Princess Bride
- Peter Falk as the grandfather
- Peter Cook as the Impressive Clergyman
- Mel Smith as the Albino
- Carol Kane as Valerie
- Billy Crystal as Miracle Max
Other actors also play important roles. Betsy Brantley plays the grandson's mother. Margery Mason is the Ancient Booer in Buttercup's dream. Willoughby Gray and Anne Dyson play the King and Queen of Florin. Malcolm Storry plays Prince Humperdinck's main guard, Yellin.
The Story of The Princess Bride
The movie begins with a grandfather reading a story. His grandson is sick and at first, he doesn't want to hear it. But the story soon pulls him in.
Buttercup and Westley's Love Story
The book is about a young woman named Buttercup. She lives on a farm in the land of Florin. She often asks her farmhand, Westley, to do things. He always replies, "As you wish." This phrase really means "I love you."
Buttercup and Westley fall deeply in love. Westley decides to leave the farm to find his fortune. He wants to earn enough money so they can get married. But then, Westley is believed to be dead. His ship was attacked by a famous pirate called the Dread Pirate Roberts.
Kidnapping and a Mysterious Man
Five years later, Buttercup is forced to marry Prince Humperdinck of Florin. Before the wedding, she is kidnapped. Three outlaws take her: Vizzini, a small man from Sicily; Fezzik, a giant from Greenland; and Inigo Montoya, a fencing master from Spain.
Inigo is looking for a man with six fingers. This man killed his father many years ago. A masked man in black starts chasing the outlaws. Prince Humperdinck and his soldiers are also chasing them.
Battles and Reunions
The man in black catches up to the outlaws at the Cliffs of Insanity. He defeats Inigo in a sword fight. He then chokes Fezzik until he passes out. Finally, he tricks Vizzini into drinking a deadly poison.
The man in black takes Buttercup and tries to escape. Buttercup thinks he is the Dread Pirate Roberts. She blames him for Westley's death and pushes him down a gorge. As he falls, he shouts, "As you wish!" Buttercup then realizes it's Westley! She jumps into the gorge after him, and they are together again.
Escaping and New Dangers
Westley and Buttercup travel through the Fire Swamp. They do this to avoid Humperdinck and his soldiers. Westley explains that "Dread Pirate Roberts" is a title. It's passed down from one pirate to the next. Westley took the name when the old Roberts retired. Now that he has found Buttercup, Westley plans to retire too.
But Humperdinck captures them after they leave the swamp. Buttercup agrees to go back with Humperdinck. She does this because he promises to free Westley. However, Humperdinck secretly orders Count Rugen to take Westley to his torture room. Westley notices that Rugen has six fingers. Then Rugen knocks him out.
Humperdinck's Evil Plan
Buttercup threatens to end her own life if she has to marry Humperdinck. He falsely promises to find Westley for her. But Humperdinck has a secret, evil plan. He wants to start a war with the country of Guilder. He plans to kill Buttercup and blame Guilder for it. He had even hired Vizzini to kill Buttercup earlier, but Westley stopped that plan.
Meanwhile, Fezzik is forced to join a group of guards. They are clearing a forest before the wedding. He finds Inigo living there. Inigo learns about Rugen. Inigo tells Fezzik they need Westley's help to attack the castle.
A Desperate Rescue
Buttercup realizes Humperdinck lied about Westley. She calls him a coward. Humperdinck gets very angry. He locks Buttercup away and tortures Westley almost to death. Inigo and Fezzik followed Westley's screams. They find his body and take him to Miracle Max. Max is a folk healer who Humperdinck had recently fired. Max revives Westley, even though he is very weak.
Westley, Inigo, and Fezzik storm the castle. Humperdinck panics and speeds up the wedding ceremony. Inigo finds Rugen. Rugen makes fun of Inigo about his father's death. Even though Inigo is hurt, he finally kills Rugen.
Westley finds Buttercup. She thinks she is married to Humperdinck and wants to die. Westley tells her the marriage isn't real. She never finished her wedding vows. Humperdinck finds them and challenges Westley to a fight. But Westley stands up and scares Humperdinck into giving up.
Inigo finds Westley and Buttercup. Fezzik gets four horses for their escape. Inigo killed Rugen, so he doesn't know what to do next. Westley offers him the Dread Pirate Roberts title. As the sun rises, Westley and Buttercup share a kiss.
The sick grandson is very excited. He asks his grandfather to read the story again the next day. His grandfather replies, "As you wish."
Images for kids
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The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland were used for the Cliffs of Insanity.
See also
In Spanish: The Princess Bride (película) para niños
