The Princess Bride (1987)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1987
Running Times: 98 mins
Format: colour 35mm
Ratio: 1.37:1 (negative ratio) 1.85:1 (intended ratio)
Sound: Dolby Stereo

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Act III Communications / Buttercup Films Ltd / The Princess Bride Ltd
Executive in Charge of Production: Mark E. Pollack
Executive Producer: Norman Lear
Producers: Rob Reiner, Andrew Scheinman
Associate Producers: Steve Nicolaides, Jeffrey Stott
UK Production Manager: David Barron
Production Coordinator: Gillian Bates
Unit Manager (Derbyshire): Loretta Ordewer

SCRIPT
Script / Novel: William Goldman

DIRECTION
Director: Rob Reiner
Assistant Directors: Ken Baker, Peter Bennett, Paul Taylor

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Adrian Biddle
2nd Unit Director of Photography: Ray Andrew
Camera Operator: Shaun O'Dell
2nd Unit Camera Operator: Brian Harris
2nd Unit Assistant Camera: Philip Aylewood, John Deacon, John Outred, Mike Phillips, Severin Woxholt
Camera Loader: Terry Nightingall
Focus: Martin Hume
Gaffer: Kevin Day
Electricians: Gary Cross, Alfie Emmins, Andy McDade, David Ridout, Toby Tyler
Best Boy: Larry Randall
Generator Operator: Al Wilson
Grip: John Flemming
Stills: Clive Coote
Colour Timer: Phil Downey
Grip and Lighting Equipment: Lee Lighting Ltd
Camera Equipment: Joe Dunton Cameras
Laboratory: DeLuxe

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Robert Leighton
Associate Editor: Adam Weiss
Assistant Editors: Paul Hodgson, Andrew MacRitchie, Steve Nevius
Negative Cutter: Jack Hooper

MUSIC
Music: Mark Knopfler
Music Performed By: Mark Knopfler, Guy Fletcher
Songs: Willy de Ville (Storybook Love); Albert von Tilzer, Jack Norworth (Take Me Out To the Ballgame)
Songs Performed By: Willy de Ville (Storybook Love)
Music Recording Engineer: Marc Di Sisto
Music Editor: Michael Dittrick
Music Recorded At: A&M Studios

SOUND
Sound Mixer: David John
Boom Operator: Matthew Launay
Re-Recording Engineers: David E. Campbell, John T. Reitz, Gregg Rudloff
Supervising Sound Editor: Lon E. Bender
Sound Editors: Tom Bellfort, Jacqueline Christianini, Cameron Frankley, Randy Kelley, Larry Kemp, Vince Melandri, Dan Rich, Ron Roose, Hugo Weng
ADR Supervisor: Joe Mayer
Special Sound Effects: Sandy Berman
Sound Assistants: Chris Hogan, Michael R. Hoskinson, Joe Hutshing
Sound Re-Recording: Lion's Gate Studios

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up Department Head: Lois Burwell
Make Up: Nick Forder, Peter Robb-King
Make Up Designer for Billy Crystal and Carol Jane: Peter Montagna
Hair Supervisor: Eithné Fennell
Hair: Jan Jamison, Barbara Ritchie
Costume Designer: Phyllis Dalton
Assistant Costume Designer: Jane Hamilton
Wardrobe Supervisors: Richard Pointing, Joyce Stoneman
Wardrobe Assistants: Judy Bagley-Shaw, John Birkenshaw
Pattern Maker: Alex Harwood
Contact Lens Supplier: Joel Optics Ltd

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects Supervisor: Nick Allder
Special Effects Technicians: John Hatt, Ronald Hone, Philip Knowles, Terry Schubert, Neil Swan
Mold Making Supervisor: Barry Fowler
Animatronic Supervisor: Rodger Shaw
Mechanical Designer: Nigel D. Trevessey

VISUAL EFFECTS
Matte Paintings: Peerless London
Matte Supervisors: John Grant, Kent Houston
Matte Artist: Bob Cuffe
Additional Matte Painter: Ken Marschall
Titles and Opticals: Pacific Titles and Optical

Model Photography Unit
Photography: Paul Wilson
Camera Operator: John Morgan
Loader: Nigel Stone
Focus: Jonathon Taylor
Grip: Edward Jaffe

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Norman Garwood
Supervising Art Director: Keith Pain
Art Director: Richard Holland
Set Decorator: Maggie Gray
Property Master: Bruce Bigg
Stand By Propmen: Les London, Alfie Smith, Mickey Swift
Dressing Propmen: Derek Creedon, Michael Flanders, Brian Harris, Peter Wallis
Production Buyer: Jill Quertier
Construction Manager: Peter Verard
Draftspersons: Sharon Cartwright, John Ralph, Lucy Richardson
Storyboard Artists: Bill Stallion

MISCELLANEOUS
Script Supervisor: Ceri Evans
Assistant Accountants: Penelope Forrester, Susan Nicholson
Production Accountant: John Beharrell
Post Production Accountant: Leslie Cornyn
UK Production Secretary: Vivien Jordan
USA Production Secretary: Lori Patterson
Personal Assistant to Rob Reiner: Emily Maupin
Assistant to Producers: Bi Benton
Unit Drivers: Mike Bevan, Roy Clarke, Gordon Curran, Terry Pritchard, Terry Tapping
Sword Master: Bob Anderson
Unit Publicist: Jennifer Collen-Smith
Production Runners: Kevin De La Noy, Trevor Kaye
Location Projectionists: Paul Gregory, Peter Morley, Philip Morley
First Aid: Li Chin Tye
Crowd Coordinator: Beverley Keogh
Completion Bond: Entertainment Completions Inc

LOCATIONS
Locations: Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire, England, UK; Castleton, Derbyshire, England, UK; Ireland
Location Manager: Paul Shersby
Assistant Location Manager: Bob Jordan

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Peter Diamond
Stunts: Andy Bradford, George Lane Cooper, Sue Crossland, Reg Harding, Terry Richards, Jason White
2nd Unit Cliff Climbing Effects: Bob Harmon

CASTING
Casting: Janet Hirshenson, Jane Jenkins
Casting Assistant: Michael Hirshenson

CAST
Cary Elwes (Westley / The Dread Pirate Roberts)
Mandy Patinkin (Inigo Montoya)
Chris Sarandon (Prince Humperdinck)
Christopher Guest (Count Tyron Rugen)
Wallace Shawn (Vizzini)
Andre the Giant (Fezzik)
Fred Savage (the grandson)
Robin Wright (Buttercup)
Peter Falk (the grandpa)
Peter Cook (the impressive clergyman)
Mel Smith (the albino)
Carol Kane (Valerie)
Billy Crystal (Miracle Max)
Anne Dyson (the queen)
Margery Mason (the ancient booer)
Malcolm Storry (Yellin)
Willoughby Gray (the king)
Betsy Brantley (the mother)
Paul Badger (the assistant brute)
Danny Blackner, Anthony Georghiou (Rodenst of Unusual Size performers)

PLOT SUMMARY

A grandfather tells his grandson the story of the beautiful Buttercup who is kidnapped by the evil Prince Humperdinck who plans to force her to marry him. Her childhood sweetheart, Westley passes himself off as the Dread Pirate Roberts and sets out to rescue her, aided by an oddball collection of accomplices. But the course of true love never runs smooth and things don't always go according to plan...

A very funny, affectionate and unique fairy story with a commendably ironic streak. The cast is just about perfect, the script witty, the satire spot-on and the direction first-rate. Cleverly, it is capable of engaging the attentions of both adults and children, a rare trick pulled off with some skill here. Highly recommended.

USA
Theatrical Distributor: 20th Century Fox Film Corporation
Video Distributor: MGM Home Video
Laserdisc Distributor: Nelson (77096); Criterion (CC 1140L); Criterion (CC 1194L); Vestron (VLV 16949)
DVD Distributor: Polygram (800 636 861-2); MGM Home Entertainment (908064); MGM Home Entertainment (1002362 - Special Edition; includes - audio commentary by Rob Reiner and William Goldman; As You Wish documentary; footage shot by Cary Elwes during production; two other featurettes)

Australia
Rating: PG

Finland
Rating: K-10

France
Rating: U

Netherlands
Rating: AL

Sweden
Rating: 11

UK
Rating: PG

USA
Rating: PG

1987
Toronto International Film Festival, Canada
People's Choice Award (Rob Reiner) - winner

1988
Academy Awards, USA
Best Music, Song (Willy De Ville) - nominated (for Storybook Love)

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, USA
Saturn Award Best Fantasy Film - winner
Saturn Award Best Costumes (Phyllis Dalton) - winner

Casting Society of America, USA
Artios Best Casting for Feature Film, Comedy (Janet Hirshenson, Jane Jenkins) - nominated

Hugo Awards, USA
Best Dramatic Presentation - winner

Writers Guild of America, USA
WGA Screen Award Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (William Goldman) - nominated

Young Artist Awards, USA
Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture: Drama (Fred Savage) - winner

2000
July
18: USA - DVD release (MGM Home Entertainment (908064))

2001
September
4: USA - DVD release (MGM Home Entertainment (1002362 - Special Edition))

2002
May
5: USA - television Broadcast (on FAM)

1987
September
18: Canada - shown at the Toronto Film Festival
25: USA - theatrical release

1988
October
13: West Germany - theatrical release
14: Sweden - theatrical release

1989
May
19: Finland - theatrical release

Scaling the Cliffs of Insanity, Battling Rodents of Unusual Size, Facing torture in the Pit of Despair. - True love has never been a snap.

Heroes. Giants. Villains. Wizards. True Love. - Not just your basic, average, everyday, ordinary, run-of-the-mill fairy tale.

She gets kidnapped, he gets killed... and it all turns out okay

Die Braut des Prinzen - German title
El Pirata y la princesa - Venezuelan title
La princesa prometida - Spanish title
Prinsessan ryöstö - Finnish title
A herceg menyasszonya - Hungarian title
La storia fantastica - Italian title
Prinsessebruden - Norwegian title
Narzeczona ksiecia - Polish title
Bleka dödens minut - Swedish title

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
As You Wish: The Story of the Princess Bride (2001)

MAGAZINES

Entertainment Weekly no.614 (14 September 2001) p.71 (USA)
DVD review (by Marc Bernardin)

Premiere March 1988 p.23 (France)
review (by Stella Molitor)

Studio March 1988 p.31 (France)
review (by Denis Parent)

KEYWORDS

book into film; fairy stories; wrestling; sword-fights; magic; albinos; pirates; giants; royalty; princesses; princes; kidnapping; revenge; mountaineering; torture; wizards; magic

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008