by Cary Elwes
Hallam Tower Hotel, 139–40
Hanks, Rita, 231
Hanks, Tom, 230
A Hard Day’s Night (film), 21
Harper (film), 14
Harutunian, Henry, 69
Heartburn (film), 71
Heaven Can Wait (film), 52
Help! (film), 21
Henry, Buck, 52–53, 59
Henry VIII (king of England), 112
Higger Tor, 135
Highlander (film), 68
Hogan, Hulk, 122
Holland, Richard, 114
Hollywood Vice Squad (film), 61
Hotel Kempinski, 11, 15
House of Cards (TV show), 148
Howard, Ron, 231
Hurt, John, 37
Indiana Jones trilogy (film), 93
Jackson, Peter, 68
Jamison, Jan, 88–89
Jane Eyre (film), 113
The Jeffersons (TV show), 22
Jenkins, Jane, 15
Jesus Christ Superstar (film), 22
Jewel of the Nile (film), 37
Jewison, Norman, 20, 22, 242
John, David, 93
John Paul II (pope), 229–30
Jones, Griff Rhys, 197
Kane, Carol:
casting of, 41–45, 161, 242
cast’s mutual affection and respect, 170, 238
cast’s table read and, 54
Billy Crystal and, 42, 166, 167, 171
Cary Elwes and, 165
Rob Reiner and, 133, 155
twenty-fifth-anniversary screening and, 4
Valerie role and, 163–65, 168–69, 171
Katajanokka, Finland, 15
Kaufman, Andy, 163
Kelly, Grace, 44
Kennedy, John F., Jr., 231
Kiel, Richard, 49
Kim (Kipling), 210
King, Stephen, 18
Kipling, Rudyard, 210
Knopfler, Mark, 7, 191–92
Kung Fu (TV show), 81
Labyrinth (film), 104
Lady Jane (film), 13, 15, 25, 35, 112, 114
The Ladykillers (film), 144
Lancaster, Burt, 68, 78
The Last Detail (film), 163
Lathkill Dale, 155
Lawrence of Arabia (film), 33, 36
Lean, David, 33
Lear, Norman, 22, 24, 40, 239, 241–42
Lee, Bruce, 81
Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, 12
Lester, Richard, 21
Limato, Ed, 217
Lincoln Center, 3, 6, 9, 234, 235, 236, 241
Local Hero (film), 192
Lolita (Nabokov), 14
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, 12
Lord of the Rings trilogy (film), 68
Lumet, Sidney, 51
M*A*S*H* (TV show), 24
Macdonald, Ross, 14
McKean, Michael, 18
McLean, Billy, 209–11
Malle, Louis, 151
Manhattan (film), 51
Manners, John, 112
Manners family, 112, 113
Marathon Man (film), 16, 57, 91
The Mark of Zorro (film), 200
Maschenka (film), 14, 33
Maude (TV show), 22
A Mighty Wind (film), 188
The Missionary (film), 40
Mitchell, Julian, 13
Molien, France, 119
Mona Lisa (film), 88
Montagna, Peter, 161–63
Monty Python (TV show), 40, 61, 144
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (film), 177
Moonraker (film), 49
Moonstruck (film), 22
Moore, Dudley, 145
Moore, Roger, 12
Morrison, Jim, 36
The Moving Target (film), 14
The Moving Target (Macdonald), 14
My Dinner with Andre (film), 41, 51, 151
My Giant (film), 120
Nabokov, Vladimir, 14
NASA, 230–31
Newhart, Bob, 24
Newman, Paul, 14
The New Yorker (magazine), 152
New York Film Festival, 3, 221
Nicholson, Jack, 71
Nicolaides, Steve, 89
Nobel Prize, 120
Not the Nine O’clock News (TV show), 197
Nunn, Trevor, 13
Octopussy (film), 12
O’Dell, Shaun, 189
One Day at a Time (TV show), 22
Oscar awards, 33
Palin, Michael, 40, 144
Patinkin, Mandy:
André the Giant and, 119, 120, 124–25, 167
casting of, 23–31, 41, 242
cast’s table read and, 52
Cliffs of Insanity scene and, 158–59, 160
Billy Crystal and, 165, 166, 169
film’s marketing and, 222
on film’s success, 234
on William Goldman, 216
insecurity and, 71
kidnapped Buttercup scenes and, 148
laughing on set and, 124–25
Inigo Montoya role and, 146
quoting popular lines and, 5
Rob Reiner and, 53, 71, 72, 139, 140
Fred Savage and, 238
Wallace Shawn and, 160
shooting final scenes and, 212, 213
Mel Smith and, 197
on strength of script, 60
sword fighting and training, 67, 69–71, 73–84, 85, 86, 126–28, 184, 187, 189, 195–208, 202
twenty-fifth-anniversary screening and, 4, 6
Yentl and, 88
Peak District, 7, 111–13, 136, 155
People’s Choice Awards, 219
Petty, Tom, 17–18, 191
Peverel, William, the Elder, 112
Pickens, Slim, 123
Pickford, Mary, 112
Pileggi, Nick, 233
Pinewood Studios, 18
Pink Panther series (films), 144
Pit of Despair scenes, 40, 58, 188, 197, 198
P. J. Clarke’s (bar), 224
Pollack, Mark E., 241
Pontiac Silverdome, 122
Pride and Prejudice (film), 113
Princess Bride (album), 192
The Princess Bride (film):
casting of, 18, 41–45
cast’s mutual affection and respect, 3–4, 113, 131–33, 170, 238
cast’s table read of, 47–56, 59–61
catering for, 129–30
as classic, 4–10
critical reviews, 7–8, 220–21
“Development Hell” and, 16–20
director’s importance and, 132–35
distribution of, 22–23
as family film, 8, 167–68
Fire Swamp scenes, 58, 85–110, 187
gross receipts for, 222
Haddon Hall and, 111–14
high-profile fans of, 229–33
as “impossible” to make, 13, 16–17, 20–22
injuries during filming, 165, 169, 173–87, 189–91, 196, 202, 206, 211, 224
Norman Lear and, 242
marketing of, 218, 219, 222–23
New York Film Festival screenings, 3, 221
plot synopsis of, 56–59
popular quotes from, 4–5, 9, 59, 157, 169–70, 228, 234, 235, 236
popular resurgence of, 8–9, 228–29
pre-production and, 33–45
screening of rough cut, 217–18
sword fight training, 65–84
Toronto Film Festival screening, 4, 218–19, 220, 221, 235
tourism in the Peak District and, 113
twenty-fifth-anniversary screening, 3, 4, 9, 234–37, 241
weather’s effect on filming, 135–38
The Princess Bride (Goldman), 7, 12, 14, 16, 20, 26, 34, 55
The Prisoner of Zenda (film), 201
Pryor, Richard, 24
quicksand scene, 100–103
Radner, Gilda, 217–18
Ragtime (film), 52, 71
Raiders of the Lost Arc (film), 68
<
br /> Redford, Robert, 20, 22, 42, 242
Reiner, Carl:
William Goldman and, 19–21
as Rob Reiner’s father, 25
screening of rough cut of film and, 217, 218
sincerity/satire balance and, 107
Reiner, Rob:
André the Giant and, 48–51, 120, 124–26, 213
Danny Blackner and, 105–7
casting and, 11–16, 23–31, 41–44, 242
cast’s table read and, 47–56, 59–60
catering and, 130
Bill Clinton and, 233
cooking for cast and, 139–40
critical response to film and, 220
Billy Crystal and, 93, 155, 164, 165, 166
as director, 7, 17–21, 93, 133–38, 174, 182–84, 216, 235
Cary Elwes and, 11–16, 25, 113, 137, 141, 144, 161, 177–79, 181–85, 189–91, 198, 211, 237
end of production and, 216
English food and, 138–40
Peter Falk and, 171
film’s marketing and, 219, 222, 223
film’s popular resurgence and, 239
film’s release and, 217–19
Fire Swamp scenes and, 85–88, 91–99, 101–3, 105–10
William Goldman and, 20, 21–22, 23, 88, 91, 94, 95
John Gotti and, 233
Christopher Guest and, 139, 140
Haddon Hall filming and, 114
Carol Kane and, 133, 155
laughter during takes and, 124–26, 155, 165, 167, 168, 169, 198
love of storytelling, 237–38
“mostly dead” and, 115–16, 123, 168
Mandy Patinkin and, 53, 71, 72, 139, 140
playing darts and, 140–41
pre-production and, 36, 39–41
Andy Scheinman and, 21, 23, 93, 128, 137–38, 140
Wallace Shawn and, 152, 153, 154–55, 157, 158, 159, 160
sheepdog trials and, 140–41
shooting final scenes and, 212–15
sword fighting scenes and, 66–67, 70, 78, 81, 196–201, 203, 204, 206–8
tea breaks and, 128–29, 135
This is Spinal Tap and, 11, 17–18, 20
twenty-fifth-anniversary screening and, 4, 235–37, 241
USS Coral Sea hat and, 191–92
weather’s effect on filming and, 135–38
Return of the Jedi (film), 104
Richards, Terry, 174–77, 179
Ripping Yarns (TV show), 144
Roberts, Bartholomew, 38
Robin Hood (film), 67
Robinson, Harriet, 11, 12, 14, 15, 29, 31
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (film), 9, 235
Rodents of Unusual Size, 4, 7, 58, 65, 103–7, 106, 109–10, 238
Rolling Stones (rock band), 122
Roussimoff, André René. See André the Giant
Roussimoff, Boris, 119
Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, 68
Royal Shakespeare Company, 13
Salinger, J. D., 152
Sanford and Son (TV show), 22
Santa Barbara (TV show), 42, 43, 61, 143, 146
Sarah Lawrence College, 27
Sarandon, Chris:
André the Giant and, 127
“Captain Kangaroo” fire warden and, 115
casting of, 41, 42, 52, 242
cast’s table read and, 51
Cary Elwes and, 54
on English crews, 40
William Goldman and, 42, 52
Humperdinck role and, 146
movie poster and, 220
Rob Reiner and, 134, 140
twenty-fifth-anniversary screening and, 4
Robin Wright and, 54
Sarandon, Susan, 42
Saturday Night Live (TV show), 23–24, 27, 53, 162
Savage, Fred:
alternate ending scene and, 212
bedroom set for, 40
casting of, 242
cast’s mutual affection and respect, 238
cast’s table read and, 52
Cary Elwes and, 170–71
Peter Falk and, 7, 170–71, 210
film’s marketing and, 222
film’s poster and, 219
Mandy Patinkin and, 238
twenty-fifth-anniversary screening and, 4
USS Coral Sea hat and, 191
Saw (film), 6
Scaramouche (film), 201
The Scarlet Pimpernel (film), 201
Scheinman, Andy:
André the Giant and, 48–49, 50–51, 62, 63, 117, 120, 122
Danny Blackner and, 105–7
casting and, 11, 14–15, 24–26, 28, 29, 30, 43, 242
cast’s table read and, 47–51, 54
Chernobyl accident and, 16, 26
decision to produce film and, 19
Cary Elwes and, 11, 14–15, 103, 144, 183
English food and, 138, 139
film’s marketing and, 223
quicksand scene and, 103
Rob Reiner and, 21, 23, 93, 128, 137–38, 140
Rodents of Unusual Size and, 107
Wallace Shawn and, 152, 154, 160
sword fighting scenes and, 66, 198
Schwarzenegger, Arnold, 22, 53, 219
SCTV (TV show), 144
The Sea Hawk (film), 78, 201
The Season (Goldman), 20
Sellers, Peter, 144
Shawn, Wallace:
André the Giant and, 159, 160
Battle of Wits scene and, 128, 155–58
casting of, 41, 151, 152, 242
cast’s table read and, 51
Cliffs of Insanity scene and, 158–59, 160
Cary Elwes and, 153
insecurities of, 152–59
kidnapped Buttercup scenes and, 148
quoting popular lines and, 157, 236
Rob Reiner and, 152, 153, 154–55, 157, 158, 159, 160
sword fighting scenes and, 202
twenty-fifth-anniversary screening and, 4, 236
Robin Wright and, 147
Shearer, Harry, 18
sheepdog trials, 140–41
Shepperton Studios:
Cliffs of Insanity set, 127, 159, 160, 191, 202
Fire Swamp set at, 40, 85
FX Department and, 36–37
shooting scenes and, 152, 212
The Six Million Dollar Man (TV show), 48, 53
Smith, Mel, 197–98, 197, 234
Soap (TV show), 24
Something Different (play), 20
Spielberg, Steven, 88
The Spy Who Loved Me (film), 49
Stand by Me (film), 18, 22
Star Wars (film), 36, 37, 68, 95
Stengel, Casey, as inspiration for Miracle Max makeup, 162
Sting (musician), 18, 191
Storry, Malcolm, 126
Studio Babelsberg, 15
Sunday in the Park with George (film), 71
The Sure Thing (film), 17, 18, 20
Taxi (TV show), 24, 163
The Temple of Gold (Goldman), 20
Thibault d’Anvers, Gerard, 66
This is Spinal Tap (film):
Christopher Guest and, 18, 23, 188, 216
Rob Reiner and, 11–17, 18, 20
Nigel Tufnel’s amp, 200
USS Coral Sea hat from, 191–92
The Three Musketeers (film), 201
Time Bandits (film), 40, 212
Tony Awards, 71
Toronto Film Festival, 4, 218–19, 220, 221, 235
Toronto International Film Festival, 218
Treatise on the Science of Arms with Philosophical Dialogue (Agrippa), 66
Truffaut, François, 17, 18, 22, 242
20th Century Fox, 21, 22–23, 217, 218, 220, 222, 223
Twister (film), 6
2001: A Space Odyssey (film), 36
Vernon, Dorothy, 112
Vernon, George, 112
VHS video market, 8, 228
Waiting for Godot (Beckett), 120
Waiting for Guffman (film), 188
&n
bsp; Webber, Andrew Lloyd, 71
Which Lie Did I Tell (Goldman), 86
Wilder, Gene, 217–18
William Morris Agency, 14
William the Conqueror, 112
Winters, Jonathan, 24
The Wizard of Oz (film), 8, 40, 165, 222
Wright, Robin:
André the Giant and, 63, 117, 118, 148
Buttercup role and, 145–49
casting of, 25, 41–45, 54, 242
cast’s table read and, 53
Cliffs of Insanity scene and, 158–59
Cary Elwes and, 41–44, 60–61, 96–99, 143–49, 183, 186
end of production and, 216
Fire Swamp scenes and, 85, 87, 90, 96–100, 102–3
William Goldman and, 43, 44
imitating accents and, 44, 61, 143–44
laughing on set and, 107
Rob Reiner and, 140
Wallace Shawn and, 157
shooting final scenes and, 212–15
twenty-fifth-anniversary screening and, 4, 237
Writer’s Guild of America, 9
Wyeth, N. C., 36
Yentl (film), 71, 88
Your Turn to Curtsy, My Turn to Bow (Goldman), 20
Zigfield Theater, 221
Zorro (film), 35
Touchstone
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
Copyright © 2014 by Cary Elwes
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Touchstone Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Touchstone hardcover edition October 2014
TOUCHSTONE and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Unless otherwise credited, all photographs are courtesy of The Princess Bride, Ltd.
The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.
Interior design by Ruth Lee-Mui
Jacket photographs: Images from The Princess Bride, courtesy of Act III Productions, LP and The Princess Bride, Ltd.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Elwes, Cary.
As you wish : inconceivable tales from the making of The princess bride / Cary Elwes with Joe Layden.
pages cm
Includes index.
1. Princess bride (Motion picture) 2. Elwes, Cary. I. Layden, Joe. II. Title.
PN1997.P74534E69 2014
791.43'72—dc23 2014014652
ISBN 978-1-4767-6402-3
ISBN 978-1-4767-6403-0 (ebook)