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The Princess Bride poster

The Princess Bride

1987 ยท 98 min ยท movie
โญ 8.0 (487,142 votes)

In the frame story, a grandfather reads a novel called The Princess Bride to his sick grandson, who reluctantly listens.

Princess Buttercup is a young woman living on a farm in the kingdom of Florin. Her farmhand Westley, whom she calls "farmboy", always follows her orders, saying only, "As you wish". Buttercup eventually realizes it is his way of telling her he loves her. She soon falls in love with him, and Westley leaves to seek his fortune overseas so they can marry. However, she is told his ship has been attacked by the Dread Pirate Roberts, who is known for leaving no survivors.

Five years later, Buttercup is forcibly betrothed to Florin's arrogant Prince Humperdinck. Before the wedding, she is kidnapped by crafty Sicilian criminal Vizzini and his men: gentle Turkish giant Fezzik, and expert Spanish swordsman Inigo Montoya, who is driven by revenge against his father's six-fingered killer. A masked man in black pursues them across the sea, as do Humperdinck and his soldiers.

Atop the Cliffs of Insanity, the man in black defeats Inigo in a sword duel and knocks him out, chokes Fezzik into unconsciousness, and kills Vizzini by tricking him into drinking a poisoned wine. He takes Buttercup and flees ahead of Humperdinck's party. She correctly guesses he is the Dread Pirate Roberts, rebukes him for killing Westley, and shoves him down a steep hill. While tumbling down, he shouts, "As you wish!". Realizing he is Westley, Buttercup tumbles after him, and they are reunited.

Making their way through the dangerous Fire Swamp to avoid Humperdinck and his soldiers, Westley explains that "Dread Pirate Roberts" is a transferable title he assumed when the previous Roberts, who had let him live out of respect for his love for Buttercup, retired. Having found her, Westley intends to retire and pass on the title to someone else, but Humperdinck captures them after they escape the Fire Swamp. Buttercup agrees to return with Humperdinck after he promises to release Westley. He, however, then secretly orders his henchman Count Rugen to take him to his torture chamber, the Pit of Despair. Westley, who immediately understands he will not be freed, notices Rugen has six fingers on his right hand before he is knocked out.

Buttercup, knowing Westley is alive, threatens to kill herself if Humperdinck forces her to marry him. He falsely promises to find Westley. He soon reveals his real plan: he wishes to start a war with neighboring country Guilder by killing Buttercup and framing them for it. Humperdinck had secretly hired Vizzini to kill her to this end, but Westley interfered.

Fezzik, as part of the "brute squad", is ordered to clear the thieves' forest before the wedding. Finding a drunk Inigo in the forest, he sobers him up, telling him about Rugen. Inigo, knowing neither he nor Fezzik can devise a plan, realizes they need Westley's help to storm the castle.

Buttercup discovers Humperdinck did not search for Westley, so calls him a coward. Enraged, he imprisons her and tortures Westley to near death. Inigo and Fezzik follow Westley's screams to the pit and take his body to Miracle Max, a folk healer whom Humperdinck recently fired. Max declares that Westley is actually "mostly dead". Once Inigo promises that Westley will humiliate Humperdinck and ruin his wedding, Max and his wife revive him. However, Westley is so severely weakened he needs to be carried.

The three enter the castle during the wedding. Inigo confronts Rugen, who flees and then stabs Inigo in an ambush, taunting his obsession. Inigo braves his injuries and kills Rugen. Westley locates Buttercup before she can commit suicide and assures her that the marriage is invalid as she never said "I do". Humperdinck finds them and challenges Westley to a duel, but is intimidated into surrendering. Inigo finds Westley and Buttercup, and Fezzik procures four horses for their escape. When Inigo is unsure what to do next with his life, Westley offers him the Dread Pirate Roberts title. As dawn breaks, the reunited Westley and Buttercup share a passionate kiss.

The sick grandson eagerly asks his grandfather to read him the story again the next day. His grandfather replies, "As you wish."

Directed by

Rob Reiner

Starring

Robin Wright
Fred Savage
Wallace Shawn
Cary Elwes
Christopher Guest
Mel Smith
Peter Falk
Billy Crystal