He adapted his 1973 adult fairy tale “The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure” (1973) for the successful, and enduringly popular, 1987 film. (There was no S. Morgenstern classic tale; that was just a conceit, which he also used in a later work, “The Silent Gondoliers”). The film, a tongue-in-cheek adventure movie did only middling box office in its theatrical run, but became a cult favorite on video. Lines such as “Never go in against a Sicilian when DEATH is on the line,” and “as you wish” became fan favorites and entered the popular lexicon.
Friday, November 16, 2018
William Goldman
Author and screenwriter William Goldman has died. Of his many great works, "The Princess Bride will always be our favorite here. I had read the book shortly after it came out and was greatly excited to hear it was coming out as a movie. It exceeded expectations (except for Billy Crystal), and we were early adopters in bringing it to cult status.
I agree with everything you said. What a classic, which celebrates and is true to its genre while managing to playfully satirize it. What a majestic work, which descends even into mockery at times without ever undermining the crystal core that founded its tradition. Bishops and princes and wise men and nobles are mocked, pirates and Spaniards and giants: but never true love, never honor for one's father, never the true chivalry between brave swordsmen who respect and admire each other even in opposition.
ReplyDeleteThen I think you will like what I wrote in 2014: https://assistantvillageidiot.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-princess-bride.html
ReplyDeleteTerrific book, too, even more acid in its wit than the movie, but equally sweet at heart. He wrote "Marathon Man," too. And if I'm not mistaken, the screenplay for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."
ReplyDeleteThank you, AVI.
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