As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride

I pre-ordered the book as soon as I heard about it, since The Princess Bride has been one of my favorite movies since I saw it in the theater so many years ago.The book does not disappoint and the short review is thus:If you're a fan of THIS movie, just buy the book.If you'd like a behind the scenes look of what goes on to get a movie made, buy this book. I can't emphasize this enough. By twenty-five percent in, I'd already learned more about the process of making a movie (findind the talent, what it feels like to learn to sword fight, the purpose of a table-read, et al) than any other book or show I've ever seen. If you've never seen "The Princess Bride" - it's not required.If you're the type of person who likes to watch A&E Biographies or VHI1's "Behind the Music" or even "Inside The Actor's Studio" with James Lipton - BUY THIS BOOK.If you're looking for a gritty, largely negative tell-all, you'll be disappointed.______________________________________My longer review (largely spoiler free):The first thing that struck me about the telling was the light tone of the book. The first several times I read "as you wish" (the phrase in the book - which shows up a few times in the first five or so pages), I did cringe a little bit. I also very quickly picked up that Mr. Elwes gives what I could only think of as a "rose colored glasses look back" at how the movie came to be.But you know what? It works wonderfully. A lovingly crafted movie about a fairy tale deserves a fairy tale look back at how it all came to be. One also begins to realize that Cary landed the role and played the part like his real life had taken on fairy tale proportions as well.The book is not perfect. There are a few times where Mr. Elwes is a bit repetitive, and perhaps a few times where some segments go on longer than they need to. However, I still give it five stars because overall, the book is extremely engaging - a page burner, if you will. More importantly, we get to see a veritible diary's honesty as if written in between takes of the movie.The author is quite self-deprecating and one can't express enough how refreshing it is. Once again, I find myself wishing, like I did back in 1987, that I could see Cary Elwes up on screen a whole lot more.Once I started getting deeper into the "story", as it were, Cary really finds his voice. I had no idea going in that this wasn't just a bunch of cutesy stories about how Andre got drunk or other tidbits you might hear about on set. No way. Again, in a very conversational tone by someone who obviously loved the experience, Cary regales us with inifinite details that frankly, I'm astounded he remembers. Right down to snacks being served on silver platters in one of the hotels.I loved his chapter on sword-fighting. Granted, I'm a fantasy/sci-fi geek from way back who thought the swordfight in the movie was absolutely fantastic, but hearing how much he had to train and work for that scene only gave me greater appreciation for the effort. (Probably not the least of one of his reasons for devoting a bit of time for that in his book! Mr. Elwes had to work his butt off!)One other note about the tone of the book: I can nearly hear Cary's "English Accent" as he narrates the book. (I put that in quotes, because I can't think of Cary Elwes without thinking of his line from "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" where he says, "Unlike some Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English Accent!") ;) I almost started to feel like a new actor on a set, he relays the feelings that well. Cary, if I may call him that, lets you get inside his head, revealing his own insecurities and feelings.There were many points while reading that I found myself smiling. I had to come back to this review to point that out. It's quite simply, that enjoyable of a read.The book is also surprisingly hefty. I figured.. "How many anecdotes can this guy tell? I mean, I love the movie and I've been a fan of Cary Elwes since he made it, but .. haven't we heard them all?"Not by a long shot. And the (numerous!) quotes from Rob Reiner and other cast members were a complete joy to read and something of a surprise, since I didn't know they were included as well.One thing about some actors that has made me cringe is when beloved movies become an embarrassment for them. The fear of type casting is taken to new heights (or whatever their motivation). Sure, I can appreciate an actor begrudging that a movie you make when you're 25 is the greatest thing you've ever done - and you always want to think that your best is yet to come.Thankfully, Mr. Elwes has never been "that guy" and it shows in the book he's written. One can tell from reading that he understood how lucky he was at the time and has appreciated it ever since. It warms the heart finding out that he's as much a fan of the story (and eventually, of the movie) as any other fan was.You know how some DVD bonuses involve actors or directors running around with behind the scenes cameras? Getting to see the creation of the movie? "The Lord of the Rings" comes to mind and on the "Dread Pirate Roberts" version of the DVD, this film has a fair amount. But, no amount of behind the scenes started when Cary Elwes was still on the set of another movie...it's that comprehensive.Besides there never seems to be enough footage - a fan of the movie or a movie buff can't get enough of this stuff. I know in my case, I couldn't put the book down!Just like there's a shortage of perfect... tell-alls, in this world (Sorry, had to go there! What fan wouldn't include his/her favorite quote? :) ) It would be a pity if you missed this one.

The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies, so when I came across this book I was expecting a regular "making of..." kind of book, and I was fine with that. What I really got, however, was a collaborative effort of most of the characters in the movie that gave me insight not only about the "whats" of the film's making, but the emotions of the people involved, the reasons for the choices that were made for doing things the way they did, and the true love each person involved has for the movie, and, unexpectedly, the love for each other that developed as they worked. When have you ever read a "making of..." book without one scandal, a single argument, any hard feelings? Neither have I. Yet, the making of The Princess Bride has none of those. It doesn't seem Cary Elwes just skipped over some negative aspects of the filming in order to make it seem to have been happier than it really was; the negative aspects seem to have been simply absent. Mainly, this near-miracle was due to the efforts of Rob Reiner, the director of this little masterpiece. Everyone involved had wonderful things to say about him and his talent of directing people to make a good movie and not concentrating so hard on his movie that he forgets that his actors are just people. He loved William Goldman's book as much as Goldman did, and I think he did it justice. This book is full of comments by all the main characters, the trainers, the makeup people...even the Little Man who was inside the costume of the attacking ROUS, so you certainly get a broad view of the story. Cary Elwes has a casual, chatty way with words that makes the book easy to read. I have one of those brains that creates its own pictures as I read, and Elwes's style made that easy. When you're done reading the book, come back to Amazon and buy the movie. Once you've read about Cary's having to run through the Fire Swamp on a newly broken left big toe, like me, you're going to want to see the "hopping run" he had to get through it with. I want to see his eyes get wide when Andre the Giant lets out a long and loud fart while Cary was still getting over being mostly dead behind the wall, checking out the heavily guarded castle door, unable to move to get away from the sound or smell of it. I want to see the part when the six-fingered man actually knocks Cary unconscious after Buttercup is taken away after they escape from the Fire Swamp. So many details I want to check out, now that I know about them! Speaking of Andre the Giant....well, I wish I had known such a gentle, generous soul. If you liked the movie, or if you like Cary Elwes or William Goldman or Rob Reiner or any of the people involved in The Princess Bride, you'll love this book. It's a well written bit of movie-making history that will leave you with a smile and a desire to rewatch the movie. I'm happy I bought it. You will be, too.

Our family dearly loves the “The Princess Bride” movie, so was eager to read this book. Is a sweet, if shallow read. It is nice to be reading a book that does not feel the need to include gossip, behind the scenes drama, or ugliness. But be forewarned, while there is a neat timeline of how the movie making experience unfolded, stories aplenty, conflicts and near misses - this ultimately felt like a somewhat repetitious love letter to the director and author. With everyone involved in the making of it, having to repeat the same thing. The format of the book included inset boxes on most pages - with inserted additional dialogue or commentary. Which was a bit distracting and added to the feel of repetition.I would have given three stars because of that effect. But considering that as a former teen in the 90’s, a former school teacher, and now a parent - have viewed the film countless times, sometimes repetition is not a bad thing. And am grateful that this movie was made! Rare is the film that is better than the book (Princess Bride). And one that is cast so well (Princess Bride). Plus has such simple effects and storytelling that it stands the test of time and ages with grace (Princess Bride).So four stars it is for this sweet, repetitive read, telling the tale of how it was made!! Cheers for Mr Cary Elwes for taking it on.

This book on the making of the movie The Princess Bride has a lot of really fun, behind-the-scenes information about the making of the movie. It is well-written - and well worth the money.

I love Cary's writing and style. Well worth reading. Chapter 6 made me laugh for 30 minutes before I could continue.

If you are a fan of the Princess Bride, then this book is a must read. It is funny, informative and let's you see the actors as they really are. Ordinary people working hard at a job they love.

It was really entertaining, but I finished it in a couple of hours so don’t expect it to keep you entertained for long. Really well written though and cute anecdotes throughout.

Me ha llevado de vuelta a la primera vez que vi la película.

This is a book I waited a long time to read, the making of one of my favourite films, and it was a text to savour. As Cary Elwes writes in his acknowledgements, the subject is "tenderly approached". Although he does recount the story of The Princess Bride in the book, the intended audience is clearly devoted fans who know the film by heart. There are sections that are laugh-out-loud funny and there are sections that are touching, but through it all, it is clear to see Cary's love for the film, the book on which it was based, the cast and crew, and pretty much every part of bringing together the pieces to make this beloved classic.At the beginning, the writing seemed overly full of decorative language, such as the "extraordinarily warm and generous spirit" of one person involved, or even the single paragraph which contains "so deftly and lovingly adapted the screenplay from his equally imaginative novel ... how incredibly fortunate I was ... these two insanely talented men and this extraordinary cast". It seemed over the top. But even then, as I tried to rewrite it in my head, I couldn't consider toning it down. What struck me as borderline excessive was clearly intentional and, to him, well-deserved. As a devoted fan of the film, I found myself agreeing with the choice of praise-filled prose.It certainly made me want to watch the film again, for the hundredth time.

Der Film ist Kult - für alle, die gerne Märchen mögen, das Kind im Erwachsenen nicht abgewürgt haben und hier vom subtilen Humor angenehm überrascht werden.Elwes' Buch ist ein Making of aus seiner persönlichen Sicht. Das ist zum Einen einfach nur deshalb genial, weil man. in eine Filmproduktion und eintaucht - in allen Bereichen, denn Elwes, inzwischen selbst Produzent, weiß, wovon er spricht.Zum Anderen sind Story, Film und das ganze Feeling rund um alle Beteiligten tatsächlich ganz besonders und der Grund, warum dieser Film eine große und generationsübergreifende Fangemeinde hat.Diese Hingabe einer Filmfamilie, die jeden Tag der Produktion genossen hat, ist im gesamtem Buch spürbar - die Hintergrundstories, Wortbeiträge von Schauspielern, Regisseur und Produzent liefern ihre Sichtweisen zu Elwes' ausführlicher Schilderung.Ein Muss für alle Fans.