The Princess Bride: Book vs Film

“The Princess Bride” is one of the most famous cult classic films, and a personal favorite of mine. Something about the epic fantasy, laugh-out-loud humor, and quotable characters make it easy to rewatch again and again. It’s well known, full of lovable actors and lines, and there’s a sense of magic to it that doesn’t go away even when you know the plot like the back of your hand. However, many people don’t know that the movie is based on a book of the same name by William Goldman. The book came out in 1973, and the movie came out in 1987. The movie is remembered far more than the book, despite the fact that both are good.

Many people say “the book is always better than the movie.” However, in this case, I would argue that “The Princess Bride” film is better than the book. Both are really, really good, and I do enjoy the book. However, there are a few things that the movie does better or improves upon.

1. Visualization- the one thing that movies will always hold over books is the striking ability to make people visualize. When reading a book, characters and settings are up to the person’s imagination, but on a movie screen those ideas come right to life. Seeing the beautiful princess Buttercup, handsome farm boy Wesley, dashing Man in Black, evil Vizzini and Prince Humperdinck and Count Rugen, even the terrifying Fire Swamp, really makes the story come to life.
2. Actors- the actors and actresses in this movie are phenomenal. They really sell their parts. Prince Humperdinck is hammy, the Man in Black is suave, Fezzik is innocent and kind, and Vizzini is hilarious to watch. However, the best actor is probably that of Inigo Montoya, who delivers with perfect drama the most-quoted line of the series: “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” The fencing scene between him and the Man in Black is suspenseful and well-shot, for both fencing aficionados and those who know nothing of fencing. The way he carries himself and his facial expressions really sell the character. All the actors and actresses here are wonderfully cast and play their parts well, but he is the best.
3. The narrators- the book and the movie somewhat differ here. In the book, the whole story is constantly broken into by William Goldman, who is supposedly translating and editing boring parts out of the original version and putting witty comments in their place. This is funny and and enjoyable, but occasionally removes you too far from the actual storytelling. In the movie, it is read by a grandfather to his sick and bored grandson, who goes through character development by learning to like books and not disparaging his grandpa for reading to him. The characters are believable and don’t detract from the actual story, though it does cut away once or twice for a short conversation between the two. Instead, it keeps us engaged with both the main story and the side narrator characters, and there is a good payoff for both in the end.
4. The ending- SPOILERS for the book and the movie. In the book, the ending is somewhat mitigated by a few downer sentences after the “happily ever after” kiss. While there is some hemming and hawing in the book’s satirical author’s notes about whether that is actually the ending or not, it brings down the whole epic fantasy aspect by making it realistic. (If I wanted a realistic story ending, I’d be reading one.) The movie does no such thing, instead giving us a realistically happy fairytale ending for the characters of the story, and a happy ending for the narrating characters as well. It fits the rest of the tone much better, as opposed to whiplashing to a “but is it actually happy? Did they really win?” ending like in the book.

These are the reasons that I like the movie better than the book. However, I strongly recommend both. If somehow you haven’t seen “The Princess Bride” yet, what better time than quarantine to introduce yourself to this classic? If you haven’t read the book, then- well, libraries near here at least may be closed, but we have ebooks and audiobooks galore. Reading time abounds! Treat yourself to a really fun book, especially if you like sarcastic narrators.