‘The Princess Bride’ Is 30!
Thirty autumns ago, a little movie called The Princess Bride opened in theaters and has stayed in the hearts and minds of people all over the world ever since. In honor of the film’s anniversary, we’re going to look back at some little-known facts about the origins and makings of this beloved tale. For example, did you know that…
- The Princess Bride was based on a novel by William Goldman that was published in 1973. It took so long to get the book into production as a film that Goldman almost gave up hope of ever seeing it on the big screen.
- Produced for $16 million, the movie made money but was hardly a box office smash. It made only $30.8 million in the U.S. and Canada during it’s initial theatrical release in 1987. It was only after hitting the home video market that The Princess Bride became a commercial success.
- The part of ‘Fezzik’ was almost played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, even though pro wrestler Andre the Giant (who lived on a farm in North Carolina, by the way) was Goldman’s inspiration for the character. But, by the time the movie was being cast in the mid-’80s, Arnold was busy with other roles and Andre was available.
- Andre the Giant and Cary Elwes (‘Westley’/’Dread Pirate Roberts’) were both nursing injuries during filming.
- The Princess Bride reunited director Rob Reiner with actor Christopher Guest (‘Count Rugen’), who had worked together on another cult classic, This is Spinal Tap.
Here are some other fun facts about the movie that you may not have known:
Phil Harris is 50% of "Phil & Mel in the Afternoon" on K104.7. He has been with the station since 2013 and on the air in Charlotte since 2000. Before coming to the Queen City, Phil worked for radio stations in Pittsburgh, Austin, and Seattle. In addition to the weekly "Throwback Threesome" music video feature, Phil writes about things that matter to Charlotte sports fans and pet owners. He happens to be both.
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