Rob Reiner Directed The 1987 Film The Princess Bride
Rob Reiner took on the nearly-impossible task of directing film adaptation of The Princess Bride in the late 1980s. Reiner loved the book for many years, having been given a copy by his father, entertainment icon Carl Reiner. After his directorial debut This Is Spinal Tap 1984, he asked an executive at Paramount if his next film could be The Princess Bride.
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That’s when he found out that many directors had attempted to turn the book into a movie, including Richard Lester, François Truffaut, Robert Redford and Norman Jewison. William Goldman, the author of The Princess Bride, first tried shopping out his novel in the 70s, but nothing panned out.
Then, he met Reiner, who secured funding from TV legend Norman Lear and partnered with 20th Century Fox to distribute the film. Reiner worked closely with Goldman on the screenplay.
In 1984, the film premiered to moderate success, grossing $30.8 million at the box office on a $16 million budget. But in the years that followed, it became a cult classic and a favorite among many. In 2000, it was ranked No. 38 on Total Film Magazine’s list of Greatest Comedy Films of All time.
The film starred Cary Elwes as Westley, Robin Wright as Buttercup, Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya, Wallace Shawn as Vizzini, Andre The Giant as Fezzik, Chris Sarandon as Prince Humperdinck, Christopher Guest as Count Tyrone, Billy Crystal as Miracle Max, Carol Kane as Valerie, Peter Falk as the grandfather, and a young Fred Savage as the grandson.
Rob And His Wife Were Killed On December 14th
In a tragic turn of events, Rob, 78, and his wife Michele Reiner, 68, were found dead on Sunday (Dec. 14) in their Los Angeles home by their daughter, Romy.
Less than 24 hours after they had been killed, their son, Nick, was arrested on murder charges and held on a $4 million bail. His is reportedly on suicide watch in jail.
Rob and Michele were also parents to a son named Jake. Additionally, Rob adopted his first wife Penny Marshall’s daughter, Tracy, during their ten-year marriage.
Nick reportedly lived in the guesthouse on Rob and Michele’s property and had a long history of drug abuse, addiction, and mental health problems.
The Princess Bride Cast Pays Tribute To Their Fearless Director
The Princess Bride cast has always had nothing but incredible things to say about their time making the film. They reunite any chance they get, usually for significant anniversaries of the movie.
For the 25th anniversary of the movie, People got the cast together for a photo shoot and a bunch of interviews.
It’s clear the bond they made while filming was enough to last a lifetime. So when their fearless leader, Rob Reiner, passed away this weekend, the cast was understandably heartbroken. See some of their reactions below.
Cary Elwes
The Princess Bride lead simply shared a photo of his and Rob’s chairs from the film and wrote, “No words.”
Mandy Patinkin
Fred Savage
“He found me in a casting room in downtown Chicago and gave me the opportunity to be a part of something that has become so much bigger than anyone could have ever imagined,” the actor wrote alongside a photo of him and Rob on set in 1986. “Who knew those two weeks in a bedroom set on the Shepperton Studio lot would last forever? His work was a gift to us all and I feel lucky to have been a part of it.”
Chris Sarandon
Christopher Guest
Christopher Guest’s wife, actress Jamie Lee Curtis, released the following statement to Us Weekly:
“Christopher and I are numb and sad and shocked about the violent, tragic deaths of our dear friends Rob and Michele Singer Reiner and our ONLY focus and care right now is for their children and immediate families and we will offer all support possible to help them. “There will be plenty of time later to discuss the creative lives we shared a the great political and social impact they both had on the entertainment industry, early childhood development, the fight for gay marriage and their global care for a world in crisis. We have lost great friends. Please give us time to grieve.”
Guest not only played the iconic six-fingered man in The Princess Bride, but he also co-wrote and starred in Reiner’s directorial debut, This Is Spinal Tap. Curtis and Reiner acted alongside each other in the sitcom New Girl, playing lead character Jess’s divorced parents.
Curtis posted the following tribute as well.
Billy Crystal
While Billy Crystal has not publicly made a statement, according to multiple outlets including The New York Post, Crystal and his wife were spotted at Reiner’s house Sunday evening (Dec. 14) after Rob and Michele’s deaths.
The Princess Bride family will never be the same, but Rob’s legacy will live on in his incredible films.
Our thoughts and prayers remain with Rob and Michele’s children Jake and Romy, and well as Tracy Reiner, and all who knew and loved them.