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

 

Author: Cary Elwes with Joe Layden

 

Genre: Nonfiction/Film Memoir

 

Summary: From celebrated actor Cary Elwes, who played the iconic role of Westley in The Princess Bride, comes a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the family favorite and cult classic film filled with never-before-told stories, exclusive photographs, and interviews with costars Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Mandy Patinkin, as well as author and screenwriter William Goldman, producer Norman Lear, and director Rob Reiner. In As You Wish, Elwes has created an enchanting experience for new and old fans of The Princess Bride, complete with plenty of set secrets and backstage stories. -Touchstone, 2014.

 

And now I'm going to watch the movie all over again.

 

The nice thing about having the audio is that it is not only read by Mr. Elwes; it also features almost the entire cast, reading the comments that they contributed to his book.

 

The nice thing about having the print version is that it includes a section of behind-the-scene photos.  I also like the makeup of the book, which is printed on slightly thicker paper than usual; imitating the weight of medieval parchment.

 

Truly inconceivable that this movie took 13 years to be made, had been considered "unfilmable" for as long, and would almost have been buried by botched marketing even after it had been produced.  Thank Heaven for small mercies and the home video market.

 

 

For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle I'll do my best to make it through this review without quoting The Princess Bride. It'll be difficult, but we'll see how this goes.  This is a wonderful book for all the die-hard Princess Bride fans. The ones who know every scene, every line, every character, every actor. Those people who have lost count of how many times they have seen the movie. It is filled with fun anecdotes and provides an insider look into the making, release, and aftermath of the movie. I love The Princess Bride. I wouldn't say I am a die-hard fan, but I have seen it at least a dozen times and enjoy watching it. I quote the most popular lines along with the movie and my heart swoons for Inigo every time. But again, not a die-hard fan. I think for those of us who don't live and breath Princess Bride, this book gets a little too detailed at times. While most of the stories are interesting, sometimes they go on to the point where they are a bit dull. I think really intense fans would still find it interesting, but for people who like the movie a normal amount, some of the pacing felt a bit slow with too much detail. Also, by the end, I was a little sick of hearing about how pretty Robin Wright is. Almost every person commented on her beauty. At some point it's like, we get it, Buttercup is beautiful, Robin is beautiful, moving on.  However, the book does have a lot of "fun facts" that I am sure would make any reader seem like an expert when they recite them while watching the movie with a group. Things like, "In this scene, Elwes had a broken toe" or "He wasn't acting here. That was actually a real reaction." Interesting things like that.  While the book focuses mostly on Elwes' experiences, there are tons of quotes and snippets from various people involved in the movie. Most of these quotes are read by the actual person in the audiobook version, which makes for an ever more engaging reading experience. And of course, the majority of the book is read by Cary Elwes and just listening to his voice and accent is splendid. He also does some great accents and impersonations, which is fun.  Overall, a good read. Sometimes a little too detailed, but great for fans of The Princess Bride.  Yes, I did it. Got through without a single quote. I am so proud.

The tale was almost as whimsical as the movie! This was a great listen. The stories of commaraderie, funny and happiness, as well as the tales of shenanigans were fantastic. Cary told his story of the nerves of audition and being cast were refreshing. I think we sometimes forget that (even big name actors) don't always have roles handed to them. So for an virtual nobody in the acting world, Cary had to have so much anxiety at even being considered for the lead in one of his favorite stories.

I love the other actors' account interspersed with Cary's narration. I think the stories I enjoyed most were in regard to André. I was a huge wrestling fan growing up and as a child, seeing him in this movie was such a treat. But to hear about how much he meant to his fellow cast mates was very touching.

Not that I ever need an excuse, but listening to this made me want to watch the movie and look for the hidden things revealed in the book. I had the opportunity to attend a Cary Elwes panel at Comic Con a few years back. He was so engaging and funny and told such wonderful stories. Now I regret not having purchased a copy of the book and having him sign it. :(

Even if you've never read the book; even if you've never seen the movie--but seriously if you haven't, what rock have you been living under?! You will enjoy this book if for no other reason, it's an actor's account in the adventures of making a movie that became a cult classic the likes of Rocky Horror!

A fantastic, easy read that's a must for any fan of The Princess Bride. I loved Cary Elwes' anecdotes from behind the scenes and his sneak peeks at everyone involved in making the movie, which sounded like a blast. A wonderful reflection on one of my favourite movies.