FAQ for
The Princess Bride (1987) More at IMDbPro »

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags have been used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for The Princess Bride can be found here.

Yes. The Princess Bride is a 1973 novel written by American novelist, William Goldman. In the movie, the book is presented as if it were a work by an author named S. Morgenstern.

William Goldman wrote both the book and the screenplay for the film. The major changes from the book are condensations for length purposes. The book contains more background on the characters, particularly histories of Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) and Fezzik (André the Giant) before they join Vizzini (Wallace Shawn). It also contains a much lengthier segment when Fezzik and Inigo break into Count Rugen (Christopher Guest)'s torture chamber. In addition, it contains a sequence where Miracle Max (Billy Crystal) makes the two go on a series of quests to obtain the ingredients for the resurrection pill. The framing device of the Grandfather (Peter Falk) reading the story to his Grandson (Fred Savage) is also less prominent in the book. The book, which claims to be Goldman's edited version of the S Morgenstern original, includes a significant amount of commentary, similar to a DVD commentary track, from Goldman. This commentary details, among other things, Goldman's relationship with the book, which he claims was read to him as a child and which he read to his own fictitious son. One, somewhat significant change in Inigo's motivation is that in the film Inigo's father refuses to sell the Six Fingered Man the sword because the Six Fingered Man offers too low a sum. In the book he refuses to sell because the Six Fingered Man insults the quality of the sword. Buttercup's motivation is very different in the book. She agrees to be Humperdinck's bride because it's better to be rich and alive than penniless and dead. She returns to Humperdinck after the Fire Swamp because she would rather live than die. ("I can live without love" are her exact words.) In the movie she is a much more sympathetic and intelligent character; in the book she is described as rather simple and self serving.

No. Although the grandfather states that he is the author of The Princess Bride, Morgenstern is a fictional writer created by William Goldman.

Vizzini was hired by Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon) to kill Buttercup (Robin Wright Penn) in order to start a war between the kingdoms of Florin and Guilder.

The six-fingered man who killed Inigo Montoya's father turned out to be Count Rugen. Prepare to die!

Westley (Cary Elwes) (who was only mostly dead), Inigo Montoya, and Fezzik storm the wedding to save Buttercup, who hadn't yet said "I do," so she isn't yet married to Prince Humperdink . Inigo Montoya fights the man with six fingers and kills him. Westley offers Montoya the chance to be the new Dread Pirate Roberts. The four ride off into the horizon. The Grandfather closes the book and his grandson asks him to come tomorrow and read him the story again. The Grandfather replies: As you wish.

There is no film sequel. For years a sequel to the book, named "Buttercup's Baby", was rumored to be in the works. Some editions of the book even contained an address to which readers could write for information. Those who did received a short sample chapter from the rumored book. However, this sample chapter was all that existed and "Buttercup's Baby" was merely part of the elaborate fake history which Goldman had conceived for his tale.