THE REWATCHABLES · April 11, 2018
A 1987 romance / adventure directed by Rob Reiner, covered in the complete Rewatchables archive.
ON THIS EPISODE
FROM THE CONVERSATION
WHY IT WORKS
WHAT DID NOT WORK
SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO
Praised as a rare and cool grandfather-grandson setup that links the film to the book's structure.
Opening minutesThey note the romance depends on a fairy-tale implausibility: he returns only when she is endangered.
About 32 minCited as a simple, brilliantly written face-off built almost entirely on dialogue and reaction shots.
About 16 minAdmired for its choreography, including the visible workaround for Andre's injuries.
About 16 minRemembered as genuinely scary and effective even on rewatch.
About 24 minHighlighted as one of the movie's strongest payoffs and most satisfying sequences.
About 8 minWHERE THEY DISAGREED
David ShoemakerThe movie's handmade roughness and practical feel age best.
Juliet LitmanRobin Wright's beauty and performance age best, along with specific scary effects like the rats.
Juliet LitmanIt could easily work as a 10-episode series or spinoff world.
David ShoemakerThe world-building does invite more adventure stories, especially about the Dread Pirate Roberts.
David ShoemakerAndre the Giant wins because of his cultural and personal connection to the film.
Juliet LitmanWallace Shawn wins for his line delivery and personality.
Juliet LitmanNo, Andre is irreplaceable.
David ShoemakerTrejo could work in a modernized version, though not as a better Andre.
Calls it one of the greatest movies ever made and a true cult classic.
Opening minutesSays it is a fantastic movie and one of the most rewatchable films he knows.
Opening minutesArgues Robin Wright is the best-aged element of the movie and still stunning.
About 24 minSays Patinkin is probably the best actor in the film and anchors the story.
About 40 minNames Wallace Shawn as her winner because of his personality and line delivery.
About 32 minSays he loves Rob Reiner's dialogue-driven movies and broadly trusts his taste.
About 16 minAdmires how the production worked around Andre's physical limitations in the fight scenes.
About 16 minPrefers the movie's middle stretch, especially the confrontation sequence with the three villains.
About 8 minThe film is framed as a story being read aloud, and the hosts stress that it comments on fairy tales and genre conventions.
Opening minutesThey repeatedly note that the lead actors were chosen to fit fairy-tale archetypes, especially Buttercup and Wesley.
About 8 minAndre the Giant's real physical condition shaped how the action scenes were staged.
About 16 minThe movie gives almost every supporting character a sharply memorable moment or mini-arc.
About 40 min20th Century Fox paid William Goldman $500,000 for the rights in 1973.
Opening minutesAndre the Giant learned his lines from cassette recordings made by Rob Reiner.
About 32 minThe fight scenes with Andre were heavily staged around his back problems.
About 16 minWilliam Goldman reportedly had Andre the Giant in mind while writing the book.
About 16 minThe production first tried to cast Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lou Ferrigno, and a Scottish strongman.
About 16 minJuliet and David mention his previous Rewatchables appearance.
Opening minutesUsed to identify Fred Savage and discuss the framing device.
Opening minutesThe HBO documentary is a major reason for revisiting the film.
Opening minutesCited as the film that led Rob Reiner to cast Cary Elwes.
About 8 minMentioned as one of Robin Wright's best-known later roles.
About 8 minMentioned as another major Robin Wright role.
About 8 minUsed as an example of Robin Wright's later screen presence.
About 8 minCited as a later film where Cary Elwes played the antagonist.
About 8 minMentioned as another role that cemented Cary Elwes as a villain.
About 8 minUsed as an example of Elwes spoofing genre after The Princess Bride.
About 8 minCited as another fantasy role for Cary Elwes.
About 8 minMentioned as an earlier Reiner/Guest collaboration.
About 16 minReferenced as the next major Reiner film after this one.
About 16 minUsed as a comparison for a studio calling to borrow a performer from a TV production.
About 16 minMentioned as another William Goldman screenplay.
Opening minutesThe discussion repeatedly returns to Andre because of the HBO documentary and his importance to the film.
Opening minutesBoth hosts keep returning to Reiner's dialogue-heavy direction and long creative partnerships.
About 16 minThey keep comparing the characters to idealized types and storybook roles.
About 8 minDavid occasionally explains movie performances using wrestling terms and concepts.
About 32 min“one of the most rewatchable films”Opening minutes
“One of the greatest movies ever made”Opening minutes
“what aged the best is Robin Wright”About 24 min
“the biggest prick in the world”About 32 min
“Wallace Shawn, hands down”About 32 min
MAKE IT A MOVIE NIGHT
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Three movies to watch before The Princess Bride, and three to watch next.
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