Bruce Ditman is passionate about the epic fairytale The Princess Bride, which reminds us that emotion isn’t poison and love stories aren’t just for girls.
–
With Cary Elwes about to release a behind-the-scenes book about The Princess Bride, I wanted to write a little about the movie for the Good Men Project (to be honest, I require nearly zero provocation at any given time to begin spouting off on the subject). But in trying to do so, it became clear that I love The Princess Bride just too damn much to rationally discuss it in any conventional, organized or interesting way, and 99.99% of my peers feel the same way. Anyone who has offered a friend a peanut (you know the line!) or asked them “Do you think it’ll work?” has to look no further for proof of its pervasive adoration and its uncanny ability to quickly devolve any conversation immediately into a quote off complete with impressions of Peter Cook saying “Wov…”
See? It’s happened already.
But there is smaller, less quotable theme in the movie that makes sense for us to consider as we continue this conversation on masculinity, men and boys. It begins, in the script and the film, as seen below:
“Grandson: Does it got any sports in it?
Grandfather: Are you kidding? Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, True Love, miracles….
Grandson: Doesn’t sound too bad. I’ll try and stay awake. Turns off TV.
…
Grandson: What is this? Are you trying to trick me? Where are the sports? Gravely. Is this a kissing book? “
“Is this a kissing book?” Outraged that he has been tricked into eschewing his baseball videogame for a girl’s book, the Grandson considers rejecting the whole thing. Now, watch the Grandfather’s playful patience and gamesmanship, throughout the balance of the film, as he teaches the Grandson that there’s no such thing as a good story for boys or a good story for girls There are just good stories. And celebrate with the Grandfather (played with winking, twinkling brilliance by the late Peter Falk) as he watches the boy come around:
“Grandfather closes book.
Grandson: What? What?
Grandfather: Naw, it’s kissing again, you don’t want to hear that.
Grandson: Well, I don’t mind so much.
Grandfather: Okay. Opens book again. “
A little boy learns from an old man that he can love love and great kisses in addition to fencing, fighting, torture, revenge….to me that feels right on mission. And, wasn’t that the experience for us, as young men, watching this movie for the first time? It’s OK guys, you can love it all. And that feeling in your chest and in your eyes when Westley and Buttercup (spoiler alert) reunite isn’t a reaction to odorless, tasteless Iocane powder, so seek no antidote…Emotion isn’t poison and love stories aren’t for just for girls.
–
For me the best part of the movie was the ending. It didn’t just teach boys to love love stories but it brought the grandson and grandfather closer together. At the end (spoiler alert) the grandson is asking the grandfather to spend more time with him!
You missed the important line after “Is this a kissing book?” The grandfather then says, “Someday you’ll won’t mind so much.” Almost word for word what the grandson says at the end. Anyway, great story!
Ahhhhh!!! Thanks, James!