FAQ for
The Princess Bride (1987)

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags are 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 at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/parentalguide.

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.

No. Although the grandfather states that he is the author of The Princess Bride, Morgenstern is a fictional writer created by William Goldman (who wrote both the book and the screenplay).

Westley (who was only mostly dead), Inigo Montoya and Fezzik storm the castle to save Buttercup, who didn't say, "I do," in the wedding, so she really isn't married to the prince. (At the end, by the way, Prince Humperdinck lives.) Inigo Montoya fights the man with six fingers and kills him. Westley offers him 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.

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 and Fezzik before they join Vizzini. It also contains a much lengthier segment when Fezzik and Inigo break into Rugen's torture chamber. In addition, it contains a sequence where Miracle Max makes the two go on a series of quests to obtain the ingredients for the resurrection pill. The framing device of the grandfather reading the story to his grandson is also suggested 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 to have been read to him as a child and which he read to his own, fictitious, son.

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.