Discover the story of how an accident led to the elimination of one of the best scenes from ‘The Princess Bride’.
Actor Cary Elwes, best known for his iconic role as Westley in ‘The Princess Bride’, had a freak accident on set that almost changed the course of the film. Unexpectedly, the actor broke his leg while riding an all-terrain vehicle. This injury not only jeopardized his role in the film, but also affected the production and his performance in some key scenes.
An injury that can change everything
Elwes was afraid that he would be replaced after the accident, but the director Rob Reiner assured him that he was the only one who could play Westley. The injury particularly affected the film, as Elwes had to film scenes on a broken toe, resulting in visible bruising and limited preparation for the fight scenes. Film sets can be dangerous, and ‘The Princess Bride’, with its tale of pirates, giants, fences, revenge, torture and love, was no different.
How Elwes Turned Disaster into Perfection: Overcoming Challenges on the Set Despite the fracture, Elwes continued filming immediately after the accident, finishing the scene with a broken left thumb. Even if he could walk, he said, running would be an “exciting interpretive dance.” However, this did not bring about the desired change in the place. Watching closely as Westley and Buttercup escape into the fiery swamp, the fans watch as Elwes runs and jumps, and all over the place, his left leg in the air as far as it can go. Although this is not too distracting and can only be noticed by those who want it.
The lasting legacy of unexpected disaster
The rest of the filming schedule was modified to accommodate Elwes’ recovery. In particular, their big fight sequence was moved towards the end of filming. The healing process influenced Elwes’ training for the rest of the film. Although Westley was supposed to be the best swordsman in the world, Elwes said his footwork was acceptable because he had little time to work on his feet. However, he continues to practice hand movements, which he says are much better since that’s all he can practice when he’s injured. Despite his mediocrity in his footwork, Elwes played the perfect Westley, so he’s lucky the mistake didn’t get him fired as he feared.
The classic fantasy movie ‘The Princess Bride’
Released on October 9, 1987, ‘The Princess Bride’ is an adventure film directed by Rob Reiner. With an all-star cast including Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn and Andre the Giant, the film has won a place in the hearts of fans around the world. Based on William Goldman’s novel, the film combines genres such as adventure, comedy, family, fantasy and romance and has been praised for both its captivating story and unforgettable performances. The duration is 98 minutes and it has a PG rating.
The story revolves around a bedridden boy turned farmer turned pirate who faces many obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to reunite with his true love. Elwes’ incident during the filming of the film is just one example of the many stories and anecdotes that have been created around the making of this classic film.