A couple of weeks ago, I started releasing star pick interviews with cast members of the long running television series The 100 (to honour its seventh and final season). First to feature was Bob Morley, and today Filmizon.com highlights fellow star Tasya Teles – who plays Echo. One of the most fascinating characters on the show, she first appeared in season 2 as a recurring character (a grounder and not one of ‘the 100’ teenagers sent to see if the planet was still habitable), growing into one of the major players by season 5. With intriguing storylines, she is a strong warrior assassin (that can lean towards ruthlessness), extremely loyal, yet willing to disobey orders if it doesn’t make sense. . . and, over the course of many seasons, has softened a bit – showing a caring side to those characters she originally only had disdain for.
A most generous person, Teles was extremely cheerful as we chatted about her favourite film, 1987’s The Princess Bride, directed by Rob Reiner. Explaining that the princess story has been told so many times before (usually in a very predictable way), she fell in love with this iteration for its fun, original, and quirky style. . . a film that turns every expected happening on its head – playing with previous stories and the tropes they have built, making for a most unique telling. Also noting the wonderfully etched characters, each actor is a standout when it comes to developing their pivotal role, be it revenge bent Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) or nearly unrecognizable Billy Crystal – as miracle worker Max, who has lost his confidence a bit of late.
Narrated by a grandfather (Peter Falk) reading a fairytale to his sick (and in bed) grandson (Fred Savage), it is a story of true love found and quickly lost. Beautiful blonde Buttercup (Robin Wright), who lives on a farm in the land of Florin, loves instructing their farmhand, Westley (Cary Elwes). . . his simple reply is always, “As you wish”. Though this is their basic day to day interaction, the two subconsciously know that they are in love. Yet, since he is an impoverished farmhand, he seeks his fortune elsewhere, looking to gain finances and favour with the young woman. Soon, word returns that he has supposedly been killed by the dreaded pirate Roberts (as the villainous seaman is known never to leave any survivors).
Back at home, saddened Buttercup finds herself beholden to an ancient law that allows the prince of the land, Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon) – no, not Engelbert, his choice of any woman to marry – of course, he chooses the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. . . making her ‘The Princess Bride’ of the title.
Yet, this is ancient times, and the world is no safe place. With Florin surrounded by enemies, once such man (a rather short one), Vizzini (Wallace Shawn) – the brains of the operation, kidnaps the soon to be Princess with the help of fleet of foot, sword wielding Inigo Montoya (Patinkin), and the strongest man in the land, giant Fezzik (André the Giant). From Sicily, Spain and Greenland respectively, it sounds like the beginning of a joke, and, in a way, it is. This is where the film takes off, as the triumvirate soon realize that they are being followed. . . by none other than the dreaded pirate Roberts. . . who, somewhat ironically, is being followed as well – by Prince Humperdinck, his right hand, Count Tyrone Rugen (Christopher Guest), and a slew of nameless minions. As the masked Roberts bests these three one at a time, we learn important parts of their back-story – that Montoya’s father was murdered by a six fingered man (and that he is seeking revenge); that Fezzik is perhaps not exactly the scary beast he seems; and that Vizzini is smart, though not as smart as he thinks.
In a bizarre way, Roberts rescues the Princess bride (while kidnapping her as well), and, she soon realizes that it is not Roberts at all, rather, her beloved Westley (how does she discover this? – he uses his favourite line, “As you wish”).
Separated once more (after the Prince chases them down), Westley soon finds himself rescued by two of the men he previously bested, Fezzik and Montoya, and the threesome form a ragtag team to reunite true love and also find revenge for Montoya – who now knows who the six fingered man is.
Actually, my job is quite easy today, because Teles hit the nail right on the head when describing this film. A movie that dissects all of those ageless tropes that have developed by way of countless fairytales (true love between a Prince and a common girl, a vicious giant, a magical remedy for someone who is cursed or dying, a revenge subplot), Reiner, by way of the screenplay by William Goldman (Oscar winner for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men) – who adapted his own book, satirizes the genre in which they are working, finding subtle yet clever ways to excite and surprise. Perhaps no better example can be Billy Crystal and Carol Kane’s cameos as the elderly miracle healing duo. Like an old Jewish couple, each line is riddled with sarcasm, guilt, and chutzpah, you can’t help laughing (watch for Patinkin attempting to keep himself from laughing. . . while Reiner had to leave during the scene, as he couldn’t control himself). Nor, for that matter, the logic duel between Vizzini and Westley – like a topical Abbott and Costello sketch, it is a wordsmith’s dream, plus, there is just something so priceless about this: “Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders – the most famous of which is ‘never get involved in a land war in Asia’ – but only slightly less well-known is this: ‘Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line’!”.
Featuring a perfect cast with infectious chemistry, actors doing their own stunts (other than a few moments – it always adds a true depth and realism when this is the case), stunning locations (throughout England, and one locale in Ireland), odes to the swashbuckling tales of old, a fresh reworking of the prototypical fairytale (making it appeal to a more modern audience), and endlessly quotable dialogue, The Princess Bride is, without doubt, an 80s classic. A final noteworthy mention – Mark Knopfler of the iconic rock band Dire Straits composed the impressive score. Though it is ‘inconceivable’ that you’ve never seen this one, make time for a revisit – “As you wish”.