RIP Rob Reiner: The Man Who Saved "The Princess Bride
- Tj Baxter
- Dec 15, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 19, 2025
The world lost a giant.
Rob Reiner was more than just a director. For those of us who grew up in the 80s and 90s, he was the architect of our childhoods. From the camaraderie of Stand By Me to the hilarity of This Is Spinal Tap, he had a range that few filmmakers could ever dream of.
But if there is one film that defines his legacy—one film that captures the pure size of his heart—it is The Princess Bride.
Most people talk about The Princess Bride as a "perfect movie" because of the quotes. But today, I want to talk about the man who made those quotes land. In the wrong hands, this story could have been a disaster. It was Rob Reiner who saved it.
Here is how he did it.
Solving the "Tone" Problem
When The Princess Bride was in development, Hollywood studios were baffled. They looked at William Goldman’s script and asked: What is this?
Is it a fantasy? A romance? A slapstick comedy? In the 1980s, you had to pick a lane. But Rob Reiner refused. He understood that for the magic to work, he had to embrace the contradiction.
He made a crucial decision that would define the film: The characters would never know they were in a comedy.
He directed the romance with total sincerity.
He directed the sword fights with genuine danger.
He directed the comedy to come from the personalities, not from mocking the story.
That single decision is why the movie works for your 5-year-old nephew and your 80-year-old grandmother. He never talked down to his audience.
Rob Reiner casting for "Vibes," Not Stars
Reiner wasn’t chasing box-office names; he was chasing chemistry.
He saw the "Douglas Fairbanks" swashbuckler charm in a young Cary Elwes. He saw the grounded, stoic sincerity in Robin Wright. But his greatest act of kindness was casting André the Giant.
At the time, André was viewed by the world as a spectacle—a wrestling monster. Reiner saw him differently. He saw a gentle, kind friend. He directed Fezzik not as a brute, but as the heart of the group. Reiner created a safe environment on set where André could be soft, and that warmth radiates off the screen 40 years later.
Trusting the Words
In an era of loud blockbusters and explosions, Reiner did something brave: He trusted the silence.
He had such profound respect for William Goldman’s script that he focused entirely on pacing. Watch the "Battle of Wits" scene again. A lesser director would have added music, camera tricks, or fast cuts. Reiner just let the actors speak.
He treated the dialogue like Shakespeare. Because he took the script seriously, lines like "Inconceivable!" and "As you wish" didn't just get laughs in 1987—they became a secret language for movie lovers everywhere.
The Gift of the Frame
The framing device—the grandfather reading the book to his sick grandson—was Reiner’s final stroke of genius.
It could have been annoying. It interrupts the action! But Reiner used it to remind us of what this movie actually is: A gift.
It is a story meant to be shared. By framing the movie this way, he turned The Princess Bride into a generational heirloom. It isn't just a film you watch; it's a film you pass down.
A Rob Reinder Tribute
The 1980s were a decade full of irony, excess, and cynicism. Rob Reiner went in the opposite direction. He chose optimism.
He never winked at the camera. He never apologized for the "kissing parts." He believed in True Love, and because of that belief, the movie never feels dated.
William Goldman gave The Princess Bride its voice. But Rob Reiner gave it its heart.
Thank you for the stories, Rob. Have fun storming the castle.
📺 Watch the Full Tribute I put together a video essay breaking down Reiner’s directing style and sharing more behind-the-scenes stories from the set.
What is your favorite Rob Reiner movie? Let me know in the comments below!
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