In “As You Wish,” actor Cary Elwes offers a heartfelt, behind-the-scenes memoir of filming “The Princess Bride,” blending personal anecdotes with reflections from cast and crew to celebrate the beloved 1987 cult classic and the friendships forged on set.
“Mandy swears that barely a day goes by that he isn’t asked by someone, somewhere, to recite Inigo Montoya’s most famous words, in which he vows vengeance on behalf of his father. “And I never let them down,” he says.”
Some films become more beloved with each passing year, and The Princess Bride sits comfortably near the top of that list. In As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, Cary Elwes—who played the dashing Westley—pulls back the curtain on how that magic came together. Co-written with Joe Layden and published in 2014, the book is part memoir, part oral history, and entirely a love letter to a film and the people who made it.
What makes the book work is Elwes’s warmth and obvious affection for the project. He recounts how he landed the role, the nerve-wracking thrill of working with director Rob Reiner, and the months of fencing training he and Mandy Patinkin endured to make the iconic swordfight believable. Fans will delight in the smaller revelations, too: how Elwes broke his toe goofing around on an ATV, the gentle giant kindness of André the Giant, and the genuine camaraderie that radiated through the cast.
One of the book’s smartest choices is its chorus of additional voices. Sidebar contributions from Reiner, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, screenwriter William Goldman, and others are scattered throughout, offering different perspectives on the same events. The effect is like sitting in on a reunion, listening to old friends finish each other’s stories.
If there’s a criticism, it’s that the tone stays relentlessly positive. This is not a tell-all full of feuds and scandal; conflicts are minimal, and any tension is handled with grace. Readers hoping for grit may find it a touch rosy. But that sweetness is also the point—the book mirrors the film’s own optimistic, fairy-tale spirit.
Verdict: For anyone who quotes “Inconceivable!” or “Have fun storming the castle!” without a second thought, As You Wish is essential, joyful reading. Even casual fans will close it grinning. It’s a nostalgic, generous tribute that proves the affection behind the camera matched what ended up on screen.