Sunday, March 26, 2017

Bookish Thoughts: As You Wish by Cary Elwes, Joe Layden

Standing onstage at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, surrounded by cast members and some of the crew, many of whom I've not seen in years, I feel an almost overwhelming sense of gratitude and nostalgia. ~ Opening of As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride



As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes, Joe Layden
Audible, 2014
Nonfiction; 7 hrs, 1 min
Source: Purchased for my own reading pleasure.

Goodreads Summary: 
From actor Cary Elwes, who played the iconic role of Westley in The Princess Bride, comes a first-person account and behind-the-scenes look at the making of the cult classic film filled with never-before-told stories, exclusive photographs, and interviews with costars Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Mandy Patinkin, as well as author and screenwriter William Goldman, producer Norman Lear, and director Rob Reiner.

It was my husband-then-boyfriend's favorite movie, and I had never seen it until after meeting him. I thought it was okay, but nothing special. I fell in love with the soundtrack, however, and would listen to it over and over again. The more I watched The Princess Bride, the more I began to like it. After reading and falling utterly and helplessly in love with William Goldman's book on which the movie is based, I began to love the movie too. It might not have been love at first sight, but it is a lasting love.

The book, As You Wish offers an inside look at the filming, both on and off camera, of The Princess Bride movie from Cary Elwes point of view. He is extremely humble and appreciative of the film and how it helped his career. I am glad I had the opportunity to listen to the audio version, which honestly, is probably the only way I would have taken this one in. It seems to be the right choice too, given all the guest appearances by other crew and stars from the movie.

The Princess Bride did not gain instant success upon release. The marketing department wasn't sure how to market the film and it wasn't until quite a while later that the movie really took off and gained a loyal following. It is not a cult favorite, enjoyed by families through the generations. Hearing about the process and the reactions of those involved with the making of the film was quite interesting.

The book is funny and at times sentimental. It sounds like everyone involved in the movie was well invested and had a great time bringing it together. The author was nervous and, rightfully so given Hollywood's history of translating books to film, but hearing how happy he was with the final project just adds to the greatness of it. From stories about Andre the Giant to learning how to sword fight and the kissing scene with Robin Wright, the Pit of Despair--everything, really--had me smiling and laughing and nodding my head as I listened. And I just love Cary Elwes's voice. Doesn't everyone though?

I watched the film again after finishing the book, having a new appreciation for the cast and their experience. Certain moments stood out like they hadn't before--and yet it was so easy to get lost in the film. . . They really did a seamless job of putting it together. It really is a sweet and funny movie. And it is no wonder this book is a hit among the fans of the movie.

To learn more about author Cary Elwes and his work, please visit his Facebook Page.


© 2017, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

16 comments:

  1. I think this would make a nice gift for my daughters!

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    1. Jenclair - I need to check in with my husband and see what he thought. I know he was listening to it a couple weeks ago . . .

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  2. I read this last year and had a lot of fun with it. :)

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  3. I've never seen The Princess Bride so am not sure this would be for me.

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    1. Kathy - If you haven't seen the movie or read the book, I would think you might not care for this one.

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  4. Oh, I enjoyed this so much a couple of years ago! It's a fun read.

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    1. Jean - It was fun to listen to. I think I liked Yes Please a bit more, but this one brought back many good memories about the film.

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  5. I do enjoy the movie but I haven't watched it all that often over the years. I am curious about this book since I think that the behind the scenes info would really be interesting. Great review!

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    1. Carole - It was fun to get a glimpse behind the scenes. I am glad I listened to it. :-)

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  6. I LOVE this movie! I remember hearing it wasn't particularly popular when it came out and I can kind of see why but it is so good. The more I read about it the more special it sounds because it sounds like everyone involved really loved the movie as they were making it. This one is high up on my TBR but I keep hoping to get the audio because who can resist Elwes voice?

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    1. Katherine - I can see why it might not be popular right away either. It does seem to be a film that gets better with each viewing. :-) I hope you do get a chance to read or listen to this one. I think the audio is worth it. :-)

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  7. Confession: I've never watched the whole movie. Only parts. I should probably fix that. Sounds like an interesting book for fans though.

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    1. Christy - There are movies I can say that about that are really popular or well known too. LOL. One of them is a Christmas movie. I probably have seen all of it, just never in the order it was made.

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  8. This is one of those books I wish I've read. I gave away The Princess Bride without reading it and here I thought if I should've kept it and read it before giving it away. Anyways, there are libraries, huh? :)

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    1. Melody - I loved the book The Princess Bride. I know not everyone appreciated the humor though. I hope you get a chance to give it a try if you decide to read it!

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