The Princess Bride is Rob Reiner’s adaptation of William Goldman’s novel, for which Goldman wrote the screenplay. The story is known for its humor and gentle satire of romantic love and swashbuckling mischief. Vizzini’s picnic at which he duels with Wesley, aka Pirate Roberts, for the hand of Princess Buttercup is outlandish and sexist satire.
Bound and blindfolded so she is helpless, Buttercup silently waits while Vizzini challenges Westley to drink from the goblet that is not poisoned. It’s a dare Wesley cannot reject.
Vizzini (Wallace Shawn) threatens Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright).
Bound and blindfolded so she cannot escape, Buttercup silently waits while Vizzini challenges Westley to drink from the goblet that is not poisoned.
Thinking that he is brilliant and clever, Vizzini disingenuously asks, “But it’s so simple. All I have to do is divine from what I know of you. Are you the sort of man who would put the poison into his goblet, or his enemy’s?” He answers this question many times before drinking, but when he does, Vizzini is so confident he brags: “You only think I guessed wrong! That’s what’s so funny! I switched glasses when your back was turned! Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous 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!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Ha ha ha!” And he falls dead! Westley has poisoned both goblets.
The Vizzini’s typical picnic supplies are placed on a white cloth– two wine goblets, a small leather wine, some cheese, and some apples.
Featured Image: Wallace Shawn as Vizzini, Robin Wright as Buttercup, and Cary Elwes as Westley, Pirate Roberts, or the Man in Black.
See William Goldman. The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1973; Rob Reiner. The Princess Bride (1987). Screenplay by William Goldman based on his novel.