Hello, My Name Is Enigo Montoya
Aug 14th 2007
Suzanne EnochOn Writing!
Monday night, I watched The Princess Bride again. It was probably the 50th time I’ve seen it, but my enjoyment of those viewings over the twenty-year span since the movie first came out has never faded.
I can quote almost every line from the movie. I love Enigo the Spanish swordsman and Fezzik the giant and the inconceivably brilliant Vizzini, and Westley and Buttercup. I bought my cousin a shirt that has one of those “Hello My Name Is” tags printed on it, with the lower part filled out as “Enigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
Shortly after the movie first came out I purchased the book. I started to read it, but had to stop until my sisters were available. You see, much like the book by S. Morgenstern within the movie, The Princess Bride by William Goldman needs to be read aloud. We took turns, each reading a chapter at a time.
Why am I so fond of The Princess Bride? Two reasons. Its cleverness, and its heart. I mean, even with the sports and kidnaping and pirates, it’s a love story. THE love story, according to S. Morgenstern. Not even death (or being mostly dead, rather) can stop Westley from finding and saving his Buttercup again and again, after all. And the dialogue…I would give a great deal to be able to write like that on a daily basis.
My favorite scene is probably the swordfight and the accompanying banter at the top of the Cliffs of Despair. I will solemnly state that this is the best sword fight ever put on film. It’s left-handed, right-handed, swinging on poles, between the legs, over the shoulder spectacular.
Have you seen The Princess Bride? Did you like it as much as I do? What’s your favorite scene? Have you read Goldman’s book?
55 Comments »
55 Responses to “Hello, My Name Is Enigo Montoya”
twolilhahas on 15 Aug 2007 at 12:56 am #
I have seen The Princess Bride and I enjoyed it. I doubt I like it as much as you. I loved it when I was little, but the last time I watched it (recently) was the first time in a long time and it just didn’t feel the same. lol
My favorite scene is the scene where they fight the giant rat. The kids enjoyed that one. It was funny.
I have not read the book.
Audrey on 15 Aug 2007 at 1:51 am #
It’s one of my favorite movies of all time. I read the book a few years ago and started it with misgivings, thinking it might spoil the movie for me. But the book and the movie are equally wonderful.
Aspen on 15 Aug 2007 at 1:59 am #
Yes and Yes.
Truly enjoyable. We used to watch this at the Hollywood Video where I worked at least once a week. We all could quote it and began muttering “My name is Engio Montoya” and have you seen a six fingured man? Priceless.
Judy F on 15 Aug 2007 at 4:36 am #
Oh I haven’t watched this movie in years but I do remember it. Loved it. Never read the book. What was the line Westly used to say?
jessie e on 15 Aug 2007 at 5:44 am #
Yes.
Yes. Well, maybe almost as much.
I like the end where Westley describes to Humperdinck (sp?) exactly what “To the Pain” is. And then he stands up. *sigh*
I LOVE the book. I read it when I was pretty young, though, and at first I looked EVERYWHERE for the original version by S. Morgenstern. Yeah. I felt a little foolish afterwards.
Stacy ~ on 15 Aug 2007 at 5:46 am #
Oh yeah, I remember it. Love it. Stop to watch it whenever it’s on T.V., and I had the hugest crush on Enigo (Mandy Patinkin) in the movie. Westley too of course - at the time I was what, 13 or 14, and he was sooo dreamy…sigh.
Years later I read the book, and enjoyed it very much. It’s just such a fun story, a refreshing take on the HEA. Judy, that’s an easy one!
Maggie Robinson on 15 Aug 2007 at 7:27 am #
You are not alone. I know so many people who can recite line after line. I have never read the book, but have seen the movie with my children a million times. Westley says, “As you wish,” I think. And Robin Wright Penn is so lyrically beautiful in this, although she’s tried to get away from that image over the years!
Maggie Robinson on 15 Aug 2007 at 7:31 am #
Suzanne, your post inspiured me to go to http://www.imbd.com/tt0093779/quote to read more lines from this movie! And now I want to rent it, too! And maybe—gasp—read the book.
Maggie Robinson on 15 Aug 2007 at 7:32 am #
Sorry that link DOES NOT WORK…don’t know what happened.
Maggie Robinson on 15 Aug 2007 at 7:34 am #
http://www.imbd.com/title/tt0093779/quotes
Maggie Robinson on 15 Aug 2007 at 7:35 am #
I give up. Serious apologies!
MJ on 15 Aug 2007 at 7:39 am #
For some reason….no… although I know about it I haven’t seen the movie or read the book. And I know it’s much loved and wonderful!
Never mind - I have a couple of 9-12 girls on my book buying list, so I’ll get the DVD and the book and screen them before giving them away. Thanks for the suggestion! (-;
[Amazing how much fun it is to borrow kids - I did lots on my recent trip, went on horse and buggy rides etc - all the stuff you secretly long to do but well...not alone at 46 yoa....but grab a couple of kids from their grateful parents (who get 1/2 hour of uninterrupted adult conversation out of the deal) and it's a blast! I do envy and sincerely admire those of you that are busy raising the next generation. ]
Kasey on 15 Aug 2007 at 7:55 am #
The first time I watched The Princess Bride, I was a freshman in college and I didn’t really like it at first. I felt it was because I hadn’t grown up on it. However, I saw it on tv a few times since then and it began to grow on me. I started quoting from it and ultimately ended up buying the movie because I now love the movie so much.
Last year one of my bookstores was going out of business so they had a lot of books on sale and I did buy the book, but I haven’t read it yet. It is sitting in my to be read pile, but I am hoping to get around to it soon.
Caren Crane on 15 Aug 2007 at 8:01 am #
My whole family adores ‘The Princess Bride’ and we quote it often! I first read the book around 1980, when I was a teenager. I thought it was the most clever book in the world. I still admire it and think it was a masterpiece of clever commercial fiction.
But, even as a teenager, I could tell they had no idea how to market the book. I picked it up in the science fiction/fantasy section, where the cover (I still have the book) declares it “A Hot Fairy Tale”. Well, it isn’t hot, though it does resemble a fairy tale. *g*
Years later, when the movie came out, I was reluctant to see it because I thought they would ruin it. Although it does depart from the book in some significant ways, the movie was a fabulous adaptation. I hooked my husband and kids. We love the wedding scene. “Wuv..twue wuv…” Ha!
We also love it when Vizzini has once again said “Inconceivable!” and Inigo says, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” Mandy Patinkin rules!
Julia London on 15 Aug 2007 at 8:18 am #
Unfortunately, my family quotes Austen Powers.
I loved the Princess Bride! I haven’t seen it in years, either, but Suzanne, I love the sword fight, too — and the witty banter that goes along with it. Great movie!
Lisa H on 15 Aug 2007 at 8:30 am #
I love Mandy Pantankin and Billy Crystal. I haven’t seen the movie in a long time, but maybe I need to watch it again and catch the magic.
doglady on 15 Aug 2007 at 8:31 am #
Oh, I LOVE this movie!! And to my amazement, my brothers (ages 46 and 43) also love it. Of course their favorite quote is “My name is Enigo Montoya . . .” I also love the scene where he describes “to the pain.” Enigo’s fight with the six fingered man is also a favorite, especially when he says “I’ll give you anything. What do you want?” and Enigo says “I want my father back you SOB!” Too cool!! And “as you wish” SIGH !!!! Just a really great, great story!! I have not read the book, but now I will have to go out and get it. Thanks Suzanne. Now I know what I can watch tonight instead of summer reruns!!
cail on 15 Aug 2007 at 8:32 am #
totally one of my favs! i own it, and watch it probably on avg at least once a month!!
J Perry Stone on 15 Aug 2007 at 8:33 am #
Sing it, sister.
I love that movie, and the best part is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet does just enough to pull on your heartstrings.
It’s the perfect combo of everything: humor, love, action
It’s just wonderful
And, being the romance fan I am, the best part is when she pushes Westley down the hill and he screams, “as you wiiiiiiish” and she goes hurtling after him. They kiss (great kiss, btw), and then they enter the fire swamp to deal with the R*O*U*S’s (Rodents of Unusual Size).
And I ALWAYS call it the “cliffs of despair,” but when I just did some research to figure out the name of the Fire Swamp, I saw it’s called the Cliffs of Insanity. Where did we get “despair” from, I wonder?
gannon on 15 Aug 2007 at 8:37 am #
Hands down, this is one of my favorite movies! I watch it often and my family never tires of quoting from the movie. Billy Crystal, as Miracle Max, is a scream!
“Sonny, true love is the greatest thing, in the world-except for a nice MLT - mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe; they’re so perky, I love that.”
J Perry Stone on 15 Aug 2007 at 8:55 am #
Also, one thing that always makes me laugh is when Enigo is drunk in that village and a guy from the Brute Squad says,
“Ho there!”
Enigo: “Here is your Joder (pronounced “Ho there” with a hard th and rolled r).”
Joder is a Spain-Spanish word for, uh….rhymes with “duck”
It’s really the best word ever.
jessie e on 15 Aug 2007 at 9:02 am #
http://imdb.com/title/tt0093779/quotes
Here’s that link Maggie was trying to put out. I think the b and the d in IMDB were getting transposed. Hope it works.
Maggie Robinson on 15 Aug 2007 at 9:32 am #
Thanks Jessie! I guess I’m getting dyslexic in my old age! Just reading that page brings a smile on my face.
Claudia Dain on 15 Aug 2007 at 9:53 am #
Yes!! My whole family loves this movie and many lines from it have become family dialog staples.
When my husband leaves for work, I say, “Have fun storming the castle!”
When any of my kids falls in love, DH and I say, “Wuv…tru wuv…” and then giggle.
When DH gets that look in his eyes, he says softly, “As you wish.”
Karen Hawkins on 15 Aug 2007 at 9:54 am #
Ohhhh! I LOVE The Princess Bride!!!! It’s inconceivably excellent!
It’s so funny you’re blogging about this because in this last week, every time I’ve gone to the bookstore, I’ve picked up this book and thought about buying it. Now, I’m going to get it because OBVIOUSLY there are forces at work here that are demanding that I get it!
Thanks, Suzanne! I’m off to the bookstore!!!
Aemelia on 15 Aug 2007 at 10:17 am #
I just mentioned this movie to a co-worker and (to my shock and horror) she had NEVER seen it…she thought it looked to GIRLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have now convinced her that it is NOT a “girly” movie and she HAS to watch it, I know she too will get hooked
Suzanne Enoch on 15 Aug 2007 at 10:34 am #
Oh, curses, J Perry. I thought I was being so careful. Yes, it’s the “Cliffs of INSANITY” and the “Pit of DESPAIR”.
Amelia, just tell your co-worker that it has sports and pirates and swordfighting. *g*
And yes, KarenH, get the book. I have no idea how Goldman pulls if off — kind of a book within a book within a book. As Vizzini would say, “inconceivable”.
One of my other favorite bits is where Prince Humperdink takes a sniff of the “odorless”, “tasteless” iocane powder and pronounces immediately that it’s iocane powder. Of course! *g*
zambonigirl (zambi) on 15 Aug 2007 at 10:36 am #
It’s my favorite movie. I used to watch it every day when I got home from school. I can recite each line word for word. I’ve read the book. If I ever get married, I’m going to have my best friend’s dad perform the ceremony because I *know* he will oblige me and say, “Mawwage. Mawwage is what bwingth uth togevvah today. Mawwage, that bwesthed awwangement. That dweem bwiffin a dweem…and wuuv, twu wuuv, wiww fowwow you fowevah…so tweasuwa your wuv…”
I sure hope my non-existent in-laws have a good sense of humor.
Anyway. Yes. I’ve seen it. Many, many time. I love it. The swordfight on the Cliffs Of Despair is indeed the best swordfight in a movie. I especially love Westley’s backflip and the look on Inigo’s face. “Who are you?”
And let’s not forget Christ Sarandon as Prince Humperdinck. I’ve wanted his little purple dress for so long…
zambonigirl (zambi) on 15 Aug 2007 at 10:37 am #
LoL! Cliffs of Insanity! I just had to get something wrong, didn’t I?
J Perry Stone on 15 Aug 2007 at 11:20 am #
SEE, Suzanne and Zambongirl???? It’s a common mistake.
Thank heavens you cleared it up, Suzanne. I thought maybe it was coming from a book I’d read (that’d you read and Zambongirl obviously read…)
PIT of despair.
Although Cliffs of Insanity is hilarious when I think about it.
colinfirthfan on 15 Aug 2007 at 12:02 pm #
I love The Princess Bride. I loved Miracle Max and all the swordfights. I love the banter. Everytime I watch it - it cracks me up.
cail on 15 Aug 2007 at 12:13 pm #
some of my friends get together for PB movie nights, and each person picks a character and does the lines. its quite fun.
i made my ex watch it, he thought he’d hate it. he loved it. everyone loves it.
zambonigirl (zambi) on 15 Aug 2007 at 12:22 pm #
J Perry-we made a mistake? Incotheivable!!!
My best friend got her brother a T-shirt last year for his birthday. It had Fezzik on it and the phrase, “Anybody want a peanut?” I believe she got it at Hot Topic, if anyone is interested.
He loved it. He got her pajamas with waffles on them. We still aren’t getting the connection. He thought they were brilliant.
I got my mom an ROUS shirt for workouts. I always call my guinea pigs ROUS’s. Especially Woodstock. He’s REALLY fat any more. And whenever we go to the San Diego Wild Animal Park, we have to find the capybaras and ask all the workers, “Where are the Rodents of Unusual Size?” and someone always counters with, “Rodents of Unusual Size? I don’t think they exist.”
We haven’t gotten banned from the park yet. Not sure why not…
Sarah on 15 Aug 2007 at 12:36 pm #
The movie is great, and so is the book, but in very different ways. I think this is one of the true instances where the movie lived up to the book. If you haven’t read the book, it’s worth doing just for the descriptions, especially of the Zoo of Death, which sadly never made it into the movie.
However, I would beg all of you to PLEASE just skip the last line of the book. Don’t know what William Goldman was thinking, but JUST SKIP IT!!
And for those of you who like Mandy Patinkin, check him out in Criminal Minds. It’s great to watch Inigo Montoya fight crime!
Suzanne Enoch on 15 Aug 2007 at 1:23 pm #
Oh, yay! I’m so glad I’m not the only “Bride geek” out there.
Zambi, the ROUS at the Wild Animal Park nearly made me spit out my soda. My friend had a mouse problem a couple of years ago. I told her to be glad they were just mice and not ROUS.
And yes, Sarah — that last line has always bothered me a little. I don’t know why Goldman would decide to inject…reality, I guess, at the end of a fairy tale. Don’t let that encourage anybody thinking about reading it, though. It’s still a WONDERFUL book!
Sabrina Jeffries on 15 Aug 2007 at 1:39 pm #
Sadly, Julia, my family quotes both Austin Powers AND The Princess Bride. How weird are we? My dh and I both loved TPB (which is saying a lot, since he doesn’t like chick flicks that much). I’ve never read the book, but I love the movie.
In fact, I was writing a scene the other day where the hero says, “As you wish,” and I had to change it. Because Cary Elwes is the only one I can hear saying that in my head.
zambonigirl (zambi) on 15 Aug 2007 at 1:47 pm #
I went to youtube to see if someone had made a fanvid out of the song at the end-A Storybook Love-but the best I found was a reenactment with Legos. And there was A Storybook Love video, but it was for some couple getting married who thought that their love was like a bunch of fictional movies about pretty people with problems, but it’s as real as the feelings they feel…
Jami Alden on 15 Aug 2007 at 2:19 pm #
I adore this movie - like you, I’ve seen it about a gazillion times. I can’t wait until my son is a little older and can get into it. As for quotes, I use “have fun stormin’ the castle!” quite frequently.
darkshire007 on 15 Aug 2007 at 2:44 pm #
I have not seen this movie, but after reading all the input I guess I’ll have to. It will bother me until I do; yes, I’m one of those people.
Judy F on 15 Aug 2007 at 3:30 pm #
thank you for the As You WIsh. I can still hear him falling down the hill or something sayiing that to her.
freshechelle on 15 Aug 2007 at 4:03 pm #
You’ve all pointed out that I’m 15 years overdue on a rewatch of this classic. Inconceivable (my fave quote too!).
Santa on 15 Aug 2007 at 4:13 pm #
This is the best movie ever! My favorite scenes are when Vizetti and Westley have the poisoning swap and when they visit Billy Crystal and Carol Kane!! I just love a little schtick!! Liieerrr!! and “Have fun storming the castle” are quotes my DH and I use all the time!
I was so tickled to see it on Monday and last night I caught Mansfield Park last night…my life is complete!
AnnaSwede on 15 Aug 2007 at 4:25 pm #
I saw The Princess Bride for the first time only a few years ago. Loved it!
I was so glad I noticed it was on, you see it has another name in Swedish. Luckily I spotted the original title in the TV magazine and recorded the movie. The thing I’m trying to get to is that the Swedish title is so far off from the original title, it makes me crazy every time I think of it. Now I have to translate it back to English, but a direct translation of the Swedish title is… “In the pale minute of death”. Does that make any sense??? Who came up with that translation??? Jeez…
Anna
Nicole Jordan on 15 Aug 2007 at 4:52 pm #
Very cool that y’all are so high on the P Bride! I’m that way about the A&E version of Pride & Prejudice. Love, love, love that movie!
NicoleJ
Suzanne Enoch on 15 Aug 2007 at 5:07 pm #
“In the Pale Minute of Death”, Anna? That’s crazy! It should at least be “In the Pale Minute of Mostly Dead”.
Hey, Santa, we must have been watching at the same time.
Sabrina, I use “as you wish” a couple of times in the book I’m working on, but I had to be really careful with it. It’s one of those lines like “who you gonna call” that have immediate connections to something else.
gannon on 15 Aug 2007 at 5:17 pm #
Zambi, that crack about the ROUS’s at the Wild Animal Park is hilarious! I should have tried that when we were there. :
Another quotable movie in our family is Monty Python and The Holy Grail! Love it!
J Perry Stone on 15 Aug 2007 at 6:31 pm #
Suzanne said: “It’s one of those lines like “who you gonna call” that have immediate connections to something else.”
Yup, or how about, “you broke my heart, Fredo.”
J–wondering why the crickets are chirping.
Seriously though, how fun would it be to read a novella where the dialogue is chock full of movie lines?
Heroine: “kiss me you fool.”
Hero: “as you wish”
Heroine: “at my signal, unleash hell.”
Hero: “may the force be with me.”
Sherri Erwin on 15 Aug 2007 at 7:18 pm #
I love The Princess Bride- still haven’t read the book. I saw Becoming Jane today, and that was fabulous. There was a scene that reminded me of another favorite, A Room with a View (the bathing scene!). But yes, The Princess Bride is one I could watch over and over again.
dbrown3400 on 15 Aug 2007 at 8:02 pm #
My daughters were four and nine when The Princess Bride first came out and we all loved it. It has always been one of our favorites although we’ve not watched it together for awhile. I’d enjoy sitting with them now, laughing our heads off like we used to do, quoting the dialogue as the movie played.
We’ve all read the book although I think we prefer the film.
Donna
Suzanne Enoch on 15 Aug 2007 at 8:32 pm #
I saw Ebert & Roeper’s review of “Stardust”, and I thought it was interesting when Roeper said the only movie he could think of to compare “Stardust” to was “The Princess Bride”. Now I have to go see it.
And Sherri, I’m jealous. I want to see “Becoming Jane”, but I’m so spoiled with having so many local theaters that I hate to drive 20 miles for a viewing.
Sabrina Jeffries on 15 Aug 2007 at 10:23 pm #
Suzanne, while I adored Stardust (saw it yesterday), it’s not as funny as The Princess Bride. It does have some amusing moments–I did laugh out loud a few times–but nothing as tremendously witty as TPB. I really liked it though. I think you’d like it. In fact, I think just about any romance reader would like it.
TheNightPoet on 15 Aug 2007 at 10:33 pm #
I just watched The Princess Bride the other day as well, Suzanne!! I love that movie. It’s a classic. My dad, brother and I always quote Enigo Montoya. lol I’ve never read the book, but have watched the movie A LOT. We have it on dvd, so sometimes I’ll just watch the dvd if I need my Princess Bride fix.
Andrea
Kay on 15 Aug 2007 at 11:54 pm #
This is one of my DH’s favorite movies. I had not seen it until he brought it home. It is one of the first movies we bought on disc. He can quote every line. I like it, but he LOVES it.
MJ on 16 Aug 2007 at 10:16 am #
Nicole - “Me too” re: the A&E P&P (Colin Firth, natch)…. I watched it over and over and over when I was working on my doctoral proposal (wore out one VHS set and have two backups now plus a DVD. I’m not taking any chances). It’s the only thing that kept me sane, I think… Lately, the drug of choice for late sleepless nights is the Amanda Root/Ciaran Hinds Persuasion….. do you like that one?
zambonigirl (zambi) on 16 Aug 2007 at 4:53 pm #
Hey, J Perry-don’t forget my favorite line from Rebecca
Larry Olivier (in the most romantic proposal EVER): I’m asking you to marry me, you little fool!
LOL. Gets me every time. I could totally imagine Severus Snape proposing to Hermione Granger in that way.
Snape: I’m asking you to marry me, you insufferable little know-it-all!
Hermione: Well, when you put it that way, how can I refuse?