Written in roughly chronological order, Elwes first mentions that he had always loved the book, and director Rob Reiner expresses similar feelings, which led to Reiner telling the studio it was the next movie he wanted to make. The executives were hesitant, but fortunately author/screenwriter William Goldman had a good reputation in Hollywood for having written Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Goldman was a fan of Reiner's directorial efforts This is Spinal Tap and Stand by Me.
Cary Elwes was very nervous about his audition but was exactly what Reiner was looking for. He was excited to be working with industry giants Billy Crystal and Mandy Patinkin, and literal giant Andre. This leads me to my strongest criticism of As You Wish; it often feels like a fluffy DVD commentary in which the cast and crew gush about each other and how amazingly fun it was to make the film. That being said, I kind of like DVD commentaries so the book wasn't devoid of merit.
There are interesting anecdotes within, like the amount of effort Elwes and Patinkin put in to their swordfight, which Goldman's screenplay insisted be "the greatest sword fight ever filmed." Any time they were not filming, they'd practice the combat for eight hours a day. Elwes also recounts a story of Andre the Giant's flatulence ruining a take, and all the cast mentions how gracious the late wrestler was on set in general.
Those who haven't seen the movie won't get much out of this book, but it's a must-read for the film's loyal fans. After nearly three decades, The Princess Bride is still a go-to classic and Elwes' book is a worthy tribute.
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