Althouse: "My heart made that sound when the six-fingered man killed my father. Every 'Princess Bride' fan who wants to see that perfect movie preserved from Hollywood politics makes it now."

September 6, 2020

"My heart made that sound when the six-fingered man killed my father. Every 'Princess Bride' fan who wants to see that perfect movie preserved from Hollywood politics makes it now."

Tweeted Ted Cruz, quoted in "'The Princess Bride' Cast Reunites for Wisconsin Democratic Party Fundraiser" (Variety).

The cast members participating in this unusual fundraisers are Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Carol Kane, Chris Sarandon, Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn, and Billy Crystal. The director Rob Reiner is also participating.

Here's the IMDB list of the whole cast of the 1987, in case you want to figure out who's not going along with this event. Peter Falk and Andre the Giant are no longer among the living. But Christopher Guest and Fred Savage are not in the group. All the other non-participants in the credited cast are English actors.

Actually, Christopher Guest, though born in New York City, "holds a hereditary British peerage as the 5th Baron Haden-Guest." He would be entitled to a seat in the House of Lords, but the membership was reformed in 1999. He's expressed interest in seeking election to the House of Lords. So I can see why he'd want to stay out of American politics.

As for Fred Savage, this might have something to do with his nonparticipation.

41 comments:

richlb said...: Guest is married to Jamie Lee Curtis. I have heard it said that he is a dull bore in real life.; 9/6/20, 8:39 AM
Temujin said...: At some point it is possible that these people are going to realize they do not help persuade people to their side. They are more likely to push them away. It's deeply ingrained into many Americans that no one likes to be told what to do, what to think, or to be told by their betters who to vote for.

Especially when that better is best known as 'meathead'.

And yes, I have enjoyed much of Rob Reiners actual work for years, but I've always regarded him an an intellectual child. High levels of emotion and just enough hand-picked data to make him feel secure in the knowledge that he is right and pure, and those who disagree are evil. Having Mandy Patinkin alongside is not helpful.; 9/6/20, 8:44 AM
Wince said...: Maybe Christopher Guests' part in a police cover-up is why he didn't participate?

With Wisconsin being a vital swing state in the upcoming presidential election, donations “will be used to ensure that Trump loses Wisconsin, and thereby the White House,” according to the event’s website.

It's about Trump. No Biden enthusiasm. Sad!; 9/6/20, 9:06 AM
Gunner said...: I should have guessed Elwes was a big time lefty when they cast him as a Red State mayor who sold out his town to the Soviets on Stranger Things. Hollywood always picks these types to play any Right Wing stereotype.; 9/6/20, 9:20 AM
Fernandinande said...: "holds a hereditary British peerage as the 5th Baron Haden-Guest."

Sir Denis Eton-Hogg's fecebook page points to -

433 people named Nigel converged on a Worcestershire pub on Sunday to “celebrate Nigelness”

"Nigel Smith, 56, the landlord of the Fleece Inn in Bretforton, organised the gathering in a bid to stop the name dying out after he discovered that there had been no babies named Nigel in 2016."; 9/6/20, 9:20 AM
tcrosse said...: Back in the early 1970's there was a show on WHA radio called Chapter a Day, on which a current book would be read. The announcer, one Ken Oas, did such a masterful job of reading Princess Bride that it was a must-listen every day. After that, the movie was a grave disappointment.; 9/6/20, 9:25 AM
narciso said...: those words you are using,...; 9/6/20, 9:30 AM
Wilbur said...: I understand why Ted Cruz did this, but in one respect I'm disappointed he would accord them any attention at all. They deserve none, as Hollywood Leftist swine.

Keep streaming their movies, friends. You're putting $$$ in DNC coffers.; 9/6/20, 9:35 AM
dustbunny said...: Guest might be lying low after his wife, Jamie Lee Curtis posted a batshit crazy tweet suggesting the Trump administration was stealing USPO trucks in LA. She saw one being towed by a man in a”red hat”. The tow truck also had red lettering so, you know, evidence.; 9/6/20, 9:38 AM
Andrew said...: "Gramps, can you read me a story?"

"I will, kid, as soon as we move to a safer location. BLM is three blocks away. I know you're sick, but we've gotta move quickly. We're not safe here anymore."

"That's scary! I can get up, but where's mom?"

"She's... under arrest for hitting a protestor with her car. We'll come back for her. Let's go!"

(Cue music.); 9/6/20, 9:39 AM
Big Mike said...: Has anyone explained to these people what the impact of the Democrat’s proposed wealth tax will be on their ability to live the high life? It.’s not as though most of them are still raking in the dough, so they must be living off their investments.; 9/6/20, 9:39 AM
Kevin said...: How is Wallace Shawn finding the time?

Isn't he too busy writing Biden's speeches?; 9/6/20, 9:44 AM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: Unless it’s Billy Crystal in full make-up declaring that Biden isn’t dead, just “mostly dead” and in need of live to save him, than I don’t see it working. Man I love Carol Kane!; 9/6/20, 9:47 AM
Just Asking Questions Tech Bro said...: You can’t imagine my shock that a coven of rich Californians would go to Wisconsin and campaign against the guy representing the working class and for the guy representing the interests of China and the wealthy elite in general.; 9/6/20, 9:48 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: PedoLanders for Hunter!; 9/6/20, 9:51 AM
NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...: Actually, Christopher Guest, though born in New York City, "holds a hereditary British peerage as the 5th Baron Haden-Guest." He would be entitled to a seat in the House of Lords, but the membership was reformed in 1999. He's expressed interest in seeking election to the House of Lords. So I can see why he'd want to stay out of American politics.

Bigger question is why Cary Elwes is there? He was born British and reportedly has dual citizenship. It may be legal for him to vote in the US, but that is not a good look for the Democrats.; 9/6/20, 9:53 AM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: Although the plot of Election 2020 more closely resembles the other Meathead/Guest classic This is Spinal Tap where the longer Joe campaigns the “more selective his appeal” and the petering-out audience-size problem fits the plot well. Aging rocker as archetype for the fading pol. Ya I’m onto something here...; 9/6/20, 9:53 AM
William said...: I recently read parts of Myrna Loy's autobiography, and you didn't. In the book, she writes about Melvin Douglas and his righteous instincts and sympathetic nature as evidenced by his willingness to defend those accused of past Communist associations. She compares him unfavorably to Ronald Reagan who, she claims, really doesn't understand the world and the nature of its ills. The book was written in the early 80's.....In "Ball Four", Jim Bouton wrote that many major league players felt that utility infielders and lifetime .225 hitters did not have any right to criticize MLB negotiations about free agency contracts. There's something of that in the way big stars looked down on Ronald Reagan.....Ronald Reagan was not in the first rank of movie stars, but he can legitimately claim to be the only world historical figure that Hollywood has yet produced. With all due respect to the Princess Bride, the ability to make or appear in a good movie does not indicate political acumen or virtue. If you don't believe me, ask Harvey Weinstein. That man was a giant. His body of work surpasses that of Reiner.; 9/6/20, 10:08 AM
Char Char Binks, Esq. said...: Will Billy be in blackface?; 9/6/20, 10:15 AM
Andrew said...: @Mike (MJB Wolf),
I could definitely see Biden getting lost in the labyrinth behind an auditorium.; 9/6/20, 10:26 AM
Kate said...: This is so sad. We made this movie beloved. We made these people successful. And this is what they do with our appreciation. I know, dumb Lefties, what did I expect, blah blah blah. Even Lefties should have manners. I hate how they casually dump art for politics.; 9/6/20, 10:35 AM
tim maguire said...: I expect my artists to have stupid politics. If they were rational and realistic, they wouldn’t be as entertaining. Good art requires a bit of madness.; 9/6/20, 11:38 AM
Chris Lopes said...: Trump aside, this is another example of the stupidity of celebrity culture. These people make their living playing pretend, on cue, using someone else's words. Nothing about that job description says they know any more about life, the universe, and everything than your average blogger living in his mom's basement. These are NOT authority figures.; 9/6/20, 11:38 AM
Joe Smith said...: The left ruins every goddamn thing it touches. These people are walking cancer.

From the linked article: "Fred Savage is no longer facing several gender-based claims that were part of a lawsuit alleging he harassed and struck a female costumer working on the Fox comedy “The Grinder.”

In a new ruling entered Wednesday, a Los Angeles judge rejected six of the seven claims filed against Savage by plaintiff Youngjoo Hwang."

So they're saying that Fred savagely beat a Hwang?; 9/6/20, 11:40 AM
Drago said...: Joe Smith: "The left ruins every goddamn thing it touches. These people are walking cancer."

The left AND the LLR-left.; 9/6/20, 12:29 PM
Doug said...: Nonsense! He's Nigel Tufnell!; 9/6/20, 12:31 PM
eddie willers said...: I have never seen this movie, but knew some of the famous quotes. It has been on my list.

Now it is not.; 9/6/20, 1:59 PM
Kevin said...: Trump : All right. Where is your energy policy? The battle of wits has begun. It ends when you decide and the voters go the polls, and find out who is right... and who is dead.

Biden : 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 be for the country, or for his own gain? Now, a clever man would be for fracking, because he would know that only a great fool would go against energy independence. I am not a great fool, so I can clearly not be against fracking. But you must have known I was not a great fool, you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose to be for fracking.

Trump : You've made your decision then?

Biden : Not remotely. Because fracking comes from Pennsylvania, as everyone knows, and Pennsylvania is where I was born, and you know that I can’t speak without telling everyone I’m from Scranton, so I can clearly not be against fracking.

Trump : Truly, you have a dizzying intellect.

Biden : Wait till I get going! Now, where was I? [looks for teleprompter]

Trump : Pennsylvania.

Biden : Yes, Pennsylvania. And you must have suspected I would have known about , so I can clearly not be for fracking.

Trump : You're just stalling now.

Biden : [Finds teleprompter and regains composure] You’d like to think that, wouldn't you? You've beaten my Secretary of State, which means you're exceptionally strong, so you could've been against fracking, trusting on your hidden voters to save you, so I can clearly not choose to against fracking. But, you've also bested the entire Republican field, which means you must have studied, and in studying you must have learned that polls hold some truths, so you would have tried to put some blue states in play, so I can clearly not choose to be against fracking.

Trump : You're trying to trick me into giving away something. It won't work.

Biden : IT HAS WORKED! YOU'VE GIVEN EVERYTHING AWAY! I KNOW WHERE YOU STAND ON THE ISSUE!

Trump : Then make your choice.

Biden : I will, and I choose... what in the world can that be?

[Biden gestures up and away from the table. The Trump looks backwards. Biden swaps his position.]

Trump : What? Where? I don't see anything.

Biden : Well, I- I could have sworn I saw something. But no matter.

[Biden tries to hold back laughter]

Trump : What's so funny?

Biden : I'll tell you in a minute. First, let's have the election. Me from my position, and you from yours.

[Biden and the Trump watch the election results]

Trump : You guessed wrong.

Biden : You only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! I switched positions when your back was turned! Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders - the most famous of which is "never vote for the same foreign policies as Joe Biden" - but only slightly less well-known is this: "Never go in against a Democrat when media is crooked"! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha...

[Biden stops suddenly, his smile frozen on his face and falls to the ground dead. The Trump removes the blindfold from Melania's head]

Trump : You all right?

Melania : And to think, all that time it was your policy that was wrong.

Trump : They were both insignificant. I spent the last few years building up the economy so people believed I was the one who could ensure them a job.; 9/6/20, 2:02 PM
Howard said...: PB was peak Robin Wright. The ultimate prize in White Male privilege.; 9/6/20, 2:07 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: the parade of cool kidz who vote corruptocrat.

They can piss off.; 9/6/20, 2:35 PM
Michael K said...: William said...
I recently read parts of Myrna Loy's autobiography, and you didn't. In the book, she writes about Melvin Douglas and his righteous instincts and sympathetic nature as evidenced by his willingness to defend those accused of past Communist associations.

Well, Melvin did let LBJ fuck his wife while they were in Washington. That's a contribution.; 9/6/20, 3:52 PM
daskol said...: Mandy Patinkin is not British, he’s just woke as fuck.; 9/6/20, 4:56 PM
Bunkypotatohead said...: I wonder how many of Bidens supporters will switch sides once Reiner starts on one of his tirades, live in concert.; 9/6/20, 6:27 PM
Mr. D said...: It was only a matter of time before the cast threw its support behind Rodents of Unusual Size.; 9/6/20, 7:26 PM
TwoAndAHalfCents said...: Well done Kevin!; 9/6/20, 9:14 PM
Ambrose said...: "They'd seen his face before; Nobody was really sure if he was from the House of Lords."; 9/6/20, 9:23 PM
Red Feather said...: Kevin, that was absolutely glorious! Kudos!; 9/6/20, 10:17 PM
Blair said...: And yet Trump gains. Inconceivable!; 9/7/20, 7:18 AM
JAORE said...: The left ruins everything.; 9/7/20, 10:10 AM
daskol said...: Biden is only mostly dead, Kevin. Don't get cocky.; 9/7/20, 4:40 PM
Lurker21 said...: Carey Elwes is likewise from an upper class British family (and even attended Harrow).

Peter Falk and Andre the Giant are no longer among the living.

Like that's any kind of obstacle in this election.; 9/8/20, 5:24 PM