History Film / ThePrincessBride

* CatchPhrase: Several, all of which have helped the film's status as a CultClassic and [[MemeticMutation entered the public mind in and of themselves]].

* AffectionHatingKid: The boy initially complains whenever Wesley and Buttercup kiss in the book, but eventually gets used to it.
* AlbinosAreFreaks: Subverted for laughs. After Wesley is captured by Prince Humperdink and imprisoned in the pit of despair, he's met by an Albino who at first speaks in a creepy rasp we would usually associate with someone like [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Gollum]]. He then clears his throat and starts talking like a normal, even friendly, human being.

* AmbiguouslyGay: Prince Humperdink seems to have no interest at all in Buttercup and intends to use her purely to start a war, even planning to strangle her on their wedding night. Meanwhile, he and Count Rugen have a very close relationship.

* BatmanGambit: "To the Pain!" [[spoiler:Wesley is in no condition to fight and is counting on Humperdinck's [[DirtyCoward cowardice]], by chiding him with horrible tales of disfigurement. It works.]]

* ClarkKenting: The Dread Pirate Roberts is Westley, with a mustache and a black mask over his eyes and hair. It's amazing Buttercup takes so long to realize it, but in the years since his supposed death Wesley has changed his mannerisms so completely from the shy farmboy Buttercup knew that it's almost plausible -- not to mention that Buttercup thought he was ''dead.''

* DashingHispanic: Inigo Montoya is a noble, honorable swordsman who's only working for Vizzini [[PunchClockVillain to pay the bills]]. He also allows the Man in Black a few moments to catch his breath before dueling him. In the end, Inigo pulls a HeelFaceTurn (though [[AntiVillain he didn't have far to turn in the first place]]), and unites with Wesley to help rescue Buttercup.

** Humperdinck himself, so much that [[spoiler:Wesley decides letting him live the rest of his life as a coward is enough of a punishment]].

** After he subdues Inigo in their sword fight near the start of the film, Wesley whacks the Spaniard across the head with the grip of his sword to knock him out.
--->'''Wesley:''' I'd sooner destroy a stained-glass window than an artist such as yourself. But since I can't have you following me either... [Whack!]
** When Wesley is taken prisoner by Count Rugen's men Rugen bops Wesley on the head with the pommel of his sword.

* JuxtaposedReflectionPoster: One DVD cover has Wesley and Buttercup holding hands, with Wesley in his Dread Pirate Roberts garb and Buttercup in her red dress on top, and the two in their peasant garb from the opening scene reflected on the bottom. As a bonus, the title is stylized so it can be read upside down if you flip the image over.

* MarryingTheMark: Prince Humperdink's apparent [[AltarDiplomacy political marriage]] to Buttercup is actually a part of a GenghisGambit; once she's captured the hearts of the populace, he intends to have her killed and frame Gilder for the assassination so he has a PretextForWar.

** Inigo and Fezzik are looking for Westley, their only lead is incapacitated, and they're running out of time. In desperation, Inigo invokes his father's spirit and attempts to use his sword as a dousing rod. When he runs into a tree, he slumps over in despair, but it just so happens that he slumps onto the hidden switch that opens the secret passageway leading to whom they're looking for. It may be dumb luck, but the tree is covered in knots and Count Rugen, who uses the passage on a regular basis, had some trouble in finding it.

** Rugen gets in on the action when Humperdinck turns the machine to its maximum on Wesley, bordering on OOCIsSeriousBusiness for the ColdHam Rugen.

* PsychoForHire: Count Rugen just enjoys when people suffer, making him a great torture master for Humperdink.

** Miracle Max is perfectly willing to help the good guys, when they promise to humiliate Humperdink, the man who fired him.

* ButThatIWouldBelieve: {{Subverted}} when Inigo tries to convince Miracle Max to revive the Man in Black. After Miracle Max identifies Inigo's first story about the Man in Black's wife being a cripple and his children starving, Inigo confesses that he needs the man's help to avenge his murdered father. Miracle Max tells him the first story was better.

An [[TheRoleplayingGame official roleplaying game]], ''TabletopGame/ThePrincessBrideRoleplayingGame'' was [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/toyvaultinc/the-princess-bride-roleplaying-game fully funded on Kickstarter in 2018.]] and released by Toy Vault, Inc. using the UsefulNotes/{{FUDGE}} system.

* RuleOfFunny: Inigo has to count on his fingers to figure out he would be left with 20 men after Fezzik says he can handle 10 of the 30 guarding the gate. It's [[MST3KMantra best not to think about that later]] when Inigo later ''instantly'' counts 60 men now guarding the gate.[[note]]Hungover vs. Sober[[/note]]

** The Albino seems to be one of these, too. The actor's performance mostly suggests he's just doing his job, even if it ''is'' a pretty evil job.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Buttercup's reaction after she pushes Dreaded Pirate Roberts down a hill and realizes [[spoiler: he is Westley]].
--->'''Buttercup:''' [[spoiler: Oh, my sweet Westley!]] What have I done? ''(throws herself down the hill)''

** A visual example, once again with Count Rugen: Every [[spoiler:wound he takes during his duel with Inigo is somewhere that he previously inflicted on Inigo with his sword. For those keeping score, that's both cheeks, right arm, and the left shoulder, then Inigo runs him through the heart to avenge his father's death.]].

* ButThatIWouldBelieve. Subverted when Inigo tries to convince Miracle Max to revive the Man in Black. After Miracle Max identifies Inigo's first story about the Man in Black’s wife being a cripple and his children starving, Inigo confesses that he needs the man's help to avenge his murdered father. Miracle Max tells him the first story was better.

* ConfessionDeferred: Inigo trying to convince Miracle Max to work cheap:
** Inigo tries to convince Miracle Max to revive Westley for cheap. He first tries telling him a sob story about how Westley's wife is crippled and his children on the brink of starvation. Miracle Max, of course, spots the lie immediately, which forces Inigo to be sincere--he needs Westley's help to avenge his father. {{Subverted}} because that doesn't work either.
** When Westley and Inigo storm the castle, they demand that the guard give them the key. The captain denies having it in his possession until Inigo orders Fezzik to tear the captain's arms off. He quickly acquiesces to prevent that from happening.

* RuleOfFunny: Inigo has to count on his fingers to figure out he would be left with 20 men after Fezzik says he can handle 10 of the 30 guarding the gate. It's [[MST3KMantra best not to think about that later]] when Inigo later ''instantly'' counts 60 men now guarding the gate.

-->'''Inigo:''' This is noble, sir. His wife is... crippled. His children are on the brink of starvation.\\
'''Miracle Max:''' Are ''you'' a rotten liar.\\
'''Inigo:''' I need him to help avenge my father, murdered these twenty years.\\
'''Miracle Max:''' Your first story was better.

-->'''Humperdinck''': It's odd, but [[spoiler:when I hired Vizzini to have her murdered on our engagement day, I thought that was clever. But it's going to be so much more moving when I strangle her on our wedding night. Once Guilder is blamed, the nation will truly be outraged - they'll demand we go to war]].

* VocalDissonance: "The Impressive Clergyman" is seen in full garb for nearly half a minute to organ music, at which point he speaks and it is revealed that he has a speech impediment that makes him sound like a dopey Elmer Fudd.

* WorthyOpponent: Inigo and Westley compliment each other's fighting style during their duel. Afterwards, Westley tells Inigo that "I hold you in the highest possible respect." When they meet again (and Inigo is no longer a PunchClockVillain), they become allies almost instantly.
* XanatosGambit: The Man in Black wins the battle of wits against against Vizzini before it even starts. Both of the chalices that Vizzini has to choose from are poisoned with iocane powder, and the Man in Black has [[AcquiredPoisonImmunity built up an immunity to it]] so he can drink from either. Even if Vizzini figures out what's going on, he has no way of beating the Man in a straight fight.
* YouFightLikeACow: The famous Inigo/Westley duel, but with compliments instead of insults. (In most DVD editions, that chapter is titled "The Chatty Duelists".)

* KarmicInjury: Inigo repays Rugen with all the same wounds that Rugen has given him throughout his life.

** Inigo and Fezzik are only on the bad guys' side because they're working for Vizzini. It's no big surprise they [[spoiler:go over to the hero's side]].

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: In the book, Prince Humperdinck is short and weighs 250 pounds and described as resembling a barrel (muscle, not fat: [[StoutStrength he works out by wrestling apes to death]]). In the film, he's played by Creator/ChrisSarandon.

* AlbinosAreFreaks: Subverted for laughs. After Wesley is captured by Prince Humperdink and imprisoned in the pit of despair, he's met by an Albino who at first speaks in a high-pitch raspy voice. He then clears his throat and starts talking like a normal human being.

** A visual example, once again with Count Rugen: Every [[spoiler:wound he takes during his duel with Inigo is somewhere that he previously inflicted. For those keeping score, that's both cheeks, right arm, left shoulder, and the stab to the belly]].

* KarmicInjury: Inigo repays Rugen with all the same wounds thet Rugen has given him throughout his life.

* LudicrousGiftRequest: When Rugen says, "I will do anything!" as a response to Inigo trying to kill him, he says that he wants his father back, even though his father's already (completely) dead.

-->'''Buttercup:''' You mocked me once, never do it again! I DIED THAT DAY! You can die too for all I care! ''(pushes Dreaded Pirate Roberts down the hill)''* SincerityMode: When Count Rugen invites Prince Humperdinck to his initial demonstration of his new torture device, Humperdinck respectfully declines on the grounds that he's got a lot of dirty work of his own.