The Wisconsin Democrats needed funding growth. And the message of “The Princess Bride” and the original cast of her guests?
“As you wish.”
More than 110,000 people donated at least 1 to sign up Sunday night “A Virtual Princess Bride Reunion”, Making the Dem Naline event here a win-win for the Democrats.
“Tonight’s one-time lifetime Princess Bride reunion changes the way Wisconsin wins,” said Ben Wickler, president of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “This is the largest one-mile groundroots fundraiser we’ve ever had.”
Wickler added that “chipping in to register for tonight, and posting a sign up for a volunteer tonight, could make the difference between the Biden-Kamala Harris administration, and another four years of Trump’s two-dream.”
Most of the original cast – at least those who, as director Rob Rainer said he was “not dead” – rejoined for the script reading of the 1987 classic.
“None of the dead will be here but all the living will be here, so it’s exciting,” Rainer said. “But if we have obstacles, and things, you know, go highwire, just bear with us. We’re here to have some fun. And Ben said, ‘Basically, we’re here to get Donald Trump out of the White House.’ So that’s the main goal. “
Among those who joined in the script reading were Carrie Elvis, Robin Wright, Carol Kane, Chris Sarandon, Mandy Pattinkin, Wallace Shaw, Na, Billy Crystal and Christopher Guest. Extra guests, including Happy Goldberg, are packed for others.
In the three-hour-long event, of course, the film’s most famous lines, from “Imaginary” to “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die.”
It includes a few lines from the film that seem to have added meaning to the coronavirus epidemic.
Asked why he wore the mask, Elvis (playing Westley) replied, “It’s just that he’s very comfortable. I think everyone will wear it in the future.”
Despite the delayed start time and some technical difficulties, the cast did a remarkable job of recreating the magic of the favorite film.
After the reading, comedian and actor Patton Oswalt moderated a question and answer session with Rainer, actors and others working on the movie.
During the discussion, Patkin was asked, “Who is the most interesting or unexpected person to get back in your line, ‘My name is Inigo Montoya. You’re ready to kill my father.’
“I have to say Senator Ted Cruz,” Patinkin said.
Patinkin, who still holds the film’s original sword, said the film is about “true love” and, in order to abandon revenge and hatred, author William Goldman described it as a lesson he left as his legacy.
“In a world full of hatred and bigotry, where blacks need life, for the lives of women, of our planet. Our care and etiquette towards each other around the world,” Patkin said. “We must stop being hateful and vindictive, and we must accept what William Goldham’s last words in this script are that we are all blessed to be a part of, that is, ‘as you wish.’
Rainer also talked about the significance of those words, and his father, Carl Rainer, played the role of grandfather in his final film, In a fan-made version of the film starring various celebrities.
“The last big wish he had was to be able to stay alive to be able to oust Donald Trump, and we did a little reading of Princess Bride. And the last thing he did on camera was me. He played the role of grandfather.” Played, “he said.” And the last thing he ever said was, ‘As you wish.’
He added, “It means a lot to me. And I like the fact that, after 35, 37 years … it can be used for something as good as defending democracy.”
Contact (414) 224-2324 or Mary Spicuza [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter MSpicuzzaMJS.