Silent Take: The Princess Bride circa 1928

Humor, Silent Take by Movies SilentlyJuly 31, 2013May 14, 2020

It’s baaack! Another modern movie re-imagined as a silent. This time, it’s The Princess Bride and it is taking a little trip back to 1928. If you have only seen Mary Astor and William Powell in the talkies, you may be interested to know that in the silents, she was often the dainty princess and he was often a sneering villain. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. did not try his hand at swashbuckling until 1937’s Prisoner of Zenda (Astor was in that one too) but I crave your indulgence because I think he is a perfect Westley.

To direct this off-center fairy tale, who better than Ernst Lubitsch, the undisputed king of off-center fairy tales? Lubitsch was also an actor, though 1920 was his last film appearance. I think that the character of Miracle Max would be enough to coax him back in front of the camera.

What’s your interpretation of The Princess Bride, circa 1928?

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11 Comments

haefennasiel on July 31, 2013 at 7:52 am

At first glance, I thought this was an actual silent film – but then I realized the book was first published in the ’70s. But I loooove this re-interpretation! It’s completely believable and the actors you chose were spot on! =)
1. Movies, Silently on July 31, 2013 at 8:07 am
  
  Aww, thank you so much!
lovepirate77 on July 31, 2013 at 8:16 am

Fairbanks and Astor would be perfect in this! Well done!
1. Movies, Silently on July 31, 2013 at 8:19 am
  
  Thanks! 🙂
jennifromrollamo on July 31, 2013 at 12:53 pm

I too was fooled when I saw Astor’s picture and thought what! Princess Bride was a silent film first???!!! Great mock-up!
1. Movies, Silently on July 31, 2013 at 1:06 pm
  
  🙂 Thanks so much!
kristina on July 31, 2013 at 1:35 pm

I wish I could hit that like button a dozen more times 🙂 fantastic casting
1. Movies, Silently on July 31, 2013 at 2:06 pm
  
  Thanks so much! 😀
vp19 on July 31, 2013 at 6:16 pm

This brings up a potential blogathon idea — a new version of “The Great Recasting” (which I participated in about a year ago at this time, http://carole-and-co.livejournal.com/530851.html)…only this time, all films have to be recast as silents! Anyone for “The Great Silent Recasting”?,
1. Movies, Silently on July 31, 2013 at 6:26 pm
  
  Sounds fun! I’m in if you do it 🙂
  1. vp19 on July 31, 2013 at 7:08 pm
    
    Sounds good. Perhaps sometime this fall, after your Gish blogathon.