There are lines that are part of film history as much as a movie, a director, a star or a certain character can be. And, although The Princess Bride is full of dialogues that fans of the classic keep repeating 33 years after its premiere, there is a line from the screenplay that stands out above all: “My name is Íñigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
There is no doubt that the swordsman in search of revenge that Mandy Patinkin played in Rob Reiner’s production is one of the most beloved and remembered characters among those who went through that love story between Westley (Cary Elwes) and Buttercup (Robin Wright).
The goal of Patinkin’s character was clear: to finish off his father’s murderer, a man with six fingers, and thus avenge his death. After a question asked by a follower on TikTok, the actor has now revealed the emotional and personal inspiration behind Íñigo Montoya.
User Amanda Webb, who in March lost her father to cancer, uploaded a video on the social network asking Patinkin about the veracity of the rumor stating that the line “I want my father back, you son of a bitch” during the duel between his character and Count Rugen (Christopher Guest) was the result of Patinkin’s mourning, who had lost his father to cancer.
Moved by Webb’s story, who claimed to be a fan of the film and Íñigo Montoya along with her father, Patinkin has responded to the clip confirming that the rumor is true and that not only the line of the screenplay was conceived in memory of his father, but that he accepted the role of Íñigo Montoya as a tribute to him.
“It is true. 100% true,” the actor replied on TikTok: “I went outside in this castle and walked around… and I kept talking to my dad, and I said ‘Dad, I’m going to get this guy.’” As he explained, “The minute I read the script, I knew… I said to Kath…’I’m going to do this part because in my mind, if I get the six-fingered guy [Count Rugen], that means I killed the cancer that killed my dad, and I’ll get to visit my dad.’”
Patinkin filmed the scene and, after the duel ended, took a few minutes to remember his father.“I played that scene with Chris, and then I went back out there and I talked to my dad,” the actor revealed, visibly moved. You can see his emotional message on TikTok below.
@mandypatinktok@alaska_webb thank you for finding us and sharing this! ✨ Sending big love and light to you and yours. More in comments. #grieving #cancer #dads
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