Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) has just graduated from the University of Chicago and is driving to New York to start her career as a journalist. Her friend Amanda (Michelle Nicastro) arranges for her boyfriend, Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) to share the driving, as he is moving to New York as well. But When Harry Met Sally (1989), they find that they have entirely different viewpoints on life. TCM Big Screen Classics featured this excellent film, now 30 years old. While When Harry Met Sally is a comedy, it is also a serious discussion of the relationships between men and women. Certainly, Sally is a bit obsessive (everything in her menu order must be "on the side"), while Harry is sexually casual, to the point of promiscuity. But what we begin to discover, as Harry and Sally reconnect, is that they are good for one another, each filling a void in their mutual lives. Meg Ryan brings a whimsy to Sally that makes her character charming. In lesser hands, Sally could become annoying to the point of frustration, but Ms. Ryan never crosses that line. Certainly, you shake your head when she begins ordering her food, but her point - that it's always better if you have your meal exactly as YOU want it - cannot be argued. It was Ms. Ryan's idea that Sally fake an orgasm in that now famous scene (TCM article), and Mr. Reiner's to put his mother, Estelle Reiner, into the scene to utter the most famous line in the film "I'll have what she's having." (#33 on AFI's 100 Years, 100 Quotes)
The same can be said about Billy Crystal's Harry - Mr. Crystal is able to make him interesting and engaging. Harry's attitudes towards women are vaguely medieval - "no man can be friends with a woman that he finds attractive. He always wants to have sex with her," but because of his chemistry with Ms. Ryan and his sympathetic portrayal, you end up liking Harry (though there are times, you want to shake him!)
Carrie Fisher (Marie), Sally's best friend, is amazing as a woman who seems to fall for the wrong man constantly. Involved in a clandestine relationship with a married man, she is urged to break off the affair, but Marie keeps hoping that he will leave his wife, as he has long promised. Only when she finally meets Harry's best friend, Jess (Bruno Kirby), does she find a soul mate and long-term partner. Her plea to Jess "Tell me I'll never have to be out there again" resonates with anyone who's ever had to deal with the dating scene.
The only Oscar nomination that When Harry Met Sally received was Nora Ephron for Original Screenplay (she won the BAFTA award), and it's not surprising. Ms. Ephron has crafted a gloriously expressive script that merges comedy and drama in an effective and moving way. Though quotes abound from the script (EW.com, Tribeca News, Parade), the film is not a series of one-liners. It's a unique look at romantic love, and at the problems inherent in finding the one person who is right for you. As Marie so aptly puts it: "All I'm saying is that somewhere out there is the man you are supposed
to marry. And if you don't get him first, somebody else will, and you'll
have to spend the rest of your life knowing that somebody else is
married to your husband."
The New York Timesreview was not especially enthusiastic, but a more recent Vanity Fairarticle points up the timelessness of the story. If you've never seen When Harry Met Sally, treat yourself and give it a viewing. In the meantime, here's a trailer to whet your appetite:
A small boy (Fred Savage) is laid up in bed due to illness. His Grandfather (Peter Falk) comes to visit with his favorite book, The Princess Bride (1987). The boy is dubious, but as the story of Westley (Cary Elwes) and Buttercup (Robin Wright) unfolds, the youngster finds himself captivated by the tale. TCM Big Screen Classics for October featured the 30th Anniversary showing of this lovely story, along with an opportunity to hear director Rob Reiner talk a bit about his experiences on the film. The Princess Bride has a very interesting history - the book was written by William Goldman (author of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). After the book's release, Robert Redford, Norman Jewison, and Francois Truffaut all expressed interest in filming it (Vanity Fairarticle). Rob Reiner had also loved the book - it was his favorite (it had been given to him by his father, Carl Reiner), and he eventually approached Goldman about taking it on. Some convincing had to be done - Reiner related that The Princess Bride was Goldman's favorite of his works, and he didn't want it to be ruined. Needless to say, it wasn't!
The cast is altogether delightful, but our favorite characters were Valerie (Carol Kane) and Miracle Max (Billy Crystal). Mr. Reiner talked about his experiences with Mr. Crystal, who ad-libbed some of his dialogue (including the "mutton, lettuce, and tomato sandwich"), resulting in Mr. Reiner having to leave the set for a time - his laughing kept interrupting the action. The scenes are superb - from word one to the conclusion ("Have fun stormin' the castle"). This was Robin Wright's breakout film role - though the film "introduced" her, she had been on screen before. She had appeared on one TV show, a TV film, and a small part in Hollywood Vice Squad (1986). At the time she filmed The Princess Bride, she was a regular in the soap opera Santa Barbara (AFI Catalog). Ms. Wright is very good, though I have a problem with one scene. When Westley is attacked by the Rodent of Unusual Size, Buttercup just stands there watching, and doesn't react until it finally goes after her. Princess, pick up a stick and hit the darn thing. If it kills Westley, it's going for you next!
I confess to not being a Mandy Patinkin fan, by and large, but as Inigo Montoya, he is perfect. He learned to fence with both hands for the film (as did Carey Elwes), and he plays Inigo straight. Had there been the slightest bit of satire in his demeanor, the part would have fallen flat. Because Inigo believes in his quest, we do to, and we root for him to find the man who killed his father. Christopher Guest is wonderfully despicable as Count Rugan, and makes a perfect partner to Chris Sarandon's Prince Humperdink. Both play their roles with relish, and while they are a bit overstated, it really works in the film.
Before I close, I need to talk briefly about the frame story between the Grandfather and Grandson. The relationship between the two makes the film very special. The Grandson doesn't want to see his Grandfather because he will pinch the boy's cheek (of course he does), and the boy isn't really interested in the story at first, because it is not about sports, and because there is kissing. Yet, we feel the love between the two, and watch the boy become engroseed in this story which was also read to his father years before. Peter Falk just exudes love for his Grandson, and Fred Savage is the perfect pre-teen boy. Mr Falk's line, "when I was your age, television was called books" is marvelous! I looked forward to their "interruptions" in the main story.
While The Princess Bride was not a box-office bonanza, it did relatively well in
initial release. Since then, it has become widely popular. It was named #88 on AFI 100 Years, 100 Passions, and in 2016 it was added to the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. It even has its own fan website; visit for trivia games and film clips. We'll leave you with these scenes of Westley's signature line.
