Bill & Blair

There are rumors percolating about a possible remake of The Princess Bride, along with concomitant righteous indignation.

If a remake were to happen there are two possible outcomes: 1. It sucks, and we can all gloat in our superior world view and artistic sensibility. Or 2. The remake is actually good and we all have to exercise our brains and adjust to the idea that more than one good thing can exist at once. First of all, it must be remembered that the Rob Reiner 1987 film is itself an adaptation of  William Goldman's 1973 novel. The novel was beloved by many long before the film arrived. And more than a few fans were less than than happy with the result. Wouldn't it be interesting to see an adaptation in which Prince Humperdinck more closely resembled the short, barrel-like royal of the written work? While I love the clownish Vizzini of Wallace Shawn, wouldn't it be interesting to see the Sicilian played with a genuinely threatening intelligence? Or a Westley convincingly portrayed as an intellect, and indeed, a warrior up to the challenge?

And a remake in no way threatens the presence, aesthetic, or success of the original...whether that be the book or the film.

Can the world support another film version? Of course it can. In the same way that every Hamlet is important. In the same way that Tebaldi's Tosca coexists with the Callas. How many Pietas does he the world need? All of them.I Will Always Love You?  We need the Parton and the Houston and every karaoke cover. Even the flat ones. Even the ones in the shower. I need both Don Gibson AND Ray Charles. All in the Family AND Till Death Us Do Part. Pablo Casals, Jacqueline duPre and Yo Yo Ma.

Turn away if you want to, but don't remove or prevent art.

Let there be another film, a radio adaptation, a stage musical...

Leonardo, Rothko, your nephew's crayon portraits...
We all tote our own anthologies. Treasure them. Share them. Protect them.

Those that add nothing will disappear. The great remain. 

By definition.