Highlights from Princess Bride Test, November 6, 2000:

So tonight was the Princess Bride Duel, Danny Loss vs. Collin Peng-Sue. Evan and I thought it couldn't get closer than the Anderson vs. Silverman Caddyshack battle; we were wrong. After 40 minutes of really tight competition, the duelists had battled to a 30-30 standstill. Collin finally pulled ahead in sudden death overtime. The test is shown below with commentary included.

For an original copy of the test, click here.

The Princess Bride Test

Easy

1. Will there be any survivors?

No. (1)

Both contestants immediately recognized this question as a Princess Bride joke, giggled, and responded correctly. (1-1)

2. Name each time that the main story is interrupted by the frame story, excluding Peter Falk narration.

First kiss, eels, kiss in ravine, during boo dream, at Westley's death, last kiss. (6)

Collin pulled ahead with 5 of the correct responses to Danny's 4. (6-5)

3. How many years pass between Westley's death and Buttercup's engagement?

Five years. (1)

Both correct (7-6)

4. What does Vizzini suggest the mysterious boat is?

A local fisherman out at night on a pleasure cruise through eel infested waters. (1)

Both correct (8-7)

5. What does the 6-fingered man offer Domingo Montoya for his masterpiece?

1/10 the original price (1)

Both correct (9-8)

6. How many times does Vizzini say "inconceivable"?

5 (1)

Both incorrect (9-8).0

7. Name all synonyms for trash used by the wretched woman in Buttercups dream.

Garbage, refuse, slime, filth, putrescence, rubbish, muck (7)

Collin pulled ahead here by getting 6 to Danny's 5. (15-13)

Medium

8. What is the first sound heard in the film?

Fred Savage coughing (1).

Danny fell for our clever ruse - we had hoped that one of the contestants would be led astray to answer "take me out to the ball game". Collin saw through our clever trick. (16-13)

9. Name all the pairs of end-rhymes made by Inigo and Fezzik.

Fuss/at us, harm/charm, rhyme/time, ahead/dead, mean it/peanut, Vizzini, meany, you, true (7).

Collin got 6 to Danny's 5 (22-18)

10. How many lines of reasoning does Vizzini take during the battle of wits?

6 (1).

Danny guessed right, Collin didn't (22-19)

11. How does the man in black imagine Buttercup's true love, and how does she describe him in return?

Ugly, rich, scabby/ a farmboy, poor and perfect (2)

Collin gets rich and scabby, but forgets the crucial "ugly". Danny gets full point value. (23-21)

12. How many times does Inigo recite his mantra?

6 (1).

Both guess wrong (23-21)

13. In order, what does a "to the pain" duel encompass?

Feet, hands, nose, tongue, left eye, right eye (1)

0 points awarded. Collin left out the nose, while Danny failed to specify the order of eyes. (23-21)

14. By what increments is the machine's level of punishment measured on its controls?

1, 2Š10, 20, 30, 40, 50 (1).

Nope. (23-21)

Hard

15. Name the visual error in the first scene.

Book opened, then closed (1).

Both contestants not only answered correctly, but pointed out another error having to do with a car or something. What nerds. 2 points to both sides. (25-23)

16. What poster is behind Fred Savage's Bed?

The Fridge (1).

Points to Danny only....(25-24)

17. What is Buttercup doing when she asks Westley to fetch the pitcher?

Making an apple pie (1).

Both are stumped. (25-24)

18. Before the original betrothal announcement, what circus performer is in the square?

Ring juggler (1).

Points to both. (26-25)

19. Name all the fencing styles mentioned in the duel between Westley and Inigo.

Benetti's Defense, Capethera, tybalt, agrippa

Collin gets all 4, while Danny gets only 3. (30-28).

20. Name the last three actors and their characters shown in the visual credit sequence.

Mel Smith - Albino, Carol Kane - Valerie, Billy Crystal - Miracle Max

Evan and I had given each other a knowing glance after the all important #19 - we thought Collin had pulled ahead for good. Danny made the last portion of his amazing push by getting two (Crystal and Kane) while Collin got zero. (30-30)

21. Name all characters which have mullets.

Inigo, the mom (2).

Not only did neither contestant know what a mullet is (www.mulletsgalore.com) , but could not come up with an answer after a detailed demonstration involving pictures of Murphy's mom. Tied at 30-30.

After a bit of thought, we moved onto the tiebreaker question. It was a reenactment question, the essay question equivalent of movie tests. Both Danny and Collin were asked to reenact the scene in which Domingo Montoya's spirit guides Inigo's sword. Both came through with emotionally inspiring performances in the middle of the Sharples big room - applause came from all portions of the room, not just the original spectators of the contest. After much deliberation by the viewers, Collin was declared the winner. Congratulations to Collin, and also to Danny on behalf of Eric Levy.

-Andrew and Evan