André the Giant had an ATV, and Cary Elwes had absolutely no business riding it
Cary Elwes broke his big toe while riding an ATV during filming of *The Princess Bride*, after co-star André the Giant teased him into trying the vehicle. The accident left Elwes worried he might be dismissed, and his injury later became a visible but unintended detail in the film.
André, who was 7ft 4in and had used ATVs on his farm, rode one around the hilly set because he struggled to fit in cars. Elwes caught his toe between the gear pedal and a rock while attempting to change gear, bending it backwards and snapping it. Director Rob Reiner reassured him he would not be fired, and the fight scenes were scheduled late enough for Elwes to heal and practise swordwork.
In short
- André the Giant teased Cary Elwes into riding an ATV.
- Elwes broke his toe on a rock during filming.
- His limp can be spotted in the finished film.
Explained simply
The Princess Bride is a 1987 adventure film directed by Rob Reiner, adapted from a novel by William Goldman. Cary Elwes plays Westley, a farmhand who becomes a swordsman, while André the Giant plays Fezzik, a gentle giant who joins him on his travels.
André was 7ft 4in tall and had difficulty fitting into cars, so he used an all-terrain vehicle, or ATV, to get around the film’s hilly set. Elwes was less experienced with the vehicle, and the cast and crew were making the film’s adventure and sword-fighting scenes on location.
The incident matters because Elwes’s injury raised concerns about whether he could continue filming, especially as his role involved sword fights. The production schedule left time for him to recover and practise, and the injury could be seen in the finished film.