MOVIES

'Inconceivable!': More than 110,000 tune into 'A Virtual Princess Bride Reunion' fundraiser

Mary Spicuzza
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin Democrats needed a fundraising boost. And the message from the original cast of "The Princess Bride" and their guests?

"As you wish."

More than 110,000 people donated at least $1 to tune into "A Virtual Princess Bride Reunion" on Sunday night, making the online event an inconceivable fundraising win for Democrats here.

"Tonight's once-in-a-lifetime Princess Bride reunion changes the odds on who wins Wisconsin," said Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. "This is by a mile the biggest grassroots fundraiser that we have ever had."

Wikler added that "chipping in to register for tonight, and post signing up to volunteer tonight, can make the difference between the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration, and another four years of the Trump nightmare."

Most of the original cast — at least those who, as director Rob Reiner put it, "haven't died" — reunited for a script reading of the 1987 classic.

Those who joined the reading included Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Carol Kane, Chris Sarandon, Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, as well as Reiner as the grandfather reading a story to his sick grandson.

Even with a delayed start time and some technical difficulties, the cast did a remarkable job of re-creating the magic of the beloved film.

Contact Mary Spicuzza at (414) 224-2324 or mary.spicuzza@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MSpicuzzaMJS.

Cary Elwes and Robin Wright in a virtual "Princess Bride" reunion to benefit Wisconsin Democrats