Memories of The Princess Bride: Vizzini & The Man in Black Made Princess Bride Memorable

Think with us here back to the 1987…because that was the date that The Princess Bride initially hit theatres. Rob Reiner directed this epic film that was so cheesy it was fantabulous. If you ever wondered what Fred Savage looked like before The Wonder Years, he is just a little boy being told a bedtime story while he is sick by his caring grandfather (Peter Falk). This romantic comedy/adventure film was actually based upon the bestselling novel by William Goldman, and the aim was to create story that evenly mixed comedy, action, fantasy, romance, adventure and the old days into one entertaining saga.

While the film boasts numerous memorable scenes, one of the most famous by all means is the poison dual to the death between the star of the film, The Man in Black, who you later find out is Wesley (Cary Elwes), and Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), a dangerous assassin who has kidnapped the princess. Today, we relive that scene with some classic Princess Bride quotes, and even a video for extra measure.

Most Famous Dialogue from Princess Bride: Vizzini & The Man in Black

Man in Black: All right. Where is the poison? The battle of wits has begun. It ends when you decide and we both drink, and find out who is right... and who is dead.

Vizzini: But it's so simple. All I have to do is divine from what I know of you: are you the sort of man who would put the poison into his own goblet or his enemy's? Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet, because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was given. I am not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known I was not a great fool, you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.

Man in Black: You've made your decision then?

Vizzini: Not remotely. Because iocane comes from Australia, as everyone knows, and Australia is entirely peopled with criminals, and criminals are used to having people not trust them, as you are not trusted by me, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you.

Man in Black: Truly, you have a dizzying intellect.

Vizzini: Wait till I get going! Now, where was I?

Man in Black: Australia.

Vizzini: Yes, Australia. And you must have suspected I would have known the powder's origin, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.

Man in Black: You're just stalling now.

Vizzini: You'd like to think that, wouldn't you? You've beaten my giant, which means you're exceptionally strong, so you could've put the poison in your own goblet, trusting on your strength to save you, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But, you've also bested my Spaniard, which means you must have studied, and in studying you must have learned that man is mortal, so you would have put the poison as far from yourself as possible, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.

Man in Black: You're trying to trick me into giving away something. It won't work.

Vizzini: IT HAS WORKED! YOU'VE GIVEN EVERYTHING AWAY! I KNOW WHERE THE POISON IS!

Man in Black: Then make your choice.

Vizzini: I will, and I choose - What in the world can that be?

Man in Black: [Vizzini gestures up and away from the table. Roberts looks. Vizzini swaps the goblets]

Man in Black: What? Where? I don't see anything.

Vizzini: Well, I- I could have sworn I saw something. No matter. First, let's drink. Me from my glass, and you from yours.

Man in Black, Vizzini: [Vizzini and the Man in Black drink]

Man in Black: You guessed wrong.

Vizzini: You only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! I switched glasses when your back was turned! Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is "never get involved in a land war in Asia" - but only slightly less well-known is this: "Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line"! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha...

Vizzini: [Vizzini stops suddenly, his smile frozen on his face and falls to the ground dead]

Buttercup: And to think, all that time it was your cup that was poisoned.

Man in Black: They were both poisoned. I spent the last few years building up an immunity to iocane powder.

WATCH: Iocane Powder Battle of Wits "Princess Bride"

Now you can relive on the most classic scenes from The Princess Bride. The scene that was just described above in its entirety is one of the most famous scenes from this popular cult classic film from the 80s. But reading text scene dialogue pales in comparison to actually being able to watch the real thing. So if you have never seen this movie before (unlikely), or you just want to get your daily dose of PB humor in, take a few moments out of your day to enjoy a chuckle or two with this hilarious, and totally iconic scene from comedic film history that depicts the infamous poison drinking challenge between Vizzini and the Man in Black.

Now that we got you all giddy over this film again by reliving some of the most classic quotes, why not truly celebrate Vizzini most famous quote, “Inconceivable!”? Check out our Princess Bride T-shirts, and get your hands on the most coveted one, the The Princess Bride Inconceivable Text Vizzini White Men’s T-shirt, and show the world that Sicilians truly know best!