The original story, The Princess Bride is a “true-love fantasy classic” written by William Goldman, published in 1973. Within 14 years it was transformed into a motion picture. In regards to the movie there are two formats of the story, one is a narrated version read by the grandfather, and his narration is experienced visually through the film. This dual medium usage is interesting because it combines film, with the age-old act of reading, and more specifically reading aloud. Analyzing the relationship between reading and television has been done by many scholars and initially they conclusively stated that, “The decline of reading abilities and activities has been cited most often among the young-and television has been labeled a primary culprit” (Journal of Communication) Endless studies have continued to state that it is the emergence of film that is the cause of the decline of literacy. However lets consider combining the two, as portrayed in this film, The Princess Bride, in which the grandfather is narrating the fairytale and his narration is being visualized through film. Does this collaboration work?
William Goldman, the author of the Princess Bride explains that he himself had a life-changing experience when his father read to him as a child. When the book was adapted into screenplay the grandfather/grandson scenes were added in order to pay respect to his father that inspired him. Thus the princess bride, from the novel to the screenplay has always been a story within a story,

Grandson: A book ?
Grandfather: That’s right. When I was your age, television was
called books. And this is a special book. It was the
book my father used to read to me when I was sick,
and I used to read it to your father, and today, I’m
gonna read it to you.
Grandson: Does it got any sports in it?
Grandfather: Are you kidding? Fencing, fighting, torture,
revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, True
Love, miracles….
Grandson: Doesn’t sound too bad. I’ll try and stay awake.
The cut between narration and the visual of the film run throughout the entire movie, and it gauges the intrigue and appreciation from the grandson; it exemplifies his growth, on how he opposed the book, to the end where he didn’t want it to end,
Grandfather: Okay. “Since the invention of the kiss, there have
been five kisses that were rated the most
passionate, the most pure. This one left them all
behind.
[pause as Buttercup and Westley kiss]
The End.” Now, I think you oughtta go to sleep.
Grandson: Okay.
Grandfather: All right. Okay. Okay. Okay. All right. So long.
Grandson: Grandpa? [pause] Maybe you could come over and read
it again to me tomorrow.
Grandfather:As you wish.

Reading aloud as exemplified in this movie, is glorified, is enjoyed. Whoever reads aloud takes on the role of a leader, for example in a classroom when a teacher reads aloud the students perceive the teacher as their role model (The English Journal). Positive images of reading are necessary to balance out the two competing mediums, film and books. Both mediums are apart of modern life and when used together they can have the most beneficial outcome on students.

Researching what teachers have stated on this topic is essential because teachers/professors/tutors are the individuals whom enforce students to read. According to one study by a Yale Professor, Robert G. Schank, stated that stories are the most effective way to teach a student, as the brain is receptive of storytelling, it recalls information told through story longer then any other method. (Virginia Libraries) Through his study, combined with the Virginia case study by Patricia Muller who also states that young brains develop most effectively through visual stimulation combining the two give the optimal chance that children will learn better. (Virginia Libraries) Combining both types of learning leaves us with two mediums, books being read aloud, and film for their visual stimulation. There need not be a ‘winner’ in the competition between books and television, a union between the two can bring out the strengths of both of these mediums for ideal learning.