Rob Reiner Sneaking His Hat From Spinal Tap Into The Princess Bride Is My Favorite Story About The Beloved Director

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Rob Reiner has directed a lot of fantastic movies, but my absolute favorite is This Is Spinal Tap. I also love The Princess Bride, and I’ve seen it countless times. It’s available to stream on Hulu, and it includes a fun little hidden detail! If you’ve ever noticed, the hat worn by Rob Reiner’s character, Marty DiBergi, in This Is Spinal Tap actually makes a brief cameo in The Princess Bride. Here’s the story behind that clever connection.

How The Hat Got There

The story has gained a legendary status recently, but its origins actually lie in the liner notes for the Princess Bride soundtrack. When director Reiner asked Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits to compose the music, Knopfler – like most rock musicians – was a fan of This Is Spinal Tap. He agreed to work on the soundtrack with one condition: the iconic hat from Spinal Tap had to be included in the film.

Reiner believed Knopfler, even though Knopfler later said he was only kidding. A bigger issue was that the original hat from This Is Spinal Tap couldn’t be found. So, Reiner asked the prop team from The Princess Bride to make a new one – a blue Navy hat with the text “USS OORAL SEA OV-4B” and a classic 80s-style laurel wreath on the brim. If you’re curious about how this modern hat fits into the medieval setting, look closely at the wall in the grandson’s room – you can spot it among the other decorations behind Fred Savage.

It’s Not The Princess Bride’s Only Connection To Spinal Tap

Though a hat offers a small nod to Spinal Tap within The Princess Bride, there are other connections as well. Both films were directed by Rob Reiner, and several actors appear in both. Christopher Guest, known for his role as Nigel Tufnel in This Is Spinal Tap, plays the villain Count Rugen in The Princess Bride. And Billy Crystal, who has a brief, almost unnoticeable role as a mime in Spinal Tap, famously plays Miracle Max in The Princess Bride.

One thing that really struck me while watching this film is how much director Rob Reiner values collaboration. He clearly loves working with a familiar crew, and it shows! We all know he and Billy Crystal created magic with When Harry Met Sally – a rom-com many consider the absolute best. And it’s sweet, but a little poignant, knowing this will be Reiner’s last project, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, because it reunites him with Christopher Guest, who’s winding down his career now too. It feels like a perfect, full-circle moment for everyone involved.

The tragic deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle, have left a void in the world. He was beloved by many, not just in Hollywood but globally, and it was his charming attention to detail – like including small references to his past films in new ones – that made him so endearing.

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2025-12-17 19:11