When they weren't laughing, almost 2,000 people were grinning from ear to ear listening to Cary Elwes speak at Powell's in Beaverton for a book signing Wednesday night.

Nearly 1,300 copies of Elwes's new book "As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of the Princess Bride" sold out just before "The Princess Bride" actor arrived at 7 p.m.; the crowd was out the door and into Cedar Hills Crossing mall well before 5 p.m.

"There were already people on the floor; there were already people swarming in the book areas; there were people on people's laps," said Irene Croft, 15, of Beaverton.

Croft, who arrived two hours before the event started, sat on the floor with her mom, Alicia Croft, and Devanie Kevorkian.

It was the biggest event Powell's staff had ever seen, they said.

"[The movie] touched all of our lives — obviously, because this is an insane event," said Kevorkian, 28, of Tigard.

Why has the movie and Elwes's role as Westley impacted so many people?

"First of all, he's a fantastic actor. The movie is iconic because — it's a huge deal. I mean, none of us really know why; it's just a really good movie and everyone's seen it," Irene Croft said.

"In a nutshell, they make rhyming funny," added Kevorkian.

"Anybody want a peanut?" chimed in Alicia Croft, quoting an iconic line in the movie.

"No more rhyming, and I mean it," the three said, and burst into laughter.

"As You Wish" gives readers a first-person account of the making of the 1987 postmodern fairy tale, "The Princess Bride." Before the book signing began, Elwes answered questions about his experience making the iconic film. Many, if not all, of his answers produced comedic responses and full-bodied laughter from attendees.