The Sicilian criminal mastermind employed by Prince Humperdinck to kidnap Buttercup and kill her, leaving evidence to frame Guilder of the murder so that Humperdinck can declare war. He serves as the film's secondary antagonist. He is the leader of Inigio and Fezzik and he hates it when Fezzik shows off his gift of rhyming:
Vizzini: No more rhymes now! I mean it!
Fezzik: Anybody want a peanut?
Vizzini: DYEAH!!!.
He is short of stature and temper, and often shouts "Inconceivable!" when frustrated. He can be bossy and is rather narcissistic, believing himself far more intelligent than everyone he meets.
Vizzini is outsmarted by Westley in a battle of wits 'to the death' switching goblets when Westley's back is turned, finally takes a drink, to which Westley replies "You guessed wrong". Then after bragging about Westley falling for 'one of the classic blunders', Vizzini topples over dead in mid-laugh.
Quotes:
- "Inconceivable!" (Catchphrase)
- "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’m 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."
- "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. "
- "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."
- "You’ve beaten my giant, which means you’re exceptionally strong. So, you could have 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."
- "You only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! I switched glasses while your back was turned! Ha ha, you fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is 'Nnever 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 to Westley during the Battle of Witts, shortly after drinking the poison.)