Pretty Woman - The movie and some of its incredible facts
Pretty Woman, which hit the screens in 1990, was considered to be the best in the genre of romantic comedy. It will be a most loved movie for years to come. The story revolves around the wealthy, Edward( Richard Gere) and Vivian( Julia Roberts), a prostitute. Both actors woo us with their performances.We are thoroughly moved as Vivian breaks down the icy demeanor of the cold hearted Edward and both fall in love with each other. The film propelled Julia Roberts to Hollywood stardom. Wouldn't you like to know the juicy and absolutely interesting behind-the-scenes facts about the film. The next few pages reveals just that. So read on.
The original script of the film was quite dark as it was about drugs and prostitution. The protagonist, Vivian was an addict. However, the final version of the film turned out to be one of our most liked romantic comedy.
In the original script of the film, Edward would pay Vivian $3,000 to stay away from drugs and spend the week with him. Vivian could not keep her promise and a frustrated Edward drops her on the road. Her best friend, Kit gets killed by a drug overdose.This is pretty depressing. The final version of the film is much more attractive and joyous.
Pretty woman was originally to be called "3000" in accordance with the price Edward was to pay to Vivian.Then it would have been a different movie with a different title and not the romantic comedy we all love to watch.
The original title of the film "3000", as per the price Vivian charged Edward to spend the week with him, was thought to be create confusion in the minds of the audience. Hence it was dropped."Pretty Woman" is a much more apt title.
Molly Ringwald was first offered the role of Vivian before Julia Roberts was chosen for the film. After the success of films like Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink, the actress would have been another big name in the cast of the film.
Ringwald had turned down the offer after reading an early version of the script. She stated that she does not regret her decision. " Julia Roberts is what makes that movie. It was her part. Every actor hopes for a part that lets them shine like that," the actress said.
Diane Lane came close to playing Vivian and she even went through costume fittings for the film. She ultimately had to refuse as she could not find the necessary dates in her busy schedule.
Daryl Hannah and Michelle Pfeiffer are two of the actresses who turned down the role of Vivian. Daryl found the earlier version of the film as degrading to women. Michelle did not like the tone of the script.
It is surprising that Pretty Woman is not very suitable for family viewing as it is a Disney movie. The screenplay was purchased by Disney and they produced the movie.
The fact that it was not a family movie even though it was produced by Disney might have escaped the viewers notice as it was produced by their film production banner, Touchstone Pictures. Touchstone Pictures is not a separate company but simply a different name for their more mature brand of movies. Aren't you surprised at this?
The happiness that Julia Roberts felt for being cast in the film lasted for only a weekend. It was sad as she was very excited about the film being a not very known actress at the time.
Julia Roberts almost lost her role in Pretty Woman as the rights of the movie were sold to Disney and they in turn signed up a new director, Gary Marshall. But the new director decided to keep her and the result is there for eveyone to see.
The casting director of Pretty Woman took quite sometime to select an actor to play the role of Edward Lewis. Someone who would fit the role and would accept the role. But now it seems that Richard Gere was the perfect choice.
Richard Gere was almost on the verge of saying no to playing the role of Edward because he felt that it was boring and anyone in a suit could play the role. But he finally agreed to play it. Do you want to know why? Just read on.
Richard was of the opinion that the role of Edward did not provide much scope for showcasing his acting skills. The role did not excite him. He even jokingly remarked in an interview that if you put a suit on a goat, it would look the same. He needed a lot of convincing to play the role.
Richard Gere agreed to do the role of Edward after he developed a chemistry with Julia Roberts who had flown to New York City just to meet him. While he was engaged over the phone with the director of the movie, Roberts slid him a post-lit note with the words "please say yes," and her did.
The scene where Julia Roberts blows her nose in the room while the hotel concierge was on the phone was put in the film impromptu while shooting the film. Though she thought at first that it would be funny, she later regretted it.
Roberts hated the scene because she felt that blowing her nose on screen was a gross act. But that's perhaps why she is so loved as she can have those rough edges and at the same time be so sweet.
The most classic scene in the movie was the one where Edward Lewis presents a diamond necklace to Vivian Ward. The unscripted part was when he jokingly closes the box on Vivian.
Director,Garry Marshall found Julia Roberts' reaction to the unscripted prank so natural that he decided to leave it in the movie. So he left uncut one of the most memorable scenes in the movie.
The scene where Vivian is trying to eat escargot and it slips out of her hands is one of the funniest in the movie. The waiter catches it and tells her that "it happens all the time." This scene was duplicated many years later in the 2001 movie, The Princess Diaries.
Garry Marshall directed both Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries. He cast the same actor as the waiter. In The Princess Diaries, the waiter says " it happens all the time" to the character Mia Thermopolis who breaks a champagne flute after hitting it too hard with a butter knife.Vivian and Mia then proceed to eat a green dessert after their mishaps.
Do you want to know the secret behind the effective laughter of Julia Roberts as she is lying on the floor of Edward's hotel room and watching reruns of I Love Lucy? Read on
Julia Roberts' genuine laughter was induced by the tickling of the actresses' feet by the crew members just out of view of the cameras. Well, we now know the secret behind the alluring laugh of Roberts. She was definitely not laughing at the reruns.
The dress, boots and red jacket that Julia Roberts wore as Vivian became very recognizable. Was it some designer jacket that the wardrobe department picked out for the character? That was not the case. Then what? Find out in the next section.
While shooting on the street, they did not have a jacket which the script demanded. They offered a girl money to buy a red jacket the girl was wearing. Though the girl initially asked for tickets to Disneyland but she settled for $30. This is the jacket they used in the film.
Roberts drove the fancy car down Hollywood Boulevard in the film and found it very funny. She said, "I don't know, driving around in the car in Hollywood was pretty hilarious." She said that it was her favorite scene of the film.
Julia Roberts admitted that she did not know to drive very well at that young age. Director, Gary Marshall had to agree with her for he found that Roberts drove the car so fast that the cameramen found it hard to keep up with her.
Richard Gere's favorite scenes in the movie were the ones in which Julia Roberts would walk.Do you know why?
Richard Gere found it pretty funny to watch Julia Roberts move about in her thigh high boots and hooker outfit. According to Gere, "that was fun for everybody. Vivian was all about the legs."
The studio wanted Julia Roberts to wear a black dress. This led to a big argument between the costume designer and the producers. But finally red was the chosen color and we got the beautiful red dress.
Costume designer, Marilyn Vance-Straker won the argument as to the color of the dress and created the iconic red dress with the white gloves. Of course, the color was chosen after much screen testing of different colored dresses was done.
The diamond necklace that Edward lends to Vivian was a real one worth $250,000 . It was loaned from a jewelry store . The store sent a security guard as it was of high value.
The security guard sent from the store never let the necklace out of his sight. The movie became so successful that they could have afforded to buy a few such necklaces with the money they made.
The film was to be named "3000". It was from a famous song that they arrived at the title "Pretty Woman" for the use of which the producers had to get the rights.
The producers decided to change the title of the movie once they got the rights to use Roy Orbison's classic song "Pretty Woman" in the movie. We couldn't imagine a better title for the romantic comedy than Pretty Woman.
Julia Roberts sings Prince's song "Kiss" while in the bathtub and then discusses the amount of money Richard Gere would pay her. She is so very excited on hearing the amount to be paid to her that she goes under water in her excitement.
Julia Roberts found it hilarious that Richard Gere and the crew members just disappeared while shooting the bathtub scene. When she goes under water in a moment of elation over the amount of money Richard Gere would pay her, they disappear.
The bathtub was filled with detergent to create all the bubbles. The detergent was so strong that on filming the scene Julia Roberts' hair color started to fade as she had to go under water many times.
Julia Roberts had to again dye her hair red that very night after filming the bathtub scene as the color had faded so much. This is enough reason as to why people use bubble bath instead of harsh laundry detergent.
The producers had little option but to use a Lotus which Edward drove in the film. Other car manufacturers were not interested in associating their brands with a film about sex workers.
Car manufacturers, Porsche and Ferrari did not want their cars to be seen in the movie. Finally, British car manufacturer, Lotus offered a silver 1989 Espirit SE to be used in the movie. Lotus makes spots cars and racing cars. The company did make the right choice in having their car featured in the hit movie.
The Director of Pretty Woman , Gary Marshall plays a homeless man in the film rummaging through a trash can outside someone's house.A lot of people did not catch it.
In the scene where Gary Marshall makes a cameo appearance, Edward stops to ask him for directions while trying to find his way back to the hotel. Marshall went on to make another movie, Runaway Bride, with both Julia Roberts and Richard Gere,.
Vivian, while nibbling a croissant, asks Edward as to what he does for a living. Edward informs her that he buys financially defunct companies and then sells them. So, what is the flaw in this scene? Find out in our next section.
Vivian and Edward talk about their school education and how they fared in school. When they talked about Edward's profession in the beginning, Vivian is eating a croissant whereas in the end of the same scene she is eating a pancake. Therein lies the flaw in this particular scene.
As Pretty Woman became a smash hit in the 1990s, It saw a revival of the genre of romantic comedies in that decade with films like When Harry met Sally being made. It is a wonder that Pretty Woman was never intended to be a romantic comedy in the first place.
In the wake of the resurgence of romantic comedies all throughout the 1990s, Julia Roberts came to be known as the queen of Rom Coms( romantic comedies) as she starred in a number of such films like Notting Hill and Runaway Bride.
Julia Roberts prepared for her role of Vivian by spending time at a Los Angeles free clinic so as to study the people resembling her character in the movie.Director Gary Marshall's wife was a nurse at the clinic.
Roberts felt that she was adequately prepared for the role of Vivian after spending sometime at the Los Angeles free clinic. It is debatable as to how well she could portray a sex worker in the film but it certainly captivated audiences worldwide.
Julia Roberts was very nervous while filming love scenes in the film with Richard Gere. In the first love scene that she enacted, a vein popped out on her forehead as a result of her nervousness.
The vein that popped out on Julia Roberts' forehead had to be massaged until the vein subsided. She continued to be so nervous that she broke out in hives which further delayed the first love scene she acted in. We can well imagine how nerve racking it must be to enact such scenes in front of many people.
Julia Roberts' body was not used in the poster of Pretty Woman but her body double, Shelley Michelle's body was used there. Nice little secret.
In the poster Richard Gere's hair is black where as in the movie his hair is grey. Again, Roberts' head was superimposed on Michelle's body. Please read on for more such incredible facts.
Richard Gere had himself composed and played the song on the piano while filming the piano scene. Playing the piano is one of Richard Gere's hidden talent.
Richard Gere has an impressive repertoire of talents. He used to play the trumpet in high school. He was also good in gymnastics and received a gymnastic scholarship to attend the University of Massachusetts.
Dental work was needed when Edward fought with his Lawyer, Philip Stuckey and while filming the scene Richard Gere knocked a crown on his tooth loose. It was one heck of a "fake fight."
May be it was the slap that Philip gave Vivian that triggered Richard Gere to have such an intense fight with Philip. After all it was too pretty a face to give even a fake slap. Fortunately, Julia Roberts' smile is insured. The next sections contain more of these fascinating facts about the movie.
Pretty Woman became the highest grossing , R-rated Disney movie ever produced. It made a lot of people rich, including Julia Roberts. It was a smash hit at the box office.
Approximately 42.1 million tickets were sold for Pretty Woman making it the highest for any romantic comedy in the United States. It received good reviews and was liked by people of all ages.
La Traviata is the opera that Vivian and Edward attended. It is an Italian opera and is about a man who falls in love with a young courtesan. It's theme resembled that of the film but it's ending was much darker.
In La Traviata, Violetta, the young courtesan, dies at the end of the opera from tuberculosis, leaving her lover in much pain and anguish. But Pretty Woman had a happy fairy tale like ending.
The Ambassador Hotel was where much of the film was shot and not at the Beverly Wilshire hotel. The Ambassador Hotel is located in Los Angeles. it was torn down in 2005. The film had a very large budget which allowed filming in multiple locations.
The film was mostly shot in Los Angeles and the fancy restaurant where Edward and Vivian dined is now called Cicada. Fans of the film can visit the restaurant in their free time.
Julia Roberts and Richard Gere had amazing chemistry off screen and this very well reflected in their on screen performance. The chemistry Gere had with Roberts was also one of the reasons why he had accepted the role in the first place.
Gere was smitten with Roberts the very first time he met her in New York. Both had an amazing chemistry going from the very beginning and this proved to be a big reason for the film becoming a hit. It was also one of the reasons that both of them had agreed to do the film.
Hank Azaria got his first speaking role in the film. He plays the role of a detective who arrives on the scene of a woman found dead. And this role proved to be a milestone for him.
Hank Azaria went on to have a very successful career with voice acting in the animated show, The Simpsons. Azaria voices the parts of Moe, Wiggum and Apu, in addition to dozens of integral characters in the show.
Julia Roberts had a slight Southern accent which concerned the director of Pretty Woman a little bit. It is evident when she says, "Well,color me happy," in the elevator scene.
Due to the issue with Julia Roberts' Southern accent, the script was modified and it was shown that Vivian had moved from her home state of Georgia to Los Angeles.Julia Roberts was born and brought up in Smyrna, Georgia, just outside of Alabama. She attended Georgia State University before dropping out to pursue her acting career.
The scene of the opera was shot in Los Angeles. Edward and Vivian go to see the opera La Traviata.The original location where the scene was to be shot was a different one.Why was it changed? Find out in the next section.
The opera scene was changed from San Francisco to the University of Southern California's history museum as an earthquake of 6.9 magnitude rocked the city leaving 67 people dead and caused damages worth $5 billion.
It is possible that Richard Gere accepted the role of Edward Lewis because he regretted that he had declined a huge role three years ago. But he needed a lot of convincing to accept the role.
Richard Gere was offered the role of Gordon Gekko, a corporate raider in the film 'Wall Street." It was in the year 1986 and Gere refused to accept the role. The role was played by Michael Douglas who won the academy award for best actor for it. Gere, this time did not want to lose the opportunity for getting any award.
Jason Alexander was a relatively unknown actor when he took the role of Philip Stuckey in Pretty Woman. He gained prominence for playing the role of George Costanza in the iconic sitcom "Seinfeld."
In the year 1989 when Alexander was shooting for Pretty Woman, he won a Tony Award. He had a successful career on the Broadway stage. Pretty Woman hit the theaters in March,1990, just as the first season of Seinfeld was captivating TV audiences.
The title song of Pretty Woman was taken from the 1965 Roy Orbison song "Oh, Pretty Woman" and became a huge commercial hit like the film .
The title song became platinum multiple number of times in Canada and The UK, platinum once in Switzerland and was certified gold in Sweden. It sold 3.6 million copies in those countries. This number would be higher if we consider the total global sales.
Vivian Ward talks about pretending to be a princess and being rescued by a knight on a white horse from a tower where she was trapped by a wicked queen. The knight would come charging up with his sword and as she waved, he would climb up the tower and rescue her. Vivian would often during her childhood pretend to be the princess.
The childhood pretence of Vivian seems to be alluding to the movie's fantastic ending but when this scene was shot, the ending of the movie was not even written. But everything seemed to come together in the end.
The Beverly Wilshire hotel began offering a Pretty Woman Hotel Experience in 2015. It was a two night package minus the more unsavory aspects of the movie.The fans were obviously not satisfied with just watching the movie and so the package was made by the hotel.
For a price of $100,000, the package included two nights in the Presidential Suite, shopping on Rodeo Drive with a personal stylish, couples massage, a private dinner with a special menu, and a trip to the opera.
Please share these Pretty Woman facts with people you know and who are ardent fans of the movie.
Sources: Cosmopolitan, Diply