On March 23, 1990, the film “Pretty Woman” was released on the big screens. This extraordinary love story of a dreamy prostitute and a wealthy businessman was widely criticized after its premiere, but the film managed to charm an entire generation and made Julia Roberts a new Hollywood sensation. Three decades after the film's release, vogue.ua tells three interesting facts about this cult film.
Julia Roberts in the movie “Pretty Woman”, 1990
Romantic plot
The film was originally conceived as a drama. According to the first script, titled “3000” (the amount Edward offered Vivian to spend a week with him), a young prostitute takes drugs and dies of an overdose, after which Edward cowardly runs away, throwing bills in her face and leaving them on the sidewalk where they first met. But when Disney Studios took over the project, the story took on a completely different tone and turned into the romantic comedy we all know, with a chivalrous happy ending.
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Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in the movie “Pretty Woman”, 1990
Long casting
Many actors refused to play the role because the director was Garry Marshall, who had not yet made a hit film. Al Pacino did not want to play Edward, and Michelle Pfeiffer, Valeria Golino, Daryl Hannah and Meg Ryan did not want to play Vivian. So the young and not yet very famous Julia Roberts got her role after a long audition.
Julia Roberts in the movie “Pretty Woman”, 1990
A beautiful friendship
The moment Julia Roberts put on Vivian Ward's leather over-the-knee boots marked not only the birth of a global superstar, but also the beginning of a lifelong friendship with her on-screen partner Richard Gere, who played the role of wealthy businessman Edward. The actors got along so well that they often joked about each other. For example, the scene in which Edward closes the red box of necklaces on Vivian's fingers was not foreseen in the script, it was mischievously invented by Richard Gere, so Roberts' laughter was sincere and spontaneous. The creative duo of Gere and Roberts once again delighted the audience in the 1999 film “Runaway Bride”.
Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in the movie “Pretty Woman”, 1990