On March 23, 1990, the film “Pretty Woman” was released in cinemas. This extraordinary love story between a dreamy prostitute and a wealthy businessman was widely criticized after its premiere, yet the film managed to captivate an entire generation and made Julia Roberts a new Hollywood sensation. Three decades after the film’s release, vogue.ua shares three interesting facts about this iconic movie.
Julia Roberts in the film “Pretty Woman”, 1990
Romantic Plot
Initially, the film was conceived as a drama. According to the first screenplay titled “3000” (the sum Edward offered Vivian to spend a week with him), a young prostitute uses drugs and dies of an overdose, after which Edward cowardly flees, throwing bills in her face and leaving her on the sidewalk where they first met. But when Disney Studios took charge of the project, the story took on a completely different tone and transformed into the romantic comedy we all know, with a chivalrous happy ending.
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Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in the film “Pretty Woman”, 1990
Lengthy Casting Process
Many actors declined roles in the film because director Garry Marshall had not yet created any hit films at that time. Al Pacino did not want to play Edward, and Michelle Pfeiffer, Valeria Golino, Daryl Hannah, and Meg Ryan refused to portray Vivian. Consequently, the young and not yet very famous Julia Roberts secured her role after an extensive audition process.
Julia Roberts in the film “Pretty Woman”, 1990
Beautiful Friendship
The moment Julia Roberts slipped on Vivian Ward’s leather thigh-high 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 the wealthy businessman Edward. The actors bonded so well that they often played pranks on each other. For example, the scene where Edward snaps the red jewelry box shut on Vivian’s fingers was not in the script; Richard Gere playfully invented it, so Roberts’ laughter was genuine and spontaneous. The creative duo of Gere and Roberts delighted audiences once again in the 1999 film “Runaway Bride.”
Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in the film “Pretty Woman”, 1990