âPretty Womanâ is one of those classic films I can rewatch endlessly â it never loses its charm.
Still, despite how many times Iâve seen it, I only recently noticed some of the behind-the-scenes blunders and fascinating trivia that add a whole new layer to the movie.
- Contents
- Disney completely revamped the story
- Al Pacino nearly played Edward
- A croissant turns into a pancake
- The red dress had meaning
- Richard Gereâs ever-changing tie
- That âobsceneâ shopping spree
- Yes, that necklace was real
- The jewelry box prank
- Edwardâs disappearing shoes
- Money in the boot â and then, not
- Four colorful condoms⌠with a twist
- Gere wasnât thrilled with Edward
- More than just acting partners
- Roberts begged Gere to take the role
Contents
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Disney completely revamped the story
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Al Pacino nearly played Edward
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A croissant turns into a pancake
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The real story behind the red dress
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Richard Gereâs magical tie
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The âobsceneâ shopping spree
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That ruby necklace? Totally real
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The jewelry box prank
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Edwardâs disappearing shoes
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Money that vanishes into boots
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The four dancing condoms
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Gereâs mixed feelings about his role
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Sparks flying off-screen
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Roberts persuaded Gere to join the film
Disney completely revamped the story
Pretty Woman became a beloved romantic comedy that skyrocketed both Julia Roberts and Richard Gere to fame. But it didnât start that way. The original script, titled 3,000, was written by J.F. Lawton and had a much darker tone, addressing issues such as economic inequality and corporate ruthlessness.
Once Disney stepped in, however, they shifted the tone significantly. The studio softened the harsher themes, amped up the budget, and transformed it into the lighthearted love story audiences know and adore today.
Al Pacino nearly played Edward
Itâs hard to picture anyone but Richard Gere as Edward Lewis, the suave businessman who hires Vivian for a week. But Al Pacino was originally considered for the role. He even did a script reading with Julia Roberts before deciding to pass.
Although he never explained why he turned it down, Pacino later praised Roberts, then a newcomer, saying:
âAt the reading, you just knew â this was going to be a hit. And that girl was phenomenal.â
He asked director Garry Marshall, âWhere did you find her?â Turns out, Pacino was right â Robertsâ performance became iconic.
A croissant turns into a pancake
One funny continuity error occurs during a breakfast scene. Vivian starts off eating a croissant⌠but moments later, itâs mysteriously replaced by a pancake.
Director Garry Marshall admitted he preferred Robertsâ acting in later takes, where she happened to be eating a pancake, so he used those shots, despite the inconsistency. Sharp-eyed viewers will also notice the bite marks change between shots. Not the same pancake!
The red dress had meaning
Vivianâs glamorous red gown from the opera scene isnât just unforgettable â it represents her transformation. Vogue described it as âsexy without losing elegance.â
Award-winning costume designer Marilyn Vance designed that dress, along with six other looks for Roberts and all of Richard Gereâs polished suits. For example, Vivianâs polka-dot dress at the horse races was made from vintage silk found in an L.A. antique shop. Her shoes? Chanel, of course.
Richard Gereâs ever-changing tie
Vance also dressed Gere in a sleek palette of blues, browns, and grays. One particular tie â the one Vivian playfully grabs â cost just $48 and wasnât even a designer item.
But the tie seems to have a life of its own. During the polo match, itâs tied in a half-Windsor. Later, itâs suddenly in a full-Windsor with a different collar style altogether.
That âobsceneâ shopping spree
Edward introduces Vivian to luxury with a legendary Rodeo Drive shopping spree. According to costume designer Vance, that spree wouldâve cost over $30,000. Thatâs one expensive day of retail therapy â no wonder Vivian looked stunned!
Yes, that necklace was real
The jaw-dropping necklace Vivian wears with the red dress? It was a real piece of jewelry, featuring diamonds and rubies, and valued at $250,000. A security guard even stood watch behind the director during filming to protect it.
The jewelry box prank
One of the filmâs most beloved moments â when Edward snaps the box shut on Vivianâs fingers â wasnât in the script. It was originally a joke for the blooper reel.
Director Garry Marshall said Roberts often showed up tired after late nights out, so he asked Gere to surprise her by snapping the lid. Her laugh was so genuine, they left it in. It became one of the most memorable moments in the movie.
Edwardâs disappearing shoes
Another blink-and-you ll-miss-it blooper: After the opera, Vivian removes Edwardâs shoes in the park â but as he lies down, the shoes mysteriously reappear on his feet.
Money in the boot â and then, not
Early in the film, Edward gives Vivian $100, which she hides in her boot. But later, after taking her boots off for room service, the cash has vanished. Did it disappear? Or did her boots have secret compartments?
Four colorful condoms⌠with a twist
In one scene, Vivian lays out four brightly colored condoms. But between shots, their order completely changes. In the next shot, theyâre back in their original places â as if theyâre dancing when no oneâs looking.
Gere wasnât thrilled with Edward
Though the film boosted his career, Richard Gere wasnât a fan of his character. He once called Edward âcriminally underwrittenâ and little more than âa suit and a haircut.â
He particularly disliked the piano scene where Vivian watches him play. Gere joked about the supposed lack of chemistry â even though that scene oozes it.
In fact, the scene was created on the spot after Gere told Marshall he often plays piano when jet-lagged in hotels. Marshall said, âLetâs put that in the movie.â And just like that, a moody, improvised moment was born.
More than just acting partners
The chemistry between Roberts and Gere was palpable â on and off-screen. In 2017, Gere revealed that they used to talk âthree or four times a dayâ and still keep in touch regularly.
Director Garry Marshall said he saw the spark from the beginning, recalling how the two actors were just gazing at each other during their first meeting. âI thought â thatâs the magic right there,â he said.
Roberts begged Gere to take the role
Though Al Pacino was nearly cast, Julia Roberts played a big role in convincing Richard Gere to join the film.
She told SiriusXM in 2017:
âI basically said, âYou have to do this. If you donât, and the movie falls apart, Iâll lose the job â and that would be awful.ââ
Gere recalled the moment she sealed the deal.
She wrote âPlease say yesâ on a slip of paper and slid it across the table to him. The rest, as they say, is history.
Even fairy tales come with flaws â maybe thatâs what makes Pretty Woman so endlessly rewatchable.
Did we miss your favorite Pretty Woman goof or fun fact? Share it with us and keep the nostalgia going!