Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman is a 1990 American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall, from a screenplay by J. F. Lawton. The film stars Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, and features Héctor Elizondo, Ralph Bellamy (in his final performance), Laura San Giacomo, and Jason Alexander in supporting roles.[1] The film's story centers on down-on-her-luck Hollywood prostitute Vivian Ward, who is hired by Edward Lewis, a wealthy businessman, to be his escort for several business and social functions, and their developing relationship over the course of her week-long stay with him. The film’s title Pretty Woman is based on "Oh, Pretty Woman", written and sung by Roy Orbison. It is the first film on-screen collaboration between Gere and Roberts; their second film, Runaway Bride, was released in 1999.

This article is about the film. For the song sometimes known as "Pretty Woman", see Oh, Pretty Woman. For the song in the musical Sweeney Todd, see Pretty Women. For the Broadway musical, see Pretty Woman: The Musical.

Pretty Woman
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGarry Marshall
Produced byArnon Milchan
Steven Reuther
Gary W. Goldstein
Written byJ. F. Lawton
Starring
Music byJames Newton Howard
CinematographyCharles Minsky
Edited byRaja Gosnell
Priscilla Nedd
Production
company
Distributed byBuena Vista Pictures
Release date
  • March 23, 1990 (1990-03-23) (United States)
Running time
119 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$14 million
Box office$463.4 million

Originally intended to be a dark cautionary tale about class and prostitution in Los Angeles, the film was re-conceived as a romantic comedy with a large budget. It was widely successful at the box office and was the third-highest-grossing film of 1990. The film saw the highest number of ticket sales in the US ever for a romantic comedy,[2] with Box Office Mojo listing it as the number-one romantic comedy by the highest estimated domestic tickets sold at 42,176,400, slightly ahead of My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) at 41,419,500 tickets.[3] The film received mixed reviews, though Roberts received a Golden Globe Award and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance. In addition, screenwriter J. F. Lawton was nominated for a Writers Guild Award and a BAFTA Award.

Plot

Edward Lewis, a high-powered corporate raider from New York, buys and dismantles struggling companies, selling off the assets for profit. He wants his girlfriend to accompany him during a business trip, but fed up with being his "beck and call girl," she ends their relationship. Leaving a business party in the Hollywood Hills, Edward takes his lawyer's Lotus Esprit sports car and accidentally ends up on Hollywood Boulevard in the city's red-light district. There he encounters prostitute Vivian Ward. As he is having difficulties driving a manual transmission car, he pays Vivian to drive him to the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Edward then hires her for the night. The next day, he asks Vivian to play his girlfriend, offering $3000 for six days and a new wardrobe. Prior to an important business dinner, Barney, the hotel's helpful concierge, tutors Vivian in proper etiquette and arranges for her to buy a cocktail dress after several snooty shop clerks had refused to wait on her. Edward is impressed by Vivian's transformation and opens up to her, revealing details about his personal and business lives.

At a polo match, Edward's attorney, Phillip, suspects Vivian is a corporate spy until Edward reveals how they met. Phillip later propositions Vivian for her services after Edward is finished with her. Vivian is hurt and furious at Edward for exposing her. Edward apologizes and realizes Vivian's straightforward personality is rubbing off on him. Edward takes Vivian by private jet to see La Traviata at the San Francisco Opera. The story of the prostitute who falls in love with a rich man moves Vivian. She breaks her "no kissing" rule while having sex with Edward. After, mistakenly believing Edward is asleep, Vivian admits she loves him. Edward later offers to help get her off the streets, but she declines, saying that is not her childhood "fairy tale" ending of being rescued by a Knight on a white steed.

Edward meets with a shipbuilding tycoon, but rather than dismantling the company, he instead proposes they work together to save it. Phillip, furious that Edward's new direction means making less money, goes to the hotel to confront him but finds only Vivian. Blaming her for Edward's changing character, he attempts to rape her. Edward arrives and punches Phillip, then fires him.

With his business in L.A. complete, Edward asks Vivian to stay with him one more night, but only because she wants to, not because he will pay. She refuses and leaves. Edward re-thinks his life, and while being driven to the airport, he has the chauffeur detour to Vivian's apartment building. He climbs out through the white limousine's sun roof and ascends the fire escape to where Vivian is waiting.

Cast
  • Richard Gere as Edward Lewis, a rich corporate raider and playboy from New York.
  • Julia Roberts as Vivian Ward, a free spirited Hollywood prostitute who Edward hires to be his escort for a week.
  • Ralph Bellamy as James Morse, owner of a troubled shipbuilding company Edward plans to take over.
  • Jason Alexander as Phillip Stuckey, Edward's insensitive lawyer.
  • Héctor Elizondo as Barney Thompson, the dignified but soft-hearted hotel manager.
  • Laura San Giacomo as Kit De Luca, Vivian's sarcastic wisecracking Greek American best friend and roommate, who has taught her the prostitution trade.
  • Julie Paris as Rachel, friend of Vivian and Kit.
  • Alex Hyde-White as David Morse, James Morse's grandson, who is being groomed to take over the company.
  • Amy Yasbeck as Elizabeth Stuckey, Phillip's wife.
  • Elinor Donahue as Bridget, a friend of Barney Thompson who works in a women's clothes store.
  • John David Carson as Mark Roth, a businessman in Edward's office.
  • Judith Baldwin as Susan, one of Edward's ex-girlfriends whom he runs into at Phil's party at the beginning of the film. She has recently married and Edward's secretary was a bridesmaid.
  • Laurelle Brooks Mehus as the hotel's night desk clerk.
  • James Patrick Stuart as the day bellhop.
  • Dey Young as a snobbish saleswoman in a clothing store.
  • Larry Miller as Mr. Hollister, the manager of a clothing store where Vivian buys her new wardrobe.
  • Patrick Richwood as Dennis, the hotel elevator operator.
  • Hank Azaria as a detective
  • Amzie Strickland as Matron
  • Lynda Goodfriend as a tourist
  • Abdul Salaam El Razzac as a happy man

Cast notes:

  • Pretty Woman was Hank Azaria's first film speaking role. He later co-starred with Julia Roberts again in 2001's America's Sweethearts.
  • Gere, Roberts and Elizondo would later co-star again in 1999's Runaway Bride.

Production

Development

The film was initially conceived as a dark drama about prostitution in Los Angeles in the 1980s.[4] The relationship between Vivian and Edward also originally involved controversial themes, including Vivian being addicted to drugs; part of the deal was that she had to stay off cocaine for a week. Edward eventually throws her out of his car and drives off. The original script by J.F. Lawton, called 3000,[5] ended with Vivian and her prostitute friend on the bus to Disneyland.[4] Producer Laura Ziskin considered these elements detrimental to a sympathetic portrayal of Vivian, and they were removed or assigned to Kit. The deleted scenes have been found, and some were included on the DVD released for the film's 15th anniversary.[4] In one, Vivian tells Edward, "I could just pop ya good and be on my way", indicating her lack of interest in "pillow talk". In another, she is confronted by a drug dealer, Carlos, then rescued by Edward when the limo driver Darryl gets his gun out.

Though inspired by such films as Wall Street and The Last Detail,[5] the film bears a resemblance to Pygmalion myths: particularly George Bernard Shaw's play of the same name, which also formed the basis for the Broadway musical My Fair Lady. It was Walt Disney Studios then-president Jeffrey Katzenberg who insisted the film be re-written as a modern-day fairy tale and love story, as opposed to the original dark drama. It was pitched to Touchstone Pictures and re-written as a romantic comedy.[6] The title 3000 was changed because Disney executives thought it sounded like a title for a science fiction film.[7]

The film is one of two movies that triggered a resurgence of romantic comedy in Hollywood, the other being When Harry Met Sally.... Following this film's success, Roberts became the romantic comedy queen of the 1990s.

Casting

Casting of the film was a rather lengthy process. Marshall had initially considered Christopher Reeve, Daniel Day-Lewis, Kevin Kline, and Denzel Washington for the role of Edward, and Al Pacino and Burt Reynolds turned it down.[8] Pacino went as far as doing a casting reading with Roberts before rejecting the part.[9] Gere initially refused but when he met with Roberts, she persuaded him and he eventually agreed to play Lewis.[10] He reportedly started off much more active in his role; but Garry Marshall took him aside and said "No, no, no, Richard. In this movie, one of you moves and one of you does not. Guess which one you are?"[11] Julia Roberts was not the first choice for the role of Vivian, and was not wanted by Disney. Many other actresses were considered. Marshall originally envisioned Karen Allen for the role; when she declined, auditions went to many better-known actresses of the time including Molly Ringwald,[12] who turned it down because she felt uncomfortable playing a prostitute. Winona Ryder auditioned, but was turned down because Marshall felt she was "too young". Jennifer Connelly was also dismissed for the same reason.[4] Emily Lloyd turned it down as it conflicted with her shooting for the film Mermaids.[13]

Meg Ryan, who was a top choice of Marshall's, turned it down as well. According to a note written by Marshall, Mary Steenburgen was also among the first choices. Diane Lane came very close to being cast (the script was much darker at the time); they had gone as far as costume fittings, but due to scheduling conflicts she could not accept. Michelle Pfeiffer turned the role down, saying she did not like the script's "tone."[14] Daryl Hannah was also considered, but believed the role was "degrading to women".[14] Valeria Golino declined, doubting it would work with her thick Italian accent. And Jennifer Jason Leigh had auditioned.[15] When all the other actresses turned down the role, 21-year-old Julia Roberts, a relative unknown, with only the sleeper hit Mystic Pizza (1988) and the yet-to-be-released Steel Magnolias (1989), for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, to her credit, won the role of Vivian. Her performance made her a star. J.F. Lawton, writer of the original screenplay, has suggested that the film was ultimately given a happy ending because of the chemistry of Gere and Roberts.[5]

Veteran actor Ralph Bellamy, who plays James Morse, appears in his final acting performance before his death in 1991. Jason Alexander, who had also recently been cast for his role as the bumbling George Costanza in Seinfeld, was cast as Philip Stucky. A VHS copy of Pretty Woman would appear in Seinfeld's apartment in later seasons of Seinfeld as a homage to Alexander's participation in the film.

Filming

The film's budget was substantial, at $14 million, so producers could shoot in many locations.[4] Most filming took place in Los Angeles, California, specifically in Beverly Hills, and inside soundstages at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. The escargot restaurant the "Voltaire" was shot at the restaurant "Rex," now called "Cicada". Scenes set in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel lobby were shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Filming commenced on July 24, 1989, but was immediately plagued by problems. These included Ferrari and Porsche declining the product placement opportunity for the car Edward drove, neither firm wishing to be associated with prostitutes.[4] Lotus Cars saw the placement value, and supplied a Silver 1989.5 Esprit SE (which was later sold).[16]

Shooting was a generally pleasant, easy-going experience, as the budget was broad and the shooting schedule was not tight.[4] The scene in which Gere playfully snaps the lid of a jewelry case on her fingers was reportedly improvised, and her surprised laugh was genuine.

During the scene in which Roberts sang to a Prince song in the bathtub, slid down and submerged her head under the bubbles; she emerged to find the crew had left except for the cameraman, who captured the moment on film. In the love scene, she was so stressed that a vein became noticeable on her forehead and had to be massaged by Marshall and Gere. She also developed a case of hives, and calamine lotion was used to soothe her skin until filming resumed.[4] The filming was completed on November 30.[17]

Reception

Box office

In its opening weekend, the film was at number one at the box office, grossing $11,280,591 and averaging $8,513 per theater.[18] Despite dropping to number two in its second weekend, it grossed more with $12,471,670.[18] It was number one at the box office for four non-consecutive weeks, and in the Top 10 for 16 weeks.[18] It has grossed $178,406,268 in the United States and $285,000,000 in other countries for a total worldwide gross of $463,406,268.[3] It was also the fourth highest-grossing film of the year in the United States[19] and the third highest-grossing worldwide.[20] The film remains Disney's highest-grossing R-rated release ever.[21]

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 62% based on 66 reviews, with an average rating of 5.8/10. The website's critical consensus states, "Pretty Woman may be a yuppie fantasy, but the film's slick comedy, soundtrack, and casting can overcome misgivings."[22] On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating to reviews, the film has a weighted average score of 51 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews."[23] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.[24]

Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a D, saying it "starts out as a neo-Pygmalion comedy" and with "its tough-hooker heroine, it can work as a feminist version of an upscale princess fantasy." Gleiberman also said it "pretends to be about how love transcends money," but "is really obsessed with status symbols."[25] On its twentieth anniversary, Gleiberman wrote another article, saying that while he felt he was right, he would have given it a B today.[26] Carina Chocano of The New York Times said the movie "wasn't a love story, it was a money story. Its logic depended on a disconnect between character and narrative, between image and meaning, between money and value, and that made it not cluelessly traditional but thoroughly postmodern."[27]

Accolades
Awards
Nominations

It ranks on #21 in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions.

Music

The film is noted for its musical selections. The hugely successful soundtrack features the song "Oh, Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison, which inspired its title. Roxette's "It Must Have Been Love" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1990. The soundtrack also features "King of Wishful Thinking" by Go West, "Show Me Your Soul" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, "No Explanation" by Peter Cetera, "Wild Women Do" by Natalie Cole and "Fallen" by Lauren Wood. The soundtrack went on to be certified triple platinum by the RIAA.[28]

The opera featured in the film is La Traviata, which also served as inspiration for its plot. The highly dramatic aria fragment that is repeated is the end of "Dammi tu forza!" ("Give me strength!"), from the opera. Roberts sings the song "Kiss" by Prince while she is in the tub and Gere's character is on the phone. Background music is composed by James Newton Howard. The piano piece Gere's character plays in the hotel lobby was actually composed and performed by him. Entitled "He Sleeps/Love Theme", this piano composition is inspired by Bruce Springsteen's "Racing in the Street".

Soundtrack
Pretty Woman
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
ReleasedMarch 13, 1990
Recorded1964, 1988–1989
GenrePop
Rock
Length43:36
LabelEMI
ProducerVarious artists
Singles from Pretty Woman
  1. "Show Me Your Soul"
    Released: February 14, 1990
  2. "King of Wishful Thinking"
    Released: 1990
  3. "It Must Have Been Love"
    Released: 20 May 1990
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic link

The soundtrack was released on March 13, 1990 by EMI.[29][30]

No.TitleLength
1."Wild Women Do" (performed by Natalie Cole)4:06
2."Fame '90" (performed by David Bowie)3:36
3."King of Wishful Thinking" (performed by Go West)4:00
4."Tangled" (performed by Jane Wiedlin)4:18
5."It Must Have Been Love" (performed by Roxette)4:17
6."Life in Detail" (performed by Robert Palmer)4:07
7."No Explanation" (performed by Peter Cetera)4:19
8."Real Wild Child (Wild One)" (performed by Christopher Otcasek)3:39
9."Fallen" (performed by Lauren Wood)3:59
10."Oh, Pretty Woman" (written and performed by Roy Orbison)2:55
11."Show Me Your Soul" (performed by Red Hot Chili Peppers)4:20
Total length:43:36

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[31] 2× Platinum 100,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[32] 5× Platinum 500,000^
Germany (BVMI)[33] Platinum 500,000^
Ireland (IRMA)[34]
Special Edition 		Gold 7,500^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[35] Gold 7,500^
Sweden (GLF)[36] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[37] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] 2× Platinum 600,000^
United States (RIAA)[39] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Musical adaptation
Main article: Pretty Woman: The Musical

A stage musical adaptation of the film opened on Broadway on July 20, 2018 in previews, officially on August 16 at the Nederlander Theatre.[40] This follows an out-of-town tryout at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago, which will run from March 13 to April 15, 2018. The musical has music and lyrics by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance; the late Garry Marshall and J.F. Lawton wrote the book; and Jerry Mitchell is the director and choreographer.[41] The Chicago and Broadway casts featured Samantha Barks, in her Broadway debut as Vivian and Steve Kazee as Edward. Barks finished her run as Vivian on 21 July 2019 and was replaced by Jillian Mueller the following evening, with Brennin Hunt, of ‘Rent’ fame, assuming the role of Edward.[41] Orfeh portrayed Kit, and Jason Danieley played Philip Stuckey. Eric Anderson portrayed the role of Mr. Thompson and Kingsley Leggs played the role of James Morse.[40]

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References
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  2. Prince, Rosa (March 21, 2012). "Richard Gere: Pretty Woman a 'Silly Romantic Comedy'". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  3. "Pretty Woman (1990)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
  4. Pretty Woman: 15th anniversary (DVD). Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Touchstone. 2005.
  5. Kate Erbland (March 23, 2015). "The True Story of Pretty Woman's Original Dark Ending". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on January 28, 2018.
  6. Hilary Lewis (August 26, 2016). "8 Movies With Major Title Changes". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 31, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  7. Stewart, James B. (2005). DisneyWar. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 110. ISBN 978-0-7432-6709-0.
  8. "'Pretty Woman' Casting Information and Trivia". IMDb. Archived from the original on February 26, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
  9. Pacino, Al (June 15, 2007). ""Al Pacino Interview"". Larry King Live (Interview). Interviewed by Larry King. CNN. Archived from the original on June 21, 2007. Retrieved June 16, 2007.
  10. TODAY (March 24, 2015). "'Pretty Woman' Cast Reunites 25 Years Later – TODAY". Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017 – via YouTube.
  11. Tiffin, George (2015). A Star is Born: The Moment an Actress becomes an Icon. Head of Zeus. p. 493. ISBN 978-1-78185-936-0.
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  13. Arnold, Ben (July 27, 2016). "Emily Lloyd: The Unluckiest Actress In Hollywood History?". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  14. "Darly Hannah Pleased to Decline Pretty Woman". Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved August 20, 2007.
  15. Kachka, Boris (December 4, 2005). "Lone Star: Jennifer Jason Leigh Plays an Extroverted Striver in Abigail's Party, Now, that's a stretch". New York Magazine: 2. Archived from the original on June 6, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2007.
  16. "LOTUS ESPRIT SE PRETTY WOMAN MOVIE CAR". Archived from the original on March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  17. https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/55709
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  19. "1990 Yearly Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on December 6, 2006. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
  20. "1990 Yearly Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on April 26, 2009. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
  21. "DOMESTIC GROSSES BY MPAA RATING". Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  22. "Pretty Woman". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  23. "Pretty Woman Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 16, 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
  24. "Find CinemaScore" (Type "Pretty Woman" in the search box). CinemaScore. Archived from the original on January 2, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  25. Gleiberman, Owen (March 23, 1990). "Pretty Woman". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 27, 2009. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
  26. Gleiberman, Owen. "'Pretty Woman': 20 Years after My Most Infamous Review (Yes, I gave it a D), Here's My Mea Culpa—and Also My Defense". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 22, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  27. Chocano, Carina (April 11, 2011). "Thelma, Louise and All the Pretty Women". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  28. "Pretty Woman's Soundtrack RIAA Multi Platinum Award". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2009.
  29. "Pretty Woman Original Soundtrack". Amazon.com. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  30. "Pretty Woman Original Soundtrack". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 12, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  31. "Austrian album certifications – Various – Pretty woman" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  32. "Canadian album certifications – Various – Pretty woman". Music Canada.
  33. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Various; 'Pretty woman')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  34. "Irish album certifications – Various – Pretty woman (Soundtrack)". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  35. "New Zealand album certifications – Various – Pretty woman". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  36. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
  37. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Various; 'Pretty woman')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  38. "British album certifications – Various – Pretty woman". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Pretty woman in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  39. "American album certifications – Various – Pretty woman". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
  40. Clement, Olivia. " 'Pretty Woman' Musical Finds Its Broadway Home, Sets Summer 2018 Opening" Archived November 24, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Playbill, November 22, 2017
  41. McPhee, Ryan. "Jason Danieley Joins Broadway-Bound 'Pretty Woman' Musical" Archived October 7, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Playbill, October 6, 2017
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