When business becomes pleasure...
A 1990 film named for the song by Roy Orbison. Richard Gere plays Edward Lewis, a rich man who hires Vivian Ward, a
Hooker with a Heart of Gold to hang out with him while he stays in LA. They end up falling for each other.
This movie was a blockbuster when it came out. It made
Julia Roberts a
star; she received an
Academy Award nomination for Best Actress as well.
Pretty Woman was initially intended to be a dark drama about prostitution in Los Angeles, but was reconceptualized into a romantic comedy. Today it is one of the most financially successful romantic comedies ever, with an estimated gross of 464 million US$ (adjusted for inflation). The film was followed by a string of similar romantic comedies, including
Runaway Bride, which teamed up Gere and Roberts under the direction of Garry Marshall once again.
This film contains examples of:
- Anywhere But Their Lips: Vivian's one rule is that she never kisses on the mouth because it makes it too personal. She does kiss Richard Gere on the mouth when she starts to fall in love with him.
- At The Opera Tonight: Vivian has an emotional reaction to La Traviata (especially considering the subject).
- Cool Car: The Lotus Esprit.
- Dispense With The Pleasantries: Subverted where it at first seems to be this, but turns out to really be about redirecting the flattery to someone else.
[After Edward informs salesclerk Hollister that he will be spending an obscene amount of money buying clothes for Vivian at Hollister's shop]
Hollister: Mr. Lewis? How's it going so far?
Edward: Pretty well, I think. I think we need some major sucking up.
Hollister: Very well, sir. You're not only handsome, but a powerful man. I could see the second you walked in here, you were someone to reckon with...
Edward: Hollister.
Hollister: Yes, sir?
Edward: Not me. Her.
- Does Not Like Shoes: Vivian, who is often barefoot.
- Executive Meddling: Of the profitable variety.
- Fashion Shop Fashion Show
- Farmer's Daughter
- Grand Romantic Gesture: Edward's reenactment of Vivian's fairytale story.
- Happily Ever After: Oh yeah.
- Hey, It's That Guy!: Edward's lawyer is George Costanza.
- Hooker with a Heart of Gold
- Inter-Class Romance: The plot, really.
- Knight In Shining Armour: The knight rescuing the imaginary Princess Vivian.
- Lighter and Softer: The final film compared to the dramatic spec script.
- Lipstick and Load Montage
- Love Redeems
- The Makeover
- Makeover Montage
- No Fame, No Wealth, No Service: She gets that at a Rodeo Drive store, but she gets to tell them off later.
Vivian: Hey, do you remember me? I was in here yesterday, and you wouldn't let me buy anything. You work on commission, don't you? [holds up shopping bags] Big mistake! Big. Huge!
- Platonic Prostitution: Well, it starts that way.
- Princess Phase: When Vivian was a little girl she would pretend she was a princess... trapped in a tower by a wicked queen. And then suddenly this knight... on a white horse with these colors flying would come charging up and draw his sword. And she would wave. And he would climb up the tower and rescue her.
- Pretty in Mink: The spec script involved Edward renting Vivian a white fur coat to wear during their time together. When she had to give it back, Edward just thought she was upset due to not keeping the coat.
- Rags to Riches
- She Cleans Up Nicely: Vivian getting a makeover.
- Shopping Montage
- Star Making Role: For Julia Roberts.
- Throw It In: The scene where he shuts the jewelry box on her hand was originally just an on-set practical joke. But they thought her reaction was better than just having her gently touch the necklace as intended.
- Unproblematic Prostitution
- What Could Have Been: Was originally designed to be a dark comedy, with Richard Gere's character abandoning Vivian, Viv being a cocaine addict, and she and her roommate leaving for Disneyland at the ending.
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