History Film / PrettyWoman

* StarMakingRole: For Julia Roberts.
* ThrowItIn: 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.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Edward's lawyer is [[{{Seinfeld}} George Costanza]].
** Vivian's roommate is [[JustShootMe Maya Gallo]].
** Hector Elizondo, a shining example of this trope, is the hotel manager.

* ExecutiveMeddling: Of the profitable variety.

* MayDecemberRomance: Richard Gere is eighteen years older than Julia Roberts.

* RunningGag: Edward own a whole bunch of luxuries that he can't take advantage of because of various aspects of his personality (A Lotus Espirit when he can't buy stick, a balcony seat at the opera when he's afraid of heights). When asked why he owns it, he replies "It's the best."

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: 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.

* AnywhereButTheirLips: Vivian's one rule is that she never kisses on the mouth because it makes it too personal. [[spoiler: She does kiss Edward on the mouth when she starts to fall in love with him.]]

** She has to avoid her landlord and need a new john really quick, because her roommate has taken all the rent money to buy drugs...

-->''[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.

* FashionShopFashionShow
* FarmersDaughter

* HookerWithAHeartOfGold

* LoveRedeems

* MakeoverMontage

-->'''Vivian:''' Do you remember me?
-->'''Salesperson:''' No, I'm sorry.
-->'''Vivian:''' I was in here yesterday. You wouldn't wait on me?
-->'''Salesperson:''' ...Oh.
-->'''Vivian:''' You work on commission, right?
-->'''Salesperson:''' Ah, yes.
-->'''Vivian:''' ''Big'' mistake. ''Big.'' Huge!

* RagsToRiches

* ShoppingMontage

* WhatTheHellHero: Vivian delivers one after Edward outs her as a hooker.

* UnproblematicProstitution: While actually averting this trope completely, the movie managed to become the most famous example of the trope due to people's extremely low expectations for the treatment of sex worker characters. To the dismay and moral outrage of many viewers, the movie averted the [[HaysCode once upon a time mandatory]] tradition that TheHookerWithAHeartOfGold must be killed off before the story is over.

A 1990 film from TouchstonePictures named for the song by Roy Orbison. Richard Gere plays Edward Lewis, a rich man who hires Vivian Ward, a HookerWithAHeartOfGold to hang out with him while he stays in LA. They end up falling for each other.

This movie was a genuine blockbuster when it came out, and it made JuliaRoberts a '''[[StarMakingRole star]]'''; she received an AcademyAward nomination for Best Actress as well.

-->'''Salesperson:'' Ah, yes.

* NoFameNoWealthNoService: She gets that at a Rodeo Drive store, but she gets to [[WhosLaughingNow tell them off later]] after she's [[SheCleansUpNicely cleaned up a bit]]:

* NoFameNoWealthNoService: She gets that at a Rodeo Drive store, but she gets to [[WhosLaughingNow 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!

** She has to avoid her landlord and need a new john really quick, because her roommate has taken all the rent money for drugs or something.
** Some scumbag guy is really keen on oppressing her and becoming her pimp.

''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 ''RunawayBride'', which teamed up Gere and Roberts under the direction of Garry Marshall once again.

A 1990 film named for the song by Roy Orbison. Richard Gere plays Edward Lewis, a rich man who hires Vivian Ward, a HookerWithAHeartOfGold 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 JuliaRoberts a '''star'''; she received an AcademyAward nomination for Best Actress as well.

* TheKeyIsBehindTheLock: A social example - Vinian needs stylish clothes to be respected... but she needs to be respected (and thus have stylish clothes) before she's allowed to ''buy'' any such clothes.

* AnywhereButTheirLips: Vivian's one rule is that she never kisses on the mouth because it makes it too personal. [[spoiler: She does kiss Richard Gere on the mouth when she starts to fall in love with him.]]

* TroubledSympatheticBigot: Edward keeps looking down on Vivian, in spite of not wanting to and in spite of his prejudice against her being proven wrong. Of course, he's rather pblivious to the whole thing, innocently arguing that she should accept being treated like a commodity because he's a nice buyer.
* UnproblematicProstitution: Sure, we have the DownerBeginning, but she eventually manage to get out of prostitution. Sure, she has awful self-esteem, and explains how a fucked-up life had her end up in prostitution, but her current john is a nice guy. Sure, this nice guy get a passive-aggressive fit of jealousy, outing her as a hooker (which leads to her getting sexually harassed and later subjected to attempted rape), but he apologizes for it. Sure, she explains how she spent the whole night crying after she had her first john, and how she's always emotionally detached these days. But he's alienated from his life, too! Most importantly, to the dismay and moral outrage of many viewers, the movie averts the [[HaysCode once upon a time mandatory]] tradition that TheHookerWithAHeartOfGold must be killed off before the story is over.
** Short version: While actually averting this trope completely, the movie managed to become the most famous example of the trope - due to people's extremely low expectations for the treatment of sex worker characters.

* UnproblematicProstitution: Sure, we have the DownerBeginning, but she eventually manage to get out of prostitution. Sure, she has awful self-esteem, and explains how a fucked-up life had her end up in prostitution, but her current john is a nice guy. Sure, this nice guy get a passive-aggressive fit of jealousy, outing her as a hooker (which leads to her getting sexually harassed and later subjected to attempted rape), but he apologizes for it. Sure, she explains how she spent the whole night crying after she had her first john, and how she's always emotionally detached these days. But he's alienated from his life, too! Most importantly, to the dismay and moral outrage of many viewers, the movie averts the [[HayesCode once upon a time mandatory]] tradition that TheHookerWithAHeartOfGold must be killed off before the story is over.