History Film / PrettyWoman

* 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 oblivious to the whole thing, innocently arguing that she should accept being treated like a commodity because he's a nice buyer.

* ComicallySmallDemand: Even in 1990 dollars, $3000 seems like a ridiculously small sum for a solid week of prostitution--especially considering Vivian's going rate is normally $100 an hour (168 hours in a week x $100 = $16,800). Moreso considering how filthy rich Edward is and could've asked for more. The film does imply that Vivian's lying about her normal going rate and that inexperience makes her think she's asking for a big sum while Edward regards it as cheap change.

** One of her fellow streetwalkers has just been murdered, her corpse getting digged up from a dumpster.

%%* GrandRomanticGesture: Edward's reenactment of Vivian's fairytale story.

* AnywhereButTheirLips: Vivian's one rule is that she never kisses on the mouth because it makes it too personal. Somewhat TruthInTelevision: sex workers often don't kiss on the mouth, not only as a personal boundary, but also to prevent the spread of infection (colds, flu, hepatitis, etc.).

* AnywhereButTheirLips: Vivian's one rule is that she never kisses on the mouth because it makes it too personal. Somewhat TruthInTelevision: prostitutes often don't kiss on the mouth, but more because of the spread of infection (colds, flu, hepatitis, etc.) than the reason given in the film.

* BerserkButton: Though reserved in anger, when Vivian mentions the sales people at a shop refused her service, Edward, he is angered and takes time to help her by ensuring the next place does treat her nicely. It should be said it isn't said if this is because it was Vivian who was insulted or one of his employees was slighted that set him off.

%%* MakeoverMontage: Vivian receives one going from an attractive streetwalker to a refined woman.

%%* AtTheOperaTonight: Vivian has an emotional reaction to ''La Traviata'' (especially considering the subject).

* Catch22Dilemma: A social example - Vivian needs stylish clothes in order to look respectable, but the sales staff at the high-end clothing boutiques that sell the kind of clothes she needs won't accept her as a customer because she's not dressed respectably. The hotel manager, and later Edward, have to get involved in order to circumvent this problem.

%%* CoolCar: The Lotus Esprit.
* DeadpanSnarker: Edward, much of whose dialogue involves his utterly straight-faced and deadpan replies to the things that other people say.

%%* FarmersDaughter: Vivian.

%%* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Vivian.
%%* KnightInShiningArmour: The knight rescuing the imaginary Princess Vivian.
%%* LighterAndSofter: The final film compared to the dramatic spec script.

* LoveRedeems: [[spoiler:Edward's growing love of Vivian helps him turn from being a cold, ruthless business man, to a logical but caring man who seeks to protect the very business he was just looking to buy and destroy.]]

%%* SheCleansUpNicely: Vivian getting a makeover.
%%* ShoppingMontage: Once she gets some nicer clothes, she gets one.

* ShoutOut: The scene at the racetrack where Vivian shouts at one of the horses is very similar to one in Film/MyFairLady, where Eliza Doolittle does the same. Vivian does not say "Come on Dover, move your bloomin' arse", but comes close.

%%* InterClassRomance: The whole premise of the movie.

* BerserkButton: Though reserved in anger, when Vivian mentions the sales people at a shop did not allow her to shop to Edward, he is angered and takes time to help her by ensuring the next place does treat her nicely. It should be said it isn't said if this is because it was Vivian who was insulted or one of his employees was slighted that set him off.

%%* RagsToRiches: [[spoiler:As it seems Vivian and Edward are going to be very close, she will end up a very rich woman.]]

* BerserkButton: Though reserved in anger, when Vivian mentions the sales people at a shop did not allow her to shop, he is angered and takes time to help her by ensuring the next place does treat her nicely. It should be said it isn't said if this is because it was Vivian who was insulted or one of his employees was slighted that set him off.

* MistakenForJunkie: Edward interrupts Vivian in the bathroom and thinks she's doing drugs. Turns out she's only flossing strawberry seeds from her teeth. (May also be a DevelopmentGag, as the original script wrote Vivian as a drug addict.)

%%* NoFameNoWealthNoService: She gets that at a Rodeo Drive store, but she gets to [[WhosLaughingNow tell them off later]] once she's [[SheCleansUpNicely looking more respectable]]:
%%-->'''Vivian:''' Do you remember me?\\
%%'''Salesperson:''' No, I'm sorry.\\
%%'''Vivian:''' I was in here yesterday. You wouldn't wait on me?\\
%%'''Salesperson:''' [[OhCrap ...Oh.]]\\
%%'''Vivian:''' You work on commission, right?\\
%%'''Salesperson:''' Ah, yes.\\
%%'''Vivian:''' ''Big'' mistake. ''Big.'' Huge! (She walks out of the shop.)

* AnywhereButTheirLips: Vivian's one rule is that she never kisses on the mouth because it makes it too personal. Somewhat TruthInTelevision : prostitutes often don't kiss on the mouth, but more because of the spread of infection (colds, flu, hepatitis, etc.) than the reason given in the film.

* AtTheOperaTonight: Vivian has an emotional reaction to ''La Traviata'' (especially considering the subject).

* CoolCar: The Lotus Esprit.

* DispenseWithThePleasantries: 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. [Vivian].
** During her first night with Edward, Vivian's impatient with his lack of urgency to get to the sex part, asking if they can just "hurry this along." This prompts Edward to ask for her rate for the whole night so she can finally relax.

* FashionShopFashionShow: After the first place Edward takes her, this happens.
* FarmersDaughter: Vivian.

* GrandRomanticGesture: Edward's reenactment of Vivian's fairytale story.
* HappilyEverAfter: Left ambiguous but strongly implied (it ''is'' a romcom, after all) when Edward shows up as Vivian's dream white knight and rescues her from her sleazy tower.
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Vivian.
* InterClassRomance: The whole premise of the movie.
* KnightInShiningArmour: The knight rescuing the imaginary Princess Vivian.
* LighterAndSofter: The final film compared to the dramatic spec script.

* MakeoverMontage: Vivian receives one going from an attractive streetwalker to a refined woman.

* MsFanservice: Vivian; it's especially striking given Roberts purposely avoided the trope the rest of her career with the exception of a poorly chosen time to go SkinnyDipping scene in 1994's ''Film/ILoveTrouble''.

* NoFameNoWealthNoService: She gets that at a Rodeo Drive store, but she gets to [[WhosLaughingNow tell them off later]] once she's [[SheCleansUpNicely looking more respectable]]:
-->'''Vivian:''' Do you remember me?\\
'''Salesperson:''' No, I'm sorry.\\
'''Vivian:''' I was in here yesterday. You wouldn't wait on me?\\
'''Salesperson:''' [[OhCrap ...Oh.]]\\
'''Vivian:''' You work on commission, right?\\
'''Salesperson:''' Ah, yes.\\
'''Vivian:''' ''Big'' mistake. ''Big.'' Huge! (She walks out of the shop.)

* PlatonicProstitution: Well, it starts that way; he just wants directions, but she insists on a charge and getting in the car as she's trying to work him.

* RagsToRiches: [[spoiler:As it seems Vivian and Edward are going to be very close, she will end up a very rich woman.]]
* RunningGag: Edward has a whole bunch of luxuries that he can't take advantage of because of various aspects of his personality (a Lotus Esprit when he can't drive stick, a penthouse suite and a balcony seat at the opera when he's afraid of heights). When asked why he owns it, he replies "It's the best."
** The gag reaches its zenith at the end, when the acrophobic Edward is climbing up the fire escape of Vivian's apartment building; he calls up, "It had to be the top floor, right?" Vivian answers, "It's the best."
* ScaryBlackMan: The hotel's personal driver, Daryl, is this in a deleted scene; in said scene, Vivian's pimp comes asking for money and threatens Edward, who is trying to smooth it over. Edward kindly suggests not to harm him and leave, and on cue, Daryl opens his coat to flash a handgun. Vivian's pimp wisely withdraws himself.
* SheCleansUpNicely: Vivian getting a makeover.
* ShoppingMontage: Subverted at first because no one would accept Vivian in her streetwalker clothing. Once she gets some nicer clothes, she gets one.

* TalentDouble: Averted by miles - in the scene where Edward plays the piano it's not only Richard Gere playing, it's Richard Gere playing his own composition!

* 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 [[UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode once upon a time mandatory]] tradition that the HookerWithAHeartOfGold must be killed off before the story is over.
* WhatTheHellHero: Vivian delivers one after Edward outs her as a hooker [[spoiler:and his lawyer demeans her with a sleazy smile]].

%%* HappilyEverAfter:

%%* LipstickAndLoadMontage

This movie was a genuine blockbuster when it came out, and it made then-23-year-old Julia Roberts a ''[[StarMakingRole star]]''; she received an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination for Best Actress as well.

* InterClassRomance:
* TheKeyIsBehindTheLock: A social example - Vivian needs stylish clothes in order to look respectable, but the sales staff at the high-end clothing boutiques that sell the kind of clothes she needs won't accept her as a customer because she's not dressed respectably. The hotel manager, and later Edward, have to get involved in order to circumvent this problem.

* MyHorseIsAMotorbike: Vivian wanted someone to pick her on a white horse. [[spoiler:Edward used a white ''limousine'' instead]].

* MistakenForJunkie: Edward interrupts Vivian in the bathroom and thinks she's doing drugs. Turns out she's only flossing strawberry seeds from her teeth. (May also be a CallBack, as the original script wrote Vivian as a drug addict.)

Gere plays Edward Lewis, a wealthy businessman who hires Vivian Ward (Roberts), a HookerWithAHeartOfGold, to serve as his escort while he stays in LosAngeles. They end up falling for each other.