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Pretty Woman: A Tale of Magic and Mistakes
Pretty Woman is one of those movies I can watch over and over again. It never gets old or boring! But even after all those viewings, I never noticed the funny mistakes and bloopers that tell a different story about this beloved film.
Disney’s Magical Touch
Pretty Woman is a romantic comedy that won the hearts of millions and catapulted Richard Gere and Julia Roberts to superstar status. But did you know it wasn’t always meant to be that way? The original screenplay was called 3,000, written by struggling screenwriter J.F. Lawton. This early draft tackled darker themes like class differences and corporate greed.
But everything changed when Disney got involved. They wanted to lighten the mood, so they downplayed the serious themes about class and sex work in Los Angeles. Instead, they gave the movie a big budget and turned it into a romantic comedy. Just like that, a classic was born!
Al Pacino’s Close Call
It’s hard to imagine anyone but Richard Gere as Edward Lewis, the rich businessman who hires Vivian, played by Julia Roberts, to be his escort for a week. The casting process for Pretty Woman took longer than expected. At one point, legendary actor Al Pacino was in the running for the role of Edward. He even participated in a reading with Julia Roberts before deciding to pass on it.
Pacino liked the script but never revealed why he turned it down. However, he did share his admiration for Roberts, who was relatively unknown at the time. “I mean, you could tell at the reading, this is going to be good, this is going to be a hit picture.
You just knew it,” Pacino said. He went on to praise Roberts, saying, “And this girl was phenomenal. I mean, I said to Gary, ‘Where did you get this girl?’” Gary Marshall, the film’s director, clearly had a good eye, as Roberts’s performance became iconic.
The Croissant or the Pancake?
One funny moment occurs during a breakfast scene where Richard Gere’s character orders room service. At first, Vivian enjoys a croissant while chatting with Edward. But suddenly, the croissant turns into a pancake! How did that happen?
According to director Garry Marshall, he liked Roberts’ performance in the takes where she ate the pancake instead. However, this created a funny mistake. In one shot, Vivian takes a bite of the pancake, but in the next, it has a different bite pattern and only one bite missing. “That’s clearly not the same pancake!” a fan might exclaim.
The Iconic Red Dress
Costume design often goes unnoticed, but one piece stands out: the iconic red dress Julia Roberts wears. This dress symbolizes Vivian’s transformation and empowerment during a pivotal scene at the opera. Vogue called it “eye-catching, incredibly sexy without losing an ounce of elegance.”
The creative mind behind this stunning outfit was costume designer Marilyn Vance. She crafted six fabulous outfits for Vivian and also designed Richard Gere’s stylish looks. Take the charming brown-and-white polka dot dress Roberts wore to the horse race. That dress was made from old silk found in a tiny antique fabric shop in Los Angeles! And those chic shoes? They were by Chanel.
As for Gere’s wardrobe, it was a lesson in color coordination, featuring brown, navy, and blue-gray suits designed by Vance. Now, about that famous tie that Roberts snatches from a store employee? Vance revealed it was “nothing special,” just a simple tie picked up for $48 at a local shop. Yet, if you watch closely, you’ll see that the tie mysteriously changes knots throughout the film!
The “Obscene” Shopping Spree
When Richard Gere introduces Julia Roberts to the luxurious world of the rich, they go on a wild shopping spree on Rodeo Drive. That shopping trip would cost Gere’s character at least $30,000! “Talk about retail therapy on steroids!” a viewer might say. It’s as if they were shopping with Monopoly money — no wonder Vivian was overwhelmed.
Real Ruby-Diamond Necklace
The heart-shaped ruby-and-diamond necklace that Julia wears with her stunning red gown was valued at an astonishing $250,000! Yes, you heard that right. During filming, an armed security guard from the jewelry store watched over the necklace like a hawk.
The Jewelry Box Surprise
The moment when Richard Gere presents Julia Roberts with the expensive necklace is not only romantic but also has a funny backstory. The jewelry box was originally meant to snap shut on Julia’s fingers as a playful prank for the film’s gag reel. As you might remember, that moment caused one of the most genuine laughs ever captured on film.
Director Garry Marshall explained, “I said to Richard, ‘You gotta wake her up a little, so when she reaches for the box, slam it.’ It was a soft box. I would never hurt her.” They decided to keep it in the final cut, turning an unscripted joke into a memorable moment. “We put it in… and it became like the trademark of the movie,” Marshall said.
Edward’s Disappearing Shoes
There are some mistakes in Pretty Woman that aren’t easy to catch. For example, after the opera scene when Vivian takes off Edward’s shoes, they mysteriously reappear when he lies down. “Did someone sneak those back on?” a curious viewer might wonder.
The Money Mystery
Another little mystery involves Vivian’s boots. When Edward hands her $100, she slips it into her boot for safekeeping. But later, after room service arrives with champagne, the cash disappears! Did it vanish into thin air, or does Vivian have a secret compartment in her boots? Maybe the $100 just didn’t want to stick around for the rest of the movie!
The Colorful Condom Confusion
When Vivian offers Edward a selection of colorful condoms, they seem to have a life of their own! She starts with four neatly arranged options, but suddenly, the order changes in the next shot. “It’s as if the condoms were having their own little dance routine!” a viewer might chuckle.
Richard Gere’s Thoughts on Edward
Richard Gere has enjoyed great success from Pretty Woman, but he hasn’t always been positive about his character, Edward. At a film festival in Venice, he described Edward as “criminally underwritten,” saying, “Basically, he’s just a suit and a good haircut.”
One particular scene irked Gere: when Edward plays the piano while Vivian edges closer. “I mean, no chemistry. This actor and this actress obviously had no chemistry between them… I haven’t seen that in a long time.
That’s a sexy scene,” he joked. The scene was improvised after Marshall asked Gere what he usually did late at night in hotels. Gere explained, “I said, ‘Well, I’m usually jet lagged, [that] would be the time I’m in a hotel. So I’m up all night.’”
A Special Bond
The chemistry between Julia Roberts and Richard Gere was undeniable, both on and off the screen. In 2017, Gere shared that he still talks to Roberts “all the time.” He reminisced about how they would chat “three or four times a day.” “Yeah, we loved each other immediately. So it was a nice thing,” Gere said.
Even director Garry Marshall noticed their connection. “I came out and saw the two of them at the end of a hall, just looking at each other,” he recalled. “And right there, I thought, look at that chemistry. They don’t know each other, and yet they’re doing great.”
Julia Roberts Persuades Gere
Although Al Pacino was close to getting the role, Julia Roberts was determined to have Richard Gere as her on-screen partner. She practically begged him to join the film. “He’s a very serious actor and he had very specific thoughts about the movie and the part and what worked and didn’t work for him,” she explained.
Gere remembers the moment vividly: “I still didn’t know if I was doing this movie. We’re getting to know each other, we’re flirty, flirty… nice, nice… She’s across the desk, writing something down. She turns it around and pushes it to me… ‘Please say yes.’”
Even in a fairytale romance, things don’t always go as planned. Maybe that’s what makes Pretty Woman so endearing — and why we keep coming back to watch it year after year.
Did We Miss Your Favorite Bloopers?
What do you think? Did we miss your favorite bloopers from Pretty Woman? Share your thoughts in the comments!
