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27 years ago, originally named "3000", a Cinderella story told in the 90´s named  Pretty Woman. The cast was unaware the impact of the movie they were about to do. This is the film that made Richard Gere and Julia Roberts mega stars. Even in the furthest corners of the world every one recognizes them because of PRETTY WOMAN.

The movie was initially intended to be a dark drama about prostitution in Los Angeles in the late 1980s/early 1990s. The relationship between Vivian and Edward also harbored controversial themes, including the concept of having Vivian addicted to cocaine; part of the deal was that she had to stay off it for a week. 

She needed the money to go to Disneyland. Edward eventually throws her out of his car and drives off. The movie was scripted to end with Vivian and her prostitute friend on the bus to Disneyland. These traits, considered by producer Laura Ziskin to be detrimental to the otherwise sympathetic portrayal of her, were removed or incorporated into the character of Vivian's friend, Kit. One example of a changed plotline was when Edward breaks into the bathroom to find Vivian flossing her teeth instead of doing drugs as he had feared. In the original script she was doing drugs. It was Disney Studios then-president Jeffrey Katzenberg who insisted the film should be re-written as a modern-day fairy tale with qualities of a love story, rather than a dark drama .

The movie was originally titled '3000' (after the amount of money Vivian & Edward finally agree upon for her week of service), but later changed to Pretty Woman, after the Roy Orbison track used in the soundtrack.When Garry Marshal was called in because  they needed a director. 

The Director

Garry Marshall November 13, 1934 – July 19, 2016)was an American actor, director, producer, writer, voice artist, and comedian, best known for creating Happy Days  and directing Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, The Princess Diaries, and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

CASTING PROCESS

"She has that smile"

 Garry Marshall 

Director

It was offered previously to many successful A-list actresses including "brat pack" member Molly Ringwald  turned it down because she felt uncomfortable with the content in the script, and did not like the idea of playing a prostitute. She has since stated in several interviews that she regrets turning the role down. Sandra Bullock turned down the role of Vivian also.

Sarah Jessica Parker was offered the role of Vivian, but she disliked the part. 

However, Parker would play a sexy character many years later, Carrie Bradshaw, on the popular TV series Sex AND THE CITY.







Burt Reynolds was offered the role of Edward Lewis but declined. 

Al Pacino turned down the role of Edward after a screen test with Julia Roberts. Other actors considered for the Edward role were Daniel Day-Lewis, Denzel Washington, Tom Berenger, Christopher Lambert and even Charles Grodin.

 Richard Gere thought there wasn´t a part for him in the film when he read the script. So Garry Marshall was interested in getting them to know each other. So he took Julia to Richards apartment  and after introducing them he said...i´m going to the rest room while you talk.

After that he saw them at the end of the hall as if it was a frame of film.

" they love each other 
and they don´t know each other. 
That´s chemistry!!"

-Garry Marshal Director

Director Garry Marshall shares a fear of heights with Richard Gere's character, Edward Lewis.

Richard Gere and Hector Elizondo both appeared previously in American Gigolo, where Gere played a male escort/prostitute and Elizondo played the police chief.

The opera Richard Gere takes Julia Roberts to is La Traviata, which is about a prostitute who falls in love with a wealthy man.

In the dinner scene when Vivian flings the snail across the room, the waiter Allan Kent says, "It happens all the time." Garry Marshall cast the same actor in 'The Princess Diaries' (2001) years later and gave him the same line.

THE PERFECT CAST

Richard Gere as Edward Lewis, a rich, corporate raider and womanizer from New York who is alone on business for a week in Los Angeles. At the start of the film, he borrows a Lotus Esprit from his lawyer (Phillip) and, not being able to drive it well, winds up lost in the red-light district. While asking for directions back to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel he meets and later falls in love with a hooker named Vivian.

Julia Roberts as Vivian Ward, a beautiful hooker with a heart of gold on Hollywood Boulevard, who is independent and assertive—refusing to have a pimp and fiercely reserving the right to choose her customers and what she would do and not do when with them. She runs into Edward, a wealthy businessman, when he asks her for directions to Beverly Hills. Edward hires Vivian for the night and offers her $3,000 to spend the week as his escort to business social engagements. She later falls in love with Edward.


Héctor Elizondo as Barney Thompson, the dignified but golden-hearted manager of the hotel. At first, he does 

not hide his disdain for Vivian, but he eventually befriends her, helps her buy a cocktail dress, and gives her lessons in table manners.

Laura San Giacomo as Kit De Luca, Vivian's wisecracking friend and roommate, 

who spent their rent money on drugs. After Vivian gives her rent money and a little more, while telling her that she has "potential", an inspired Kit begins to plan for a life off the streets.

Jason Alexander as Phillip Stuckey, Edward's insensitive lawyer. He pesters Edward after he sees Vivian and David Morse getting along. After learning that Vivian is a sex worker, he propositions her (to her dismay). After a lucrative deal falls through because of Edward's feelings for her, he angrily tries to force himself on her but is stopped by Edward. The epitome of corporate greed, he represents what Edward might have become had he not met her and changed his outlook on life.

Edward (Richard Gere) snapping the necklace case down on Vivian's (Julia Roberts) fingers, was improvised by Gere, and Roberts's reaction (laughter) was totally natural. The filmmakers liked it so much, they decided to leave it in.
















THE MUSIC

The film is noted for its musical selections and hugely successful soundtrack. The film features  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 the Red Hot Chili Peppers, "No Explanation" by Peter Cetera, "Wild Women Do" by Natalie Cole and "Fallen" by Lauren Wood.



THE LEGACY

The film is one of the two movies that triggered the resurrection of the romantic comedy genre in Hollywood, the other being When Harry Met Sally. After completion of the 1960s Doris Day/Rock Hudson romantic comedies, the genre fell out of favor. Following its success, Roberts became the romantic comedy queen of the 1990s.

With over $400 million in worldwide box office,the movie became the largest grossing live-action film in Disney history.

"What are you going to do? You can't please everybody. That movie was a fairytale. We did everything but put a glass slipper on. And I'll tell you something else: for $3,000 a weekend, Richard Gere got a bargain."

 -Julia Roberts