Pretty Woman
| Pretty Woman | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
|
| Directed by | Garry Marshall |
| Produced by | Laura Ziskin |
| Written by | J.F. Lawton |
| Starring | Richard Gere Julia Roberts Héctor Elizondo |
| Music by | James Newton Howard |
| Cinematography | Charles Minsky |
| Editing by | Raja Gosnell Priscilla Nedd |
| Distributed by | Touchstone Pictures |
| Release date(s) | March 23, 1990 |
| Running time | Theatrical cut 119 min. Director's Cut 125 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English Italian Japanese |
| Budget | $14 million |
| Gross revenue | $463 million |
Pretty Woman is a 1990 romantic comedy film. The film centers on down-on-her-luck prostitute Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) who is hired by a wealthy businessman and corporate raider, Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) to be his escort for several business functions, and their developing relationship.
Pretty Woman was initially intended to be a dark drama about prostitution in New York but was reconceptualized into a romantic comedy. The film was a critical success and became one of 1990's highest grossing films, and today is one of the most financially successful entries in the romantic comedy genre, with an estimated gross of $464 million USD.[1] Roberts received a Golden Globe Award for her role, and was nominated for an Academy Award in her first blockbuster hit which brought her worldwide acclaim. Screenwriter J. F. Lawton was nominated for a Writers Guild Award and a BAFTA Award. 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. It is also notable as being Ralph Bellamy's final film before his death in 1991.
Plot
Corporate raider Edward Lewis (Gere) is having trouble driving his borrowed Lotus Espirit and stops for directions on Hollywood Boulevard. Vivian Ward (Roberts), a hooker, walks over to his car. Edward agrees to pay her for directions, but Vivian jumps in the car and offers to show him. On the way to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Vivian comments on his bad driving. Much to her delight, Edward asks her to drive. Vivian says she will return to her corner by taxi. When Edward sees her waiting at a bus stop, he offers to hire her for the night. Edward explains his business to her, in which he buys large companies, breaks them up and sells them for profit. When he was a boy, his father divorced his mother to be with another woman, and emptied his wife's bank account. Consequently, his mother died poor, and Edward grew up bitter.
The next day, Edward's lawyer Philip Stuckey (Jason Alexander) calls Edward and tells him businessman James Morse and his grandson David wish to meet with him to discuss Edward's plans to buy their business. Edward decides to bring a date in order to keep the meeting social, and hires Vivian to spend the week with him, offering to pay her $3,000. He gives money for a dinner dress, but when she attempts to shop on Rodeo Drive, the saleswomen snub her. Vivian returns to the hotel distraught; Barnard (Elizondo), the manager of the hotel at first doesn't hide his disdain for Vivian. He tells her that her presence is only tolerated because of Edward's standing at the hotel. He does ask her to dress more appropriately, but when Vivian tearfully explains the episode at the store where she was turned away, he befriends her and directs her to a store where they help her buy a beautiful cocktail dress. He also gives her a lesson (at her request) in table manners, so that she will not be intimidated at dinner. That night, Vivian and Edward meet James and David Morse. During the meal, Vivian brings out the enlightened gentleman in the elderly Morse, but the business discussion with Edward grows cold. The Morses express their anger over Edward's impending takeover and walk out.
The next morning, Edward tells Vivian to buy some more clothes for some upcoming events. Vivian reveals to Edward the episode the previous day where the saleswomen wouldn't help her. This time, Edward accompanies her for the first part of a shopping spree. Vivian ends her day by returning to the store from where its sales staff was rude to her to tell them what a huge mistake they made in not helping her. Vivian and Edward's business relationship quickly develops into friendship, and Edward and Vivian go on several dates and spend several evenings trading deep emotional insights. Edward learns that Vivian only chose her profession because she couldn't make the rent otherwise, and was too ashamed to go home. Vivian finds herself falling in love with Edward.
Edward and Vivian attend a corporate polo match, where Vivian meets Phil, who pesters Edward until he reveals that Vivian is actually a prostitute after he sees Vivian and the younger Morse getting along. He only tells Phil that out of spite and Phil approaches Vivian and crudely propositions her. She is hurt by Edward's betrayal. When she gets back to the penthouse she announces she is leaving, but ignores Edward's money. When Edward sees this, he apologizes. Vivian decides to stay. An idyllic few days ensue, during which Edward flies her by private jet to San Francisco to see La Traviata. After the opera Vivian wakes Edward with a kiss, symbolic of the change in their relationship (she never kisses her clients).
As the week starts to end and Edward prepares to return to New York, Edward tells Vivian he wants to see her again and offers to supply her with everything she needs. Vivian refuses and says she wants the whole thing—commitment, or nothing. Edward claims that he's never treated her like a prostitute before he leaves for the day. As the time draws near for Edward to finalize his buyout of Morse Industries, his relationship with Vivian is beginning to show its effects: he loses his bitter lust for vengeance against his father. Respecting James Morse's caring nature, he tells the older man he has another solution for his company instead. Amazed at Edward's change in attitude, Morse genuinely tells him he's proud of him.
Phil is upset to hear that the buyout has been stalled and goes to Edward's hotel to confront him. He finds Vivian alone, and after blaming her for Edward's behavior, attempts to rape her. Edward arrives and a fight ensues, after which Edward orders Phil to leave and breaks off their business relationship and friendship. Vivian and Edward talk, and Vivian states she wants "the fairy tale." Edward says he can`t offer that. He asks Vivian to stay the night but she declines. The next day, Edward checks out. Barnard notices his pensiveness and remarks how difficult it must be to give up something so beautiful, supposedly referring to the diamond necklace. Edward asks Darryl to drive him to Vivian's apartment in a white limousine; he arrives as Vivian is packing to move to San Francisco. Although nervous, Edward controls his fear of heights and climbs the fire escape to Vivian's apartment. Vivian meets him on the landing, and he asks what happens in her fantasy after the knight on the white horse rescues her. She tells him that she "rescues him right back".