Pretty Woman

In 1990, director Garry Marshall turned a gritty Hollywood script into one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time. Pretty Woman stars Julia Roberts as Vivian Ward, a street-smart prostitute with a sparkling personality, and Richard Gere as Edward Lewis, a cold-hearted corporate raider who hires her for a week-long business arrangement. The film was a massive commercial success, earning over $463 million worldwide on a modest $14 million budget, and it catapulted Roberts to superstardom. With a blend of sharp comedy, heartfelt romance, and a fairy-tale sensibility, Pretty Woman became a cultural touchstone, earning Roberts an Oscar nomination and solidifying its place in rom-com history.

The original screenplay, titled 3000, was a much darker cautionary tale about prostitution and class in Los Angeles, with a bleak ending. Marshall and producer Arnon Milchan transformed it into a Cinderella story, swapping tragedy for hope. The title came from Roy Orbison's hit song, which plays over the opening credits. Filming took place on Hollywood Boulevard and at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, where the real staff were told a documentary was being shot to capture their genuine reactions during Vivian's shopping spree scenes. [edit]

Vivian Ward works the streets of Hollywood Boulevard, turning tricks to make rent. One night, Edward Lewis, a wealthy corporate raider from New York, gets lost driving a borrowed Lotus and pulls over to ask for directions. He offers her $300 to take him to his hotel, the Regent Beverly Wilshire. Intrigued by her directness, he invites her up to his penthouse suite. The next morning, he makes a proposition: $3,000 for one week as his companion, attending business dinners and social events. Vivian, seeing a way out of her dead-end life, accepts.

Edward's week involves a hostile takeover of a shipbuilding company owned by James Morse, a principled older man who built the business with his son. Vivian accompanies Edward to a polo match, a fancy restaurant where she fumbles with the escargot, and an opera performance of La Traviata. The hotel manager, Barney Thompson, takes Vivian under his wing, teaching her which fork to use and how to navigate high society. She also reconnects with her friend Kit, who warns her not to fall in love.

As the days pass, Edward finds himself drawn to Vivian's honesty and zest for life. He cancels a business meeting to take her on a picnic, and she teaches him to relax and enjoy simple pleasures. Meanwhile, Edward's lawyer, Philip Stuckey, grows suspicious of Vivian's background and tries to expose her. Vivian, in turn, confronts her own insecurities about not being good enough for Edward's world. The week ends with Edward's business deal done, and he must decide whether to let Vivian go or fight for a real relationship.[edit]