10 Things You Never Knew About Pretty Woman

Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman

1. Julia Roberts wasn’t the first choice for the lead role. In fact, she wasn’t the second or third or even fourth pick, either. Actresses including Karen Allen, Molly Ringwald, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connelly, Meg Ryan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfieffer and Daryl Hannah were all considered for the lead role before the then 22-year-old Roberts.

2. That famous scene when Edward snaps down the necklace case on Vivian’s fingers? Completely ad-libbed by Richard Gere. And Roberts’ laugh was completely natural, too. The filmmakers loved the improvisation so much they decided to keep it in the final cut.

3. Speaking of necklace, it was worth $250,000. As the cast filmed the opera scene, a security guard from the requisite jewellery store maintained his position standing behind the director the entire time. Word is he even had a gun.

4. As for that opera, the production that Edward takes Vivian to is La Traviata – a production about a prostitute who falls in love with a wealthy man.

5. The film was originally called “$3000” – the fee that Vivian charges Edward for the week. It was later changed to match the famous Roy Orbison track that was featured on the soundtrack.

6. The red coat that Vivian wears when she meets Edward was not part of her original costume. It was bought for $30 from a movie usher just before filming.

7. In the film poster, Julia Roberts’ head was superimposed on the body of another actress named Shelley Michelle. As for Richard Gere’s hair, we all know he’s very much a silver fox in the film, but it appears brown on the official poster. #fail

8. In the scene where Edward plays the piano, that’s really Richard Gere tinkering away. Even more amazing is the fact he composed the piece himself.

9. When shooting steamy scene, Julia Roberts was so nervous that that a visible vein popped on her forehead. The director got into bed with both Roberts and Gere to massage her forehead until the vein went down.

10. And lastly, when they filmed the scene in which Vivian talks about being rescued from a tower, the powers-that-be still hadn’t decided how they would end the film (where Edward “rescues” Vivian).

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