10 Fun Facts for Pretty Woman’s 30th Anniversary

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10 Fun Facts for Pretty Woman's 30th Anniversary

It’s been 30 years since Pretty Woman hit theaters, but it turns out, it was almost a very different film! "The original script had gone to Sundance, it was prestigious, it was viewed as serious art, so it was allowed to touch into this area of sexuality and money and prostitution and all of that,” screenwriter J.F. Lawton told Vanity Fair in 2015. “It gave Hollywood permission to do it, and then [director] Garry [Marshall] was smart enough, because he's got incredible pop instincts, to say, 'OK, this is what people want to see — they want to see the fairy tale.'" Julia Roberts and Richard Gere starred in the movie, which was released on March 23, 1990, but several other actors were up for the parts of Vivian and Edward, including Michelle Pfeiffer and Al Pacino. “They had auditioned Al Pacino, they had auditioned Michelle Pfeiffer, and it would definitely have been a different movie if had it been Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer,” Lawton explained. “It might have been closer to the original script and maybe not have had a happy ending. But the chemistry between Julia and Gere, it is palpable on the screen, it was palpable in auditions. You can’t really see how it could end any other way, because they just light up with each other.” [jwplayer Spw5HoVR-l3ahXupL] The film ultimately followed Edward, a wealthy businessman, hiring (and subsequently falling for) Vivian, a prostitute. Director Marshall, for his part, wanted to be sure the film kept some edge, but told a love story. “My vision was a combination of fairytales. Julia was Rapunzel, Richard was Prince Charming and Hector [Elizondo] was the fairy godmother,” Marshall told VF. “It didn’t seem like a vision everybody would have, but I did.” Scroll through for fun facts about the film:

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The Name

Pretty Woman’s original name was $3,000, a reference to how much money Edward paid Vivian.

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It Was Going to Be a Dark Drama

Vivian was going to be a drug addict before Disney got involved with the movie.  

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Several Actress Were Up for Vivian

Sandra Bullock, Madonna, Drew Barrymore, Kristin Davis, Meg Ryan and Sarah Jessica Parker were all reportedly up for Roberts’ iconic role.

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And Molly Ringwald Turned It Down

Ringwald revealed in April 2012 that she turned down the role of Vivian. "Julia Roberts is what makes that movie. It was her part," Ringwald said during a Reddit Q&A. “Every actor hopes for a part that lets them shine like that."

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And Vivian Was Going to Die

"As a script, Pretty Woman was an R-rated movie about a hooker on Hollywood Boulevard,” the former studio head of Disney Jeffrey Katzenberg revealed in March 2017. “By the way, in the original version — it's pretty dark — I think she died of an overdose."

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The Movie Poster Isn’t Roberts

The actress' head was Photoshopped onto her body double’s boy for the movie poster.

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The Iconic Red Dress Was Almost Black

Costume designer Marilyn Vance pushed for Vivian’s opera dress to be red instead of black.

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Gere Improvised Jewelry Box Scene

According to Marshall, he told Gere to mess with Roberts if she seemed tired while filming. During the classic scene where Edwards snaps the jewelry box on Vivian’s fingers, Gere went rogue.

"I said, '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,” Marshall told Entertainment Tonight in April 2012. “We put it in … and it became like the trademark of the movie.”

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Gere Thought the Script Was Dull

The actor wasn’t originally impressed by the movie. ”It was a silly little script, and when it came to me, the part was a suit. It was like put someone in the suit, basically,” he said when asked if he knew the movie would be such a success.

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Gere Composed the Piano Piece

Gere was not only playing piano in the movie, but he composed the piece of music he played.