Pretty Woman (1990)

Director:

Garry Marshall

Writer (WGA):

J.F. Lawton (written by)

Release Date:

23 March 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Who knew it was so much fun to be a hooker?

Plot:

A man in a legal but hurtful business needs an escort for some social events, and hires a beautiful prostitute he meets... only to fall in love.

Plot Keywords:

Corporate Raider | Cinderella Story | Dental Floss | Whimsical | Sex

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 7 wins & 9 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Aug. 21	9:00 PM	TBS
Fri. Aug. 22	10:00 AM	TBS

Cast

Richard Gere	...	Edward Lewis
Julia Roberts	...	Vivian Ward
Ralph Bellamy	...	James Morse
Jason Alexander	...	Philip Stuckey
Laura San Giacomo	...	Kit De Luca
Alex Hyde-White	...	David Morse
Amy Yasbeck	...	Elizabeth Stuckey
Elinor Donahue	...	Bridget
Hector Elizondo	...	Barney Thompson
Judith Baldwin	...	Susan
Jason Randal	...	Magician
Bill Applebaum	...	Howard
Tracy Bjork	...	Female Guest
Gary Greene	...	Male Guest
Billy Gallo	...	Carlos (as William Gallo)
Abdul Salaam El Razzac	...	Happy Man
Hank Azaria	...	Detective
Larry Hankin	...	Landlord
Julie Paris	...	Rachel
Rhonda Hansome	...	Bermuda
Harvey Keenan	...	Man in Car
Marty Nadler	...	Tourist
Lynda Goodfriend	...	Tourist
Reed Anthony	...	Cruiser
Frank Campanella	...	Pops
Jackie O'Brien	...	Artist (as Jacqueline Woolsey)
Cheri Caspari	...	Angel
Scott Marshall	...	Skateboard Kid (as Scott A. Marshall)
Patrick Richwood	...	Dennis, Night Elevator Operator
Kathleen Marshall	...	Day Desk Clerk (as Kathi Marshall)
Laurelle Brooks	...	Night Desk Clerk
Don Feldstein	...	Desk Clerk
Marvin Braverman	...	Room Service Waiter
Al Sapienza	...	Night Doorman (Hotel) (as Alex Statler)
Jeff Michalski	...	Day Doorman
James Patrick Stuart	...	Day Bellhop (as Patrick D. Stuart)
Lloyd T. Williams	...	Bellhop
R. Darrell Hunter	...	Darryl
James Patrick Dunne	...	Lounge Pianist
Valorie Armstrong	...	Woman in Lobby
Steve Restivo	...	Italian Businessman
Rodney Kageyama	...	Japanese Businessman
Douglas Stitzel	...	American Businessman
Larry Miller	...	Mr. Hollister
Dey Young	...	Snobby Saleswoman
Shane Ross	...	Marie
Carol Williard	...	Saleswoman
Minda Burr	...	Saleswoman
Robyn Peterson	...	Saleswoman
Mariann Aalda	...	Saleswoman
R.C. Everbeck	...	Tie Salesman
Michael French	...	Maitre D'
Allan Kent	...	Waiter
Stacy Keach Sr.	...	Senator Adams
Lucinda Crosby	...	Olsen Sister (as Lucinda Sue Crosby)
Nancy Locke	...	Olsen Sister
Calvin Remsberg	...	Sod Stomping Announcer
Lloyd Nelson	...	Game Announcer
Norman Large	...	Polite Husband
Tracy Reiner	...	Woman at Car
Tom Nolan	...	Vance
John David Carson	...	Mark
Daniel Bardol	...	Jake
Karin Calabro	...	Violetta in "La Traviata"
Bruce Eckstut	...	Alfredo in "La Traviata"
Amzie Strickland	...	Matron
Mychael Bates	...	Usher
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Garry Marshall	...	Bum Tour Guide (uncredited)
Charles Minsky	...	Janitor with Water Hose (uncredited)
Blair Richwood	...	Blair (uncredited)

Directed by
Garry Marshall

Writing credits (WGA)
J.F. Lawton		(written by)

Produced by
Gary W. Goldstein	....	co-producer
Arnon Milchan	....	producer
Steven Reuther	....	producer
Walter von Huene	....	associate producer
Laura Ziskin	....	executive producer

Original Music by
James Newton Howard

Cinematography by
Charles Minsky

Film Editing by
Raja Gosnell
Priscilla Nedd-Friendly		(as Priscilla Nedd)

Casting by
Dianne Crittenden

Production Design by
Albert Brenner

Art Direction by
David M. Haber		(as David Haber)

Set Decoration by
Garrett Lewis

Costume Design by
Marilyn Vance

Makeup Department
Bob Mills	....	makeup artist
Carol A. O'Connell	....	hair stylist (as Carol O'Connell)

Production Management
Angel Pine	....	post-production supervisor
Roger Joseph Pugliese	....	production manager
David Hoberman	....	executive in charge of production: Walt Disney Studios (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ronald Chong	....	dga trainee (as Ronnie Chong)
Bettiann Fishman	....	second assistant director
Ellen H. Schwartz	....	first assistant director
Walter von Huene	....	second unit director
Nick Abdo	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Aaron Barsky	....	assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Mychael Bates	....	assistant property master
Antoinette J. Gordon	....	set designer
Donald G. Helderle	....	construction foreman
Tony Leonardi	....	stand-by painter (as A.J. Leonardi)
Frank B. Nieves	....	construction foreman
Ken Scaife	....	construction coordinator
Mark Woods	....	lead man
Rick Young	....	property master
Gary Isbell	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert Fitzgerald	....	sound editor
Jeremy J. Gordon	....	sound editor (as Jeremy Gordon)
David Hagberg	....	assistant sound editor (as David Lee Hagberg)
Michael Hilkene	....	supervising sound editor
David J. Hudson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Doug Jackson	....	sound editor
Chris Jargo	....	adr editor
Randall L. Johnson	....	boom operator (as Randy Johnson)
Gary Krivacek	....	sound editor
Eric Lindemann	....	sound editor
Harrison D. Marsh	....	cable person
Joseph A. Mayer	....	supervising adr editor (as Joe Mayer)
Mel Metcalfe	....	sound re-recording mixer
Terry Porter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Thomas W. Small	....	assistant sound editor
James E. Webb	....	sound mixer (as Jim Webb)
John O. Wilde	....	sound editor
Troy Porter	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Gary Zink	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Rick Avery	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Batzdorff	....	still photographer
Ben Beaird	....	key grip
Gary C. Beaird	....	grip (as Gary Beaird Sr.)
Carl Boles	....	chief lighting technician
Philip Caplan	....	camera operator
Anthony R. Collier	....	key best boy grip
Tom Connole	....	first assistant camera
Frank Del Boccio	....	second assistant camera
Michael Genne	....	camera operator
Ross Judd	....	first assistant camera
Keith Orefice	....	best boy
Mike Schwake	....	dolly grip
Ken Tosic	....	assistant lighting technician
Jack Anderson	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Michael Kelem	....	aerial camera operator (uncredited)
Randy Nolen	....	steadicam operator (uncredited)
Maricella Ramirez	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Dori Zuckerman	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elinor Bardach	....	key costumer
Daniel J. Lester	....	costume supervisor (as Dan Lester)
Carlane Passman	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Thomas R. Bryant	....	first assistant editor (as Thomas Bryant)
Craig Conwell	....	assistant editor
Tommy Dorsett	....	assistant editor
Ron Lambert	....	color timer

Music Department
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator
Ron Fair	....	executive soundtrack producer
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator
James Newton Howard	....	orchestrator
Shawn Murphy	....	score mixer
Marty Paich	....	conductor
Robert Schaper	....	score mixer
Ellen Segal	....	music editor
Guy Defazio	....	music assistant (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Tom Briggs	....	transportation captain
Tom F. Thomas	....	transportation coordinator (as Tom E. Thomas)

Other crew
Adell Aldrich	....	script supervisor
Lennie Appelquist	....	set production assistant
Pat Chapman	....	production coordinator
Robert Dawson	....	title designer: main titles
Diane Frazen	....	executive assistant: Mr. Marshall
Judy Hallin	....	assistant to producers
Wendy S. Hallin	....	production assistant
George Herthel	....	location manager
Craig Isaac	....	production assistant
Sandy Isaac	....	assistant: Ms. Ziskin
Claudio Jacobells	....	production assistant
Sundae Jahant	....	production assistant
David Michael Katz	....	production assistant (as David Katz)
Elyse Katz	....	assistant production coordinator
Michael Mason	....	additional scoring engineer
Katherine Ann Moore	....	unit publicist (as Katherine Moore)
Carolyn Quinn	....	assistant: Mr. Reuther
Blair Richwood	....	secretary: Mr. Marshall
Julie Rosser	....	assistant: Ms. Roberts
John D. Sarviss	....	helicopter pilot
Sharyn Shimada-Huggins	....	production assistant
Jonathan Southard	....	assistant: Mr. Gere
Allen E. Taylor	....	production accountant
Wallace Uchida	....	assistant location manager
Kim Wozniak	....	first assistant accountant
Douglas Yellin	....	assistant: Mr. Reuther
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc	....	aerial coordinator
Sarah Nean Bruce	....	script consultant (uncredited)
Mario Iscovich	....	production executive (uncredited)
Shelley Michelle	....	body double: Julia Roberts (uncredited)
Vern Reo	....	production assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Jack Edward Sawyers	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Barbara Marshall	....	thanks (as Barbara Sue Wells)

Production Companies

• Silver Screen Partners IV
• Touchstone Pictures

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1992) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (1990) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Touchstone Home Video (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• Gativideo (????) (Argentina) (video)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2000) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (France)
• Warner Bros. (UK)

Other Companies

• Buena Vista Sound  re-recording
• Central Casting  extra casting
• Cerruti 1881  selected wardrobe
• Cinema Research  titles and opticals
• Dimension Sound  sound editing
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• EMI Records  soundtrack published by
• San Francisco Opera  special thanks
• Walt Disney Studios  studio

Also Known As:

$ 3,000 (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and some language. (director's cut)

Runtime:

119 min | USA:125 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian | Japanese

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Brazil:12 | New Zealand:M | Iceland:L | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:18 | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

617 S. Olive Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Silver Screen Partners IV

Trivia:

During the lovemaking scene Julia Roberts got so nervous a visible vein popped out of her forehead. Director Garry Marshall got into bed with Julia and Richard Gere. Marshall and Gere massaged her forehead until the vein disappeared. Julia also broke into hives and was given calamine lotion until they were finally able to shoot the scene.

Goofs:

Continuity: Edward's tie, collar, zipper, shoes, and socks when Vivian is undressing him.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Magician at party: No matter what they say, it's all about money. So let's imagine, ladies, that you're a savings and loan officer. Watch - one, two, three; see, you've got it all, and we've got nothing. You've got all four, take a look.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Too Cool for Christmas (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

You Don't Understand

Wonderful Cinderella / Pygmalion tale, hooker style

What can I say that hasn't been said? This immensely popular, modern fairy tale romance is a fantastic 'feel good' must see. I can't resist watching it every single time it comes on TV. To tempt you if you haven't seen it...it's the story of a feisty, good hearted hooker named Vivian Ward, who is hired for a week by a wealthy businessman, Edward Lewis, to serve as his escort at a number of business related social functions. Needless to say, the relationship doesn't stay 'just business' for long.

Rather than the plot itself, the beautiful Julia Roberts makes this movie...and not simply because of her 88 inches of leg! Always endearing in her roles, she is at her absolute MOST endearing portraying Vivian in this picture. She brings a real vulnerability to the role, showing us that just like everyone else, prostitutes do indeed floss their teeth! Richard Gere pulls off quite convincingly the role of Edward, the ruthless, calculating millionaire businessman, who takes over companies only to sell them off piece by piece, quite unmindful of the interests of any people involved. To give Gere credit, I was quite impressed that he actually plays the piano in one of the movie's scenes.

Naturally, given Vivian's membership in the 'oldest profession', there is sex early on...though I, old fashioned and strict as I am, wouldn't hesitate to let my young teen see this movie. (There's worse in TV commercials today!) Oddly, the most truly intimate moment in this film is not during the more explicit sex but rather, simply a kiss.

Ohhhh, lots of romantic scenes, from a picnic in the park to jetting off in a private plane for a Big Night on the Town. And etiquette lessons...Vivian displays charming, amusing, curious innocence when she experiences with Edward her first opera (all the while looking knock out gorgeous in a stunning red gown), her first polo match, and her introduction to escargots. As the movie progresses, she is transformed Pygmalion style, from the street smart hooker provocatively dressed in tall black boots and mini skirt, to a sophisticated looking, elegantly gowned and coiffed young lady. But it's merely appearance...Vivian's heart of gold and her vulnerability both remain unchanged.

The status conscious snobbery of Beverly Hills dress shops and ritzy hotels, judging people by wealth and class, is well depicted here. When Vivian goes shopping for a 'more appropriate' wardrobe at some exclusive Rodeo Drive boutiques, she is not 'well received' by the sales ladies, who like all too many of us, are overly inclined to judge by appearance. You'll want these snobs to get their comeuppance. Actually, perhaps the most touching relationship in this entire film is the one between Vivian and Barney, the quite proper but kind desk manager at the high class hotel (where she is sharing a penthouse suite with Edward), who is able to see beyond appearance. He develops a genuine fondness and even more importantly, respect for her.

Other characters of interest...Kit is Vivian's appealing and sympathetic room-mate, also a hooker (Vivian's a loyal friend), and Stuckey is Edward's sleazy and despicable business colleague, portrayed by Seinfeld's Jason Alexander, a TV show which I must confess is not my favourite.

As events unfold during the film, it becomes clear that, while Edward might not understand too clearly the meaning of 'prostitution', Vivian clearly does. And, it's another shining film illustration of that pearl of wisdom from Eliza Doolittle (of My Fair Lady) who enlightened us, 'The difference between a flower girl and a lady is not how she behaves, but how she is treated.' Or, in Vivian's own words, 'People put you down enough, you start to believe it'.

Great Cinderella movie...don't miss it.