Pretty Woman (film)

Pretty Woman (film)
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Name	Pretty Woman
Director	Garry Marshall
Producer	Arnon Milchan
Writer	J. F. Lawton
Starring	Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Jason Alexander, Hector Elizondo, Laura San Giacomo
Music	James Newton Howard
Cinematography	Charles Minsky
Editing	Raja Gosnell
Studio	Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures
Distributor	Buena Vista Pictures
Released	March 23, 1990
Runtime	119 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$14–16 million
Gross	$464.4 million

Pretty Woman (film)

Pretty Woman is a 1990 American romantic comedy directed by Garry Marshall and written by J. F. Lawton. The film stars Richard Gere and Julia Roberts and follows a business tycoon who hires a sex worker for social events and a weeklong companionship that develops into romance. It was produced by Arnon Milchan for Touchstone Pictures and became a major commercial success, influencing popular culture and the career trajectories of its lead actors.

Plot

Edward Lewis, a wealthy corporate raider, meets Vivian Ward, a Hollywood sex worker, after his limousine driver, Barney Thompson, drives him through Hollywood Boulevard and the Sunset Strip. Edward hires Vivian to accompany him to social engagements including a polo match at a country club associated with Henderson, visiting a store at Rodeo Drive, and a dinner hosted by corporate associates from San Francisco. Over the week their relationship evolves against the backdrop of Edward’s business dealings involving hostile takeovers and shareholder negotiations, while Vivian navigates changing expectations and reconnects with friends such as Kit De Luca. Misunderstandings arise after Vivian overhears disparaging comments by Edward's lawyer about her suitability for his social circle, prompting a temporary separation. The narrative culminates with Edward confronting his emotional transformation, refusing a business deal that would cost him personal integrity, and seeking Vivian at the end of the film in a grand romantic gesture.

Cast

The film features Richard Gere as Edward Lewis and Julia Roberts as Vivian Ward, with supporting roles by Jason Alexander as Philip Stuckey, Hector Elizondo as Barney Thompson, Laura San Giacomo as Kit De Luca, and Ralph Bellamy in a cameo role. Other credited performers include Elena Kenney, Edward Kerr, and Angie Dickinson in a brief appearance. Casting choices connected the production to established Hollywood talent and to performers with television and stage backgrounds, creating a mix of veteran character actors and rising stars.

Production

Development began after screenwriter J. F. Lawton sold the script, originally titled "Three Thousand", to Hollywood Pictures; the project later moved to Touchstone Pictures under Walt Disney Studios oversight. Garry Marshall was hired to direct, bringing experience from television series such as Happy Days and film work including Beaches. Julia Roberts' casting followed her breakthrough role in Steel Magnolias and was influenced by her Academy Award nomination for that film; Richard Gere was cast after negotiations that leveraged his star power from projects like An Officer and a Gentleman. Principal photography took place on location in Los Angeles, with notable shoots on Rodeo Drive and at studio sets. Costume design by Alix contributed to the film's visual identity, particularly the shopping montage at a luxury boutique that emphasized themes of transformation and consumer culture. The production navigated issues of content rating and adult themes while aiming for mainstream appeal, prompting edits to balance realism with romantic comedy conventions.

Release and Box Office

Released by Buena Vista Pictures in March 1990, the film opened strongly at the box office against releases from distributors including Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures. It grossed over $178 million domestically and $464.4 million worldwide on a budget reported between $14 and $16 million, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 1990 and a flagship commercial success for Touchstone Pictures. The film's performance boosted international distribution agreements across Europe and Asia and sustained lengthy theatrical runs that benefited ancillary markets such as home video and cable licensing with companies like MCA/Universal involved in secondary markets.

Reception and Legacy

Critical response was mixed to positive; reviews referenced the film's formulaic romantic comedy structure while praising the chemistry between Richard Gere and Julia Roberts and Roberts' breakout performance, which led to an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and increased media attention from outlets such as Entertainment Weekly and The New York Times. The film influenced portrayals of urban romance in 1990s cinema and contributed to discussions in cultural commentary circles including critics associated with Roger Ebert and publications like Variety. Its legacy includes a stage musical adaptation and being cited in retrospectives on Hollywood depictions of class and gender roles, prompting scholarly analysis in journals that study film and popular culture. The film also solidified Julia Roberts as a leading box-office draw and reinforced Garry Marshall's reputation for populist romantic comedies.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack featured contemporary pop and score work by James Newton Howard, and included the hit song "Oh, Pretty Woman" originally performed by Roy Orbison and written by Roy Orbison and Bill Dees. The soundtrack album compiled songs used in key scenes, contributing to the film’s marketability and radio play; compilation releases were handled by major labels involved with Walt Disney Records and associated distributors. Songs from the film received airplay on stations affiliated with Clear Channel Communications and helped sustain the picture's presence in popular media.

Category:1990 films Category:American romantic comedy films