1. Julia Roberts’ head was superimposed on the body of the famous body double Shelley Michelle for the movie poster.
That is some impressive Photoshop skills for the 90’s.
2. Speaking of the cover, notice how Richard Gere’s hair is brown? Well, in the movie it’s gray. Oops.
3. The homeless man that Edward asks for directions is actually the director, Gary Marshall.
4. Richard Gere not only played the piano, but he also composed the piece of music that is played.
5. The film really was shot at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
6. The opera they were seeing was called La Traviata, which is pretty ironic because it’s about a prostitute who falls in love with a wealthy man.
7. It’s the fourth highest grossing romantic comedy in American history.
8. The famous red coat that Vivian wears throughout the film was actually a $30 jacket taken from a movie usher the director met before filming started.
9. Originally Vivian was going to be addicted to drugs, but instead, they opted for a more light-hearted film.
10. This scene where Edward gives Vivian a diamond necklace was actually improvised by Richard Gere.
11. And the necklace was worth a whopping $250,000. The jewelry store sent a security guard to stand next to the director during filming.
12. Christopher Reeve, Denzel Washington and Daniel Day-Lewis were reportedly considered for the role of Edward Lewis.
13. And apparently, Al Pacino, Albert Brooks and Sylvester Stallone were offered the role and turned it down.
14. In addition, Sandra Bullock and Sarah Jessica Parker were reportedly offered the role of Vivian and turned it down.
15. Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Hector Elizondo and Kathleen Marshall all appeared together in Runaway Bride nine years after Pretty Woman came out.
16. Julia Roberts got so nervous during this naked scene that a visible vein popped out of her forehead. The director got into bed with her and Gere and they massaged her forehead until it disappeared.
17. The director had to tickle Julia Robert’s feet off camera to get her to laugh in this scene.
18. One time, Julia got so into this scene when she came up from dunking her head everyone had left (including the cameraman).
19. Prince’s “Kiss” does not appear on the film’s soundtrack.
20. When they first started filming, Richard Gere would walk around a lot. The director asked him to stay still instead.
21. The movie was originally supposed to be called “$3,000″ because that’s how much a night cost with Julia Robert’s character. It wasn’t until they got the rights to the song “Pretty Woman” that they decide to change it.
22. The red dress Vivian wears to the opera was designed by Marilyn Vance-Straker.
23. Neither Ferrari nor Porsche wanted their cars to be used in the movie.
Because they didn’t want their cars associated with picking up prostitutes.
24. The film was nominated for four Golden Globes.
25. Pretty Women Is Actually A Disney Movie. Weird.
26. There’s actually a mistake in the scene where Vivian and Edward eat breakfast after their first night together. Julia starts eating a croissant, but when the camera cuts back to her she’s holding a pancake instead.
27. The Deleted Scenes Are EPIC! From Vivian squeezing packets of ketchup onto her posh steak meal, to Edward nearly fighting a gang trying to take drug money from Vivian.
28. Vivian’s apartment in the film was really Las Palmas Hotel in Los Angeles, and its still there, looking exactly the same.
29. The steamy piano scene had to be cut down because it was “too sexual” even though there was no nudity.
30. The hotel clerk at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel is the producer’s daughter, Kathleen. She’s also appeared in Marshall’s other films such as New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day and The Princess Diaries.
31. Julia Roberts brought her dog onto set, apparently wouldn’t stop barking in the scene when Vivian first comes on to Edward in her bra and underwear.
32. When asked about the film glorifying prostitution, Julia told The Guardian: “What are you going to do? You can’t please everybody. That movie was a fairytale. We did everything but put a glass slipper on. And I’ll tell you something else: for $3,000 a weekend, Richard Gere got a bargain.”
33. Julia Roberts was only 22-years-old when the film was released.
34. The original ending of the movie was seriously dark, which included Vivian dying from an overdose.
35. It cost $14,000,000 to make the film, but it ended up grossing $178,406,268.
