Movies

Pretty Woman’s Biggest Goofs: From Croissant Trickery to “I Love Lucy” Laugh Lies Exposed!

BBG News

It’s the quintessential story of unlikely lovers triumphing over the odds.

Thirty-five years later, Richard Gere’s character, Edward, remains the embodiment of the chivalrous hero that Julia Roberts’s Vivian had longed for, and “Pretty Woman” continues to set the bar as the ultimate romantic comedy classic.

Interestingly enough, it’s revealed that the love story between the smitten businessman and prostitute wasn’t the sole tale of the underdogs in Garry Marshall’s classic film.

The movie, initially written by newcomer screenwriter J F Lawton, featured a then-unknown actress in its lead role. After being discarded by its initial production team, it unexpectedly soared to become the fifth highest-grossing film upon its debut.

However, behind the beauty of even the most captivating films lies a less attractive aspect, and it seems that this romantic tale is no exception. Deception, which appears to have slipped past the discerning eyes of the staggering 42 million ticket buyers during its box office-shattering theater run, is a part of its narrative.

Have you noticed any blunders, oversights or flaws in things ranging from oddly transforming treats to less humorous American sitcoms?

Flipping pancakes 

Making a decision on what to have for breakfast at an upscale hotel can sometimes feel overwhelming, yet Vivian’s dilemma over food choices leaves one craving pancakes.

Edward, dressed in his robe, is chatting with his attorney Philip on an old-fashioned mobile phone from the ’90s, while he’s preparing a lavish meal suitable for a large corporation and heading towards it.

Vivian shows up at exactly the right moment to savor the generous meal, and without delay, she takes a bite of an inviting-looking croissant.

Edward explained that he decided to get ‘everything on the menu’ because he was unsure of what she wanted, and as it turned out, she too couldn’t decide.

While Vivian was engrossed in discussions about mergers and acquisitions, there was a brief moment where she paused mid-bite of a pancake, just seconds after she had quickly devoured a French snack.

It’s either an expert trick like LA’s best pickpockets would use, or, more realistically, it appears to be classic movie magic at work.

Grinding his Geres 

To start off memorably, Richard’s character, Edward, exits a bustling corporate event and commandeers his attorney’s Lotus Esprit for a drive through the picturesque Hollywood Hills.

The obviously nervous lawyer extensively discusses the intricacies of his latest vehicle, even delving into its manual gearbox, which might be challenging for those unfamiliar with it.

In simpler terms, Edward initially struggles during the lecture, gets confused, and fails to start the expensive car. Eventually, he requires help from Vivian, which establishes the central storyline of the movie.

Beyond her captivating personality and attractive appearance, the businessman is deeply impressed by her knowledge about the British motor, particularly when she elucidates that it features a conventional H-pattern manual transmission.

I can’t help but shake my head in disbelief, for she was clearly misguided. In that exhilarating movie scene, the sleek X180 Esprit wasn’t equipped with a four-speed gearbox as she suggested, but a more robust five-speed system instead. Her advice, it seems, fell short of the mark.

Fortunately, the corporate specialist, who was equally unfamiliar with cars, found a connection with Vivian and showed favor towards her, establishing the foundation for this blockbuster movie that garnered over £340million ($463m) in gross revenue.

A noteworthy error 

Edward and Vivian share something deeper than mere business dealings, yet it’s important to recall that at one stage, they needed to establish a cost for their mutual agreement.

For a full week, her service fees amount to $3,000 – a sum frequently mentioned in the film. However, following a transformative seven days, the businessman proposes significantly more than that, such as offering her a condo of her own and a regular allowance.

Worried that she was being exploited once more as if she were a prostitute, Vivian decided it was time to gather her belongings for the journey to San Francisco, where she would strive to earn her high school diploma at last.

Edward consistently ensures he gives her the money, and on numerous occasions, he withdraws $100 bills from his wallet and passes them to her.

Unfortunately, she was given less than expected by the millionaire, only receiving a small number of notes during each encounter, totaling no more than $1500.

Or,

Regrettably, instead of the full amount, she received minimal cash from the millionaire each time, accumulating to a maximum of $1500.

30 bills would have made Vivian’s purse excessively bulky, leading to the unfortunate choice of underpaying her. It’s undeniably unjust if one were to consider the situation.

It’s worth noting that the movie was initially intended to have a title linked to the amount of money Edward was required to pay. In an interview with The Graham Norton Show in 2023, Julia revealed, ‘The original title for the film was going to be “A Darker Tale” set at $3,000.’

I Don’t Love Lucy

If you find yourself feeling bored during your lavish vacation at a top-tier hotel, consider following Vivian’s example and fill your time with laughter by watching a timeless comedy series instead.

Instead of finding it hilarious like most people, it seems that actress Julia did not share the same sentiment towards the show “I Love Lucy.” In fact, she remained quite serious and didn’t even manage a smile while watching it.

To solve this unexpected problem, Director Garry came up with a clever solution by stimulating the feet soles of the cast member, which caused them to burst into uncontrollable laughter.

An age-old trick used frequently in sitcoms is the incorporation of laughter tracks, which serve as an internal approval stamp for the program they accompany.

In that scene, it isn’t just the forced laugh that seems off; there’s also an unusual moment when Edward’s tie appears to have a life of its own.

Vivian momentarily loosens the businessman’s tie for relaxation, but upon leaving to retrieve something from another area of the penthouse, she finds it re-tied. Yet, just moments pass before it’s taken off once more. Quite eerie.

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In simpler terms, it can be said that Edward’s attorney, Philip, is arguably the most unsavory character in the movie “Pretty Woman.” He initiates a conflict with Vivian when he speculates to his superior that Vivian, who is portrayed as a prostitute, might actually be a corporate spy.

Later on, when the shady lawyer found himself at odds with a business decision, he seized the opportunity for retribution by focusing on Edward’s new partner, whom he had encountered in his employer’s hotel room.

In the course of their conversation on the couch, he makes an unwanted advance towards her, leading to a chaotic struggle. During this commotion, his expensive timepiece accidentally falls from his wrist.

After Vivian takes a bite, he has his timepiece back on before it vanishes again. As soon as Edward shows up, it happens all over again. (This version maintains the original sequence of events while making the language more casual and conversational.)

It’s evident that Philip had more pressing issues on his mind than locating his lost watch, as his boss not only struck him hard across the face but also dismissed him immediately. To make matters worse, losing his job on top of everything else would have been an extra source of frustration for him.

Regarding the hidden detail, it’s quite elusive and hard to notice because the jewelry swiftly moves off-screen towards the left in just a moment. Therefore, congratulations if you managed to spot it promptly!

Escargot saga 

1964’s My Fair Lady serves as a basis, with Pretty Woman delivering a contemporary rendition of the timeless Pygmalion tale where a street vendor is refined into a lady – a 90s reinvention of the story.

In every turn of events, the dinner hour presentation becomes a decisive moment, where Eliza Doolittle is trained to maintain an upright posture and master elegant dining etiquette.

Or simply:
In each occasion, the dinner time display is crucial, with Eliza Doolittle learning to sit properly and practice refined table manners.

In a swanky restaurant, Vivian’s performance on the test was disastrous, causing her to fling a snail across the dining area. However, the waiter manages to grab it before anyone gets harmed, nonchalantly remarking: ‘This sort of thing happens quite often.’

Even though slow-moving as snails, her actions were utterly unacceptable. Yet, her captivating charm throughout the film proved more than sufficient to make amends for her character.

As a lifestyle expert, I must clarify a misunderstanding that has been circulating. When it comes to the infamous food fight on set between Vivian, as portrayed by Julia, and director Garry, let me assure you, dear reader, that it was not our graceful actress who initiated the fracas. It was Garry, in an unexpected move, who hurled the snack in question.

In 2016, the film director was so fond of this particular scene that he made sure to include an identical version in one of the Princess Diaries movies that he himself directed.

In both, a waiter is given the same line and the role of catching the projectile.

Robes on for Roberts 

The strong chemistry between Edward and Vivian is evident throughout the romantic comedy, which has a steamy atmosphere, and they become intimate with each other on the initial night of their romance.

As a die-hard fan, I must confess that I was thrilled when actress Julia took on the role of the prostitute in the film. However, she made it clear from the start that she wouldn’t bare all for nude scenes. Instead, she insisted on maintaining a sense of dignity and respectability, even within such an evocative character.

At the start of preparations, when the rising actress initially interacted with director Gary regarding playing Vivian, she was 21 years old, whereas he was 40.

During their meeting, she insisted: ‘I won’t be naked.’

In the end, it proved to be a wise choice since several of Vivian’s costumes from the movie gained iconic status, notably the striking red gown she donned during the poignant opera sequence.

During explicit scenes, stand-in actress Shelley Michelle took over the role of the sex worker and was featured on the promotional material for Pretty Woman.

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2025-05-04 10:05

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