The “sex worker with a heart of gold” trope has found its way to the screen in a myriad of forms, but hands down one of the most memorable iterations isGarry Marshall’sPretty Woman. Over three decades after it was released, the film still causes quite a stir, dividing audiences intosappy romanticsanddie-hard realists. Nevertheless,Richard GereandJulia Robertsbrought to life a story that was a few paces ahead of its time. Rather than offering up the usual “boy meets girl, boy saves girl” narrative,Pretty Womanalso had the girl “rescue him right back.”
In a nutshell, the story focuses on corporate raider Edward Lewis (played by Gere) who picks up street-savvy escort Vivian Ward (Roberts) for what was supposed to be a night of non-consequential “fun.” However, a night turns into a week, and eventually, the pair discover a connection that defies stereotypes. Altogether, it’s a narrative that proves that love can blossom even in the most unlikely places. Needless to say,the rom-com was far from flowery. However, an earlier revision of the script had the story going in a whole other direction — we’re talkingdarker, grittier, and a lot less cathartic.
Pretty Woman
Directed by Gary Marshall, Pretty Woman stars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere as Vivian Ward and Edward Lewis. Lewis is a wealthy New York businessman who hires Hollywood sex worker Ward to accompany him during his stay in Los Angeles. Initially wary of each other, the couple’s relationship grows steadily deeper over Lewis' stay, causing Ward to begin to rethink her career path.
The Original Script of ‘Pretty Woman’ Was Much Darker
It goes without saying that for most people, imagining thePretty Womannarrative going any other way is a tall order. But, as mentioned earlier, the movie was supposed to be the polar opposite of the production that most people have come to know and love. More information on this was dished out in 2019’sVariety’s Actors on Actorsinterview that paired Roberts withPatricia Arquette(who also auditioned for the role of Vivian). Among the topics they breached was the fact that the originalPretty Womanwas far from the lighthearted,fairytale-esque rom-com that hit the screens in 1990. Arquette had auditioned for the lead role back when the screenplay was titled3000, and in her opinion, back then it was more along the lines of a “dark gritty art movie.”The film itself portrayed Vivian as a hardcore drug addict and Edward as a borderline sociopathwho considered her nothing more than a plaything.
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As we know,the role ultimately went to Roberts; however, she admitted that she was way out of her comfort zone. She recalled the alternate ending where Edward tossed her character out of his car along with the money he owed her before driving away. Riffing off that, she admitted that the role made her uncomfortable. But in a twist of events, the project was shut down a mere three days after she landed this role, which was quite uncommon for her. Clearly, she was more than glad when the redeveloped script emerged and she retained the part. According to the actress, “… it really became more something that’s in my wheelhouse than what it originally was.” Seeing as the numbers don’t lie, the change in direction was not a bad choice at all.Pretty Womanremains one of thehighest-grossing rom-coms of all time,pulling in a total of$178.4 million at the U.S. box office. What can we say? People love a good fairytale.
Darker Themes and Plot Elements From The Original ‘Pretty Woman’ Script
Saying that the originalPretty Womanscript (3000) was no fairytale is a huge understatement.3000was devoid of the latter’s charm and sensational appeal, tapping into a darker narrative that’s a norm on the fringes of society. At the forefront, is the overarching theme of the harsher, darker realities of sex work with Vivian as a case study of sorts. This time around, the role was without the ‘heart of gold part’ of the familiar trope. She comes across as a sex worker who’s been hardened by the things she’s had to do for survival. The film introduces her as someone who lives in a world where"humiliation is for the shy" and “fear is for the innocent”.
Then there’s the ins-and-outs of Vivian’s relationship with her roommate Kit (Laura San Giacomo), digging deeper into the dark side of the business.3000portrays Kit as unhealthy and suffering from a narcotic-induced cough. Besides the physical consequences of their lifestyle, there are also economic consequences. Despite putting in some pretty gruesome hours, the pair barely keep their heads above water. In struggles such as meeting up with rent and getting proper healthcare, they’d still opt for a quick fix to escape their reality, whichhighlights the underlying theme of survival and escapism.
When Edward steps into the scene,the transactional nature of human nature as well as classism come to light. He’s manipulative and emotionally detached, treating their first meeting as more of a game than interaction with another human being. His wealth (and power) make it convenient for him to view all relationships as transactions, he simply thinks of what he can gain with little to no regard for the other person involved. This dynamic is further explored when he offers Vivian the titular $3000 to be at his beck and call for a week. At the end of it all,3000framed a more cynical view of love, class dynamics, and the human condition. It’s proof that there are harsh realities hidden beneath the surface of some of our rosiest fairy tales.
Would the Alternate Ending of ‘Pretty Woman’ Have Changed Its Cultural Impact?
Love it or hate it,Pretty Womanbroke boundariesand was several strides ahead of its time. Sure, it is a far cry from3000and leans into tamer themes, but it does open up some pretty uncomfortable discussions. In its own way,it challenges what were considered “traditional” male and female roles at the time, even reversing the power dynamics between the pair as the film progresses. It also explores the issues of the commodification of relationships, materialism, and the power of money as a whole. The scene that introduces the popular phrase “Big mistake.Huge!” is no doubt one of the most cathartic in the hour and 52 minutes of the film. However, it mirrors a very real issue as far as class and social judgment are concerned.
Altogether, the lighter take on these deep-rooted issues bode well for the movie money-wise, since it made a range of gritty subjects more palatable. But it could also be argued that the darker script could very well have been more critically appraised, seeing as it ditched the rose-colored glasses and filled in the blanks in the areasPretty Womanfailed. The rom-com came under fire for its somewhat idealized take on the relationship between a wealthy man and a sex worker. It ultimately ended updownplaying the complexities and challenges associated with class dynamicsas a whole. Even more, it leaned into the narrative that money is the main key to happiness if you consider all the personal growth and all-around change Roberts’ character undergoes during her time on Easy Street. Talking aboutwhether the movie aged wellis a whole other issue — definitely some of its elements simply didn’t make the cut. With that in mind, there is no doubt that3000would have offered something more tangible for audiences who would have liked to see a more realistic cause-and-effect relationship play out on screen.
However, thesignificance ofPretty Womancannot be ignored. Let’s just say, the film provided a genre-altering moment, leaving behind the status quo and ushering in an era whererom-com characters could undergo wholesome character development. The leading dup are not only intoxicated by their love at the end of the day, they are ultimately more self-aware too.Pretty Womanalso aided in ushering an era ofstrong female characterswithin the genre — they aren’t just damsels in distress waiting to be swooped off their feet. Vivian is multifaceted as she demonstrates the ability to be assertive, witty, and capable of shaping her own destiny. It also made room for the male lead to simply be human — flaws, struggles, and all. So, while3000definitely had its merits, there is a lot to say about the impact ofPretty Womanonthe future of the genreand the movie landscape as a whole.
‘Pretty Woman’ Traded the Realism of ‘3000’ For an Optimistic Take
While certain elements of the script were retained, it’s clear that3000andPretty Womanare pretty much night and day. On one hand, we had the original script with its serious tone and bird’s eye focus on social issues. Then there was the more fun, romantic story that was inviting and warm. Shifting away from the original script’s raw commentary on the harsh realities of the sex industry as well as classism and the commodification of relationships,Pretty Womangave us more of an optimistic outlook. It embodied softer themes like love, personal growth, and the notion of overcoming social barriers.
Let’s look closer at this change through the lens of the endings, which are by far the most popular aspect of each script.3000presents this realistic and uncompromising narrative. Edward leaves Vivian in a most callous way, re-emphasizing the transactional nature of their relationship. Nothing changes in terms of the societal structures that divide their worlds. It’s the most probable ending for a story like theirs. However,Pretty Womandares the audience to dream a little. Not only does Edward swoop in to save her, but she already chooses to change her own story by leaving Los Angeles and getting an education. Even Kit decides to pick a new line of work, soeveryone deserving gets a happy ending. This shift in perspectives is probably what madePretty Womansuch amainstream success, but would it still hold up today? That’s a conversation for another day. However, it was just the kind of romance movie that the late ’90s needed.
Pretty Womanis currently available to stream on Max in the U.S.
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