Pretty Woman [15th Anniversary Special Edition]

Director: Garry Marshall

Overview

Self-involved corporate raider Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) has recently split up with his girlfriend. Seeking directions to the Beverly Hills Hotel, he makes the acquaintance of free-spirited hooker Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) and decides to put her on a 3,000-dollar retainer as his "date." He Cinderellarizes her by bankrolling a full wardrobe and cosmetic makeover. Of course, the setup will be strictly platonic. A disarming modern-day fairy tale, Pretty Woman was the picture that made Julia Roberts a superstar. As charming as she is in her "giggling" sequences, Roberts' best scene is her triumphant return to a posh Rodeo Drive shop where she'd been previously snubbed. Keeping Pretty Woman afloat throughout is the buoyant direction of Garry Marshall and the always welcome presence of Marshall's stock company of actors, including Hector Elizondo as a stuffy but golden-hearted concierge. Pretty Woman began its life as a much darker story of prostitutes and homicidal drug dealers, but more box-office-savvy heads ultimately prevailed.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/30/2005
UPC:	0786936281330
Original Release:	1990
Rating:	R
Source:	Touchstone / Disney
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:25:00
Sales rank:	2,747

Special Features

Blooper reel; "Live from the wrap party"; "LA: The Pretty Woman Tour"; All-new audio commentary with director Garry Marshall; 1990 production featurette; "Wild Women Do" performed by Natalie Cole; Theatrical trailer; Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound; Widescreen (1.85:1)-enhanced for 16x9 television; French Language track; French and Spanish Subtitles

Editorial Reviews

Pretty Woman was one of the most unexpected blockbusters of the early '90s. The film's leading man, Richard Gere, hadn't had a hit since 1983's An Officer and a Gentleman, and the young Julia Roberts had yet to attempt a leading role. The film was originally written as a gritty drama, which the studio and director Garry Marshall tempered into a charming if unlikely fairy tale, buoyed by the two leads' undeniable chemistry. The rest is box-office history: the picture eventually pulled in over 450 million dollars worldwide and became a cultural reference point. Some viewers criticized the film for its trivial depiction of prostitution, but Roberts' charming performance is in keeping with the film's light, romantic fantasy tone. She also received a Best Actress nomination later that year.