Hit Soundtrack
The Pretty Woman movie and soundtrack are named after the popular Roy Orbison song from 1965. The music compilation also turned out to be a huge commercial hit like the film itself, selling more than 3.6 million copies in Switzerland, Canada, and the UK alone. Imagine how much sales turn out there would be on a worldwide scale.
It earned a platinum a number of times in the UK and Canada and once in Switzerland. It reached gold in Sweden, and its songs could be heard everywhere on the radio.
Ferrari and Porsche Turned Them Down
Julius Roberts mentioned how much she enjoyed driving the 1989 Esprit SE near the beginning of the film. It has a slick design, and it’s fast and quick, and the production didn’t have much of a choice either. Popular car makers like Ferrari and Porsche didn’t want to lend their automobiles and be associated with a film that touched on such controversial and problematic subjects.
Only Lotus eventually ventured on the idea, and it obviously paid off manifold following the huge success of the film.
Gere’s Favorite Scene in the Movie
Richard Gere was quite fond of Vivian, and watching Julia Roberts walk was always his favorite scene. He says she was “all about the legs” when asked to explain why he enjoyed watching her.
He, among many others, found it fun to watch her move in those thigh-high boots, all dressed up in her Vivian outfit.
Jason Alexander Before Seinfeld
Pretty Woman helped actors’ careers take off and included Jason Alexander, who played the character Philip Stuckey, the insensitive lawyer. When he accepted this role, he had already won a Tony Award and was a successful Broadway stage actor, yet remained a minor screen actor.
He became more popular after the movie was released, just in time for the first season of "Seinfeld," which would become a television hit.
Roberts Wasn't the First Choice for Molly
Julia Roberts’ role as Vivian Ward was initially offered to actress Molly Ringwald. She’s noted for her performances in "Sixteen Candles," the sweet "Pretty in Pink," and "The Breakfast Club," and her personality could have been a good fit for "Pretty Woman." However, she wasn’t too enthusiastic about it after reading the original dark script and turned it down.
Looking back, she has no regrets. She thinks the movie was perfect for Julia Roberts, saying she’s what made that movie.