Pretty Woman is a American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall , from a screenplay by J. It is the first film on-screen collaboration between Gere and Roberts; their second film, Runaway Bride , was released in Originally intended to be a dark cautionary tale about class and prostitution in Los Angeles , the film was re-conceived as a romantic comedy with a large budget.
It was widely successful at the box office and was the third-highest-grossing film of The film saw the highest number of ticket sales in the US ever for a romantic comedy, [2] with Box Office Mojo listing it as the number-one romantic comedy by the highest estimated domestic tickets sold at 42,,, slightly ahead of My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 41,, tickets.
In addition, screenwriter J. Edward Lewis, a high-powered corporate raider from New York, buys and dismantles struggling companies, selling off the assets for profit. He wants his girlfriend to accompany him during a business trip, but fed up with being his "beck and call girl," she ends their relationship. Leaving a business party in the Hollywood Hills , Edward takes his lawyer's Lotus Esprit sports car and accidentally ends up on Hollywood Boulevard in the city's red-light district. There he encounters prostitute Vivian Ward.
As he is having difficulties driving a manual transmission car, he pays Vivian to drive him to the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Edward then hires her for the night. Prior to an important business dinner, Barney, the hotel's manager, tutors Vivian in proper etiquette and arranges for her to buy a cocktail dress after several snooty shop clerks had refused to wait on her. Edward is impressed by Vivian's transformation and opens up to her, revealing details about his personal and business life.
At a polo match, Edward's attorney, Phillip, suspects Vivian is a corporate spy until Edward reveals how they met. Phillip later propositions Vivian for her services after Edward is finished with her. Vivian is hurt and furious at Edward for exposing her. Edward apologizes and realizes Vivian's straightforward personality is rubbing off on him.
