Tag Line from Pretty Woman 1990 "Who knew it was so much fun to be a hooker?"

Pretty Woman is a 1990 romantic comedy and the film centers on down-on-her-luck prostitute named Vivian Ward (Julia Robert) who is hired by a wealthy businessman, Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) to be his escort for several business functions, and their developing relationship. Originally titled "$3,000," that title was dropped along with the entire theme of the original screenplay.

Pretty Woman was initially intended to be a dark drama about prostitution in Los Angeles but was turned into a romantic comedy by the film's producers, Laura Ziskin and Gary Goldstein. The screenplay itself, is far from "cute" or funny, and a small portion is excerpted below. Goldstein, a former criminal defense lawyer from San Francisco, claimed in an interview that writer Jonathan Lawton had written a "romantic comedy" while living among the poor and dispossessed in the slums of Hollywood, California. A plain reading of the script indicates that it is not a romantic comedy, but an urban tragedy and is linked below. Goldstein, is glibly comfortable with this appealing lie since he has made millions of dollars as a result. Ziskin's and Goldstein's unholy creation was more appealing then reality and turned in a huge financial success for the moguls of Hollywood. It became one of 1990's highest grossing films, and today is one of the most financially successful entries in the romantic comedy genre, with an estimated gross of $464 million USD. No other Hollywood movie has glamorized prostitution more, and caused more damage to an entire generation of young women. Of course, Ziskin and Goldstein, would not want any of their daughters, nieces or granddaughters to be prostitutes, but they eagerly present and promote this way of life to your children throughout America. Ironically, not everybody jumped on the Ziskin/Goldstein mammon bandwagon.

It should be noted that Ferrari and Porsche, declined the product placement opportunity of the car Edward drove, because they did not want to be associated with soliciting prostitutes.

Actresses who declined the Ziskin/Goldstein Faustian choice of commercial and financial rewards based on social consciousness and an awareness of problems faced by prostituted persons on a day to day basis were many. Molly Ringwald, who turned it down because she felt uncomfortable with the content in the script, and did not like the idea of playing a prostitute. Meg Ryan, turned it down. Michelle Pfeiffer turned the role down as well, because she did not like the "tone" of the script and its glamorization of prostitution . Daryll Hannah turned the role down because she believed it was "degrading to women" and sent the wrong message to young women. Jennifer Jason Leigh had auditioned for the part, but later decided not to do the movie after she read the script. Other actresses considered for the role of Vivian were Heather Locklear, Jodie Foster, Tatum O'Neal, Bridget Fonda, Lori Loughlin, Diane Lane, Sarah Jessica Parker and Brooke Shields all declined to play the role of Vivian.

Undeterred, Producer Ziskin, after all the other actresses turned down the role due to concerns about the portrayal of prostitution, auditioned a relative unknown, Julia Roberts, who needed the work and was able to "win" the role. Now this movie would be made to show young women how "cute, funny and romantic" prostitution is; how classy and gentleman-like (and rich, caring and sensitive) the johns are; and how if you sell your body and your dignity on the streets, you too can meet Mr. Right and live happily ever after. It is all a lie.

Hollywood Fantasy
"Welcome to Hollywood! What's your dream? Everybody comes here; this is Hollywood, land of dreams. Some dreams come true, some don't; but keep on dreamin' - this is Hollywood. Always time to dream, so keep on dreamin'. " Quote from Happy Man, Pretty Woman 1990


Reality
Jessica "Baby Girl" Brackett from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma was a prostituted person. It should be noted that there were two men arrested and they are facing first degree murder charges with the possible sentence of death by lethal injection.

PRETTY WOMAN - Excerpt from the Original Script Titled "$3,000" before Producers Laura Ziskin and Gary Goldstein turned it into a "Cinderella Story."

KIT
Vivian.
Vivian looks at her, annoyed.
VIVIAN
Kit, what are you doing?
KIT
Waiting for you. It's fucking cold out there.
VIVIAN
It's not going to be any warmer tomorrow night.
The Old Man waves at Vivian.
OLD MAN
Hi, Viv.
VIVIAN (quickly, without looking at him)
Hi.
(to Kit)
Let's get working. We've only got a couple hours before the street clears.
KIT
It's too cold. No one's out.
VIVIAN
They're out.
Kit coughs so loudly and deeply that it's obvious she has emphysema.
KIT
Let's get high.
Vivian grabs Kit by the shoulder and drags her toward the door.
VIVIAN
We're going to work. Come on.
EXT. HOLLYWOOD BLVD. - NIGHT
Vivian and Kit come out of the shop and onto the street. As they walk Kit wraps her arms tightly around her body to shield herself from the cold. She starts to cough again.
KIT
It's too cold. I'm gonna get sick.
VIVIAN
We've got to work. The rent's coming up. I'm not going to lose our place.
KIT
We'll make it up tomorrow. Let's get high.
VIVIAN
How much have you made tonight?
KIT
(hesitantly) Twenty.
Vivian is angry.
VIVIAN
One fucking date?
KIT
I haven't felt good.
VIVIAN
I'm going to fucking kick you out if you don't start holding up your end!
Kit's eyes water and she starts to sniffle.
VIVIAN
Don't cry on me. I'm not your mother. You promised to hold up your end or I wouldn't have let you move in.
Kit wipes her eyes.

For a full copy of the script click here

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Recently posted on IMDb::Boards: Pretty Woman (1990)

I hired an L.A. prostitute after watching this movie

by stony5000 (Sat Jun 27 2009 17:11:20)

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I now have herpes.

Thanks a lot, "Hollywood".
This is your fault for misleading me.