Richard Gere Criticizes Pretty Woman for Underdeveloped Character: ‘Just a Suit and a Good Haircut’
Richard Gere recently reminisced about filming one of the most iconic scenes from the 1990 romantic comedy film Pretty Woman with his co-star, Julia Roberts, who portrayed his love interest. Gere also reflected on the legacy of the film and discussed his character as the wealthy corporate raider, Edward Lewis, in the movie. Keep reading for more details!
Garry Marshall’s classic romantic comedy Pretty Woman continues to be a beloved film due to its captivating storyline and the outstanding chemistry between its stars, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Gere, who celebrated his 75th birthday on August 31, recently participated in a masterclass at the Venice Film Festival 2024. During the session, he reacted to a clip of his memorable piano scene with Roberts from the movie, as reported by THR.
“I mean, no chemistry,” he joked, adding, “This actor and actress obviously had no chemistry between them.” The actor from ‘Norman’ further mentioned that he hadn’t watched Pretty Woman in a long time but acknowledged that the scene was “sexy.” Gere also expressed that he felt his character Edward Lewis was “criminally underwritten” and humorously remarked that he was “basically a suit and a good haircut.”
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According to reports, the actor from ‘Nights in Rodanthe’ then revealed that the piano scene was “improvised” after a conversation with director Garry Marshall, who inquired about Gere’s late-night habits in a hotel.
Gere shared that he typically spends time in hotel ballrooms or bars when jet-lagged, and often comes across a piano to play. He mentioned that Marshall suggested incorporating this into the scene. Gere improvised the sequence, playing a moody piece that reflected his character’s inner emotions and feelings.
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Despite earning $463.4 million at the global box office, Richard Gere revealed at the event that he, Julia Roberts, and director Marshall did not anticipate Pretty Woman becoming such a blockbuster hit.
He spoke about the film’s unexpected success, mentioning that while they enjoyed making the movie, they were uncertain if it would reach a wide audience. Gere recalled thinking it was just a small project with a great director, stating, “We didn’t know if anyone would see this tiny movie. No one would ever pay attention to this little tiny movie.”
Meanwhile, Pretty Woman is now available for streaming on Prime Video. Alongside Gere and Roberts, the film features Jason Alexander, Laura San Giacomo, Héctor Elizondo, and Hank Azaria in supporting roles.