Lesser-known mistakes and bloopers in Pretty Woman.
“Pretty Woman” is one of those movies I can watch over and over again—it never gets old or boring.
But considering how many times I’ve seen it, it’s a bit surprising that I never noticed these mistakes, which actually tell a different story about the film.
Disney changed everything
Pretty Woman became a romantic comedy that captivated millions and turned Richard Gere and Julia Roberts into global stars.
But it wasn’t supposed to be that way. The original script was titled 3,000 and was written by screenwriter J.F. Lawton. The first draft explored much darker themes, focusing on social inequality and corporate greed.
However, everything changed when Disney took over. The studio shifted the tone, emphasizing themes of social class and sex work in Los Angeles, while giving the film a bigger budget and transforming it into something far more accessible than its original version.
Al Pacino turned down the lead role
For many, it’s impossible to imagine anyone other than Richard Gere as Edward Lewis, the wealthy New York businessman who hires Vivian (Julia Roberts) as his companion for a week.
But the casting process took longer than expected, and Al Pacino was initially considered for the role. He even did a screen test with Julia Roberts before ultimately turning it down.
Although he liked the script, Pacino never revealed exactly why he declined. Looking back, he praised Roberts, who was relatively unknown at the time.
“When you read the script, you knew it was going to be good—you knew it would be a hit,” Pacino said. “And this girl was phenomenal. I asked Gary, ‘Where did you find her?’” (Gary refers to director Garry Marshall.) His instincts were right—Roberts’ performance would go on to define both her career and the film’s legacy.
The croissant turns into a pancake
In the breakfast scene where Edward orders room service, there’s a funny detail you may have missed. Vivian starts out eating a croissant while talking to Edward.
But in the blink of an eye, the croissant magically turns into a pancake.
How did that happen? According to director Garry Marshall, he preferred Roberts’ performance in later takes, where she was eating a pancake instead. So they kept those shots.
However, this created a continuity issue. In one shot, Vivian takes a second bite of the pancake—but in the next, it only has one bite missing, and the bite marks look completely different. Clearly, it’s not the same pancake.
The truth behind the iconic dress
Costume design details can sometimes go unnoticed, but no one could miss the iconic red dress worn by Julia Roberts in the film.
The dress symbolizes Vivian’s transformation and empowerment, especially during the opera scene. Vogue described it as “striking, incredibly sexy without losing an ounce of elegance.”
The genius behind it was award-winning designer Marilyn Vance, who created six stunning outfits for Vivian, as well as Richard Gere’s polished looks.
For example, the charming brown-and-white polka dot dress Roberts wore at the horse race was made from vintage silk found in a small Los Angeles fabric shop. And those elegant shoes? Yes, they were Chanel.
Richard Gere’s tie
Gere’s wardrobe was also carefully curated, featuring suits in brown, navy, and blue-gray tones.
As for the famous tie Vivian grabs from a store employee—it wasn’t designer at all. According to Vance, she bought it in Los Angeles for just $48.
The tie appears several times throughout the film, and if you pay close attention, you’ll notice it mysteriously changes knots. During the polo match, Edward wears it in a half-Windsor knot, but later it becomes a full Windsor—and even his shirt collar style seems to change.
“Obscene” shopping spree
When Edward introduces Vivian to the glamorous world of the rich, he takes her shopping on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
That shopping spree? According to Marilyn Vance, it would have cost at least $30,000. No wonder Vivian was in shock—it was like spending Monopoly money.
The ruby and diamond necklace was real
The stunning heart-shaped ruby and diamond necklace Vivian wears with her red dress was worth a staggering $250,000.
It was completely real—and during filming, an armed security guard stood just off-camera to protect it.
The jewelry box scene was a prank
The famous scene where Edward presents Vivian with the necklace is not only iconic but also has a funny backstory.
The moment when the jewelry box snaps shut on Vivian’s fingers—prompting her genuine laugh—was actually a prank.
Director Garry Marshall explained that Julia Roberts, who was only 23 at the time, sometimes arrived on set a bit tired. So he told Gere to “wake her up” by snapping the box shut. It didn’t hurt her, but it surprised her enough to create a real reaction.
They decided to keep the moment in the film—and it became one of its most memorable scenes.
Edward’s disappearing shoes
Some errors are harder to spot, but eagle-eyed viewers have caught them.
For instance, after the opera, when Edward and Vivian go to the park, Vivian removes Edward’s shoes. But moments later, as he lies down, the shoes mysteriously reappear.
The missing money
There’s also a small mystery involving Vivian’s boots.
At one point, Edward gives her $100, which she hides in her boot. Later, when she takes her boots off, the money has completely disappeared.
Did it vanish into thin air? Or was it just another continuity mistake?
The color-changing condoms
In one scene, Vivian offers Edward a selection of colorful condoms. Initially, there are four neatly arranged.
But in the next shot, their order has completely changed—as if they moved on their own.
Richard Gere didn’t love his character
Despite the film’s success, Richard Gere has been critical of his character. At a Venice Film Festival, he described Edward as “criminally underwritten,” saying, “He’s basically just a suit and a good haircut.”
He even joked about one scene—where Edward plays the piano—saying sarcastically that there was “no chemistry,” even though it’s considered one of the film’s most romantic moments.
Interestingly, that scene was improvised. Gere explained that he often played piano late at night in hotels, and director Garry Marshall suggested incorporating that into the film.
Off-screen chemistry
In reality, the chemistry between Julia Roberts and Richard Gere was undeniable—both on and off screen.
Gere revealed in 2017 that they still speak regularly, and at one point talked several times a day.
“Yes, we liked each other immediately,” he said.
Even director Garry Marshall noticed it right away. During their first meeting, he left them alone briefly and later saw them standing at the end of a hallway, simply looking at each other.
“Right then, I thought—look at that chemistry,” he recalled.
Roberts convinced Gere to join the film
Although Al Pacino was close to getting the role, Julia Roberts was determined to have Gere as her co-star.
She even wrote him a note that said: “Please say yes.”
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And the rest, as they say, is history.
Even in a fairy-tale romance, things don’t always go as planned. Maybe that’s exactly what makes Pretty Woman so special—and why we keep coming back to it year after year.
