The 1990 romantic comedy “Pretty Woman” starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, tells the tale of a wealthy businessman, Edward, and a sex worker, Vivian, who find themselves entangled in a whirlwind romance. One of the film’s most memorable scenes takes place in the ballroom of the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, where Edward is seen playing the grand piano late at night. When Vivian, in her bathrobe, arrives searching for him, he clears the room and invites her onto the piano, creating a tender moment between the two. This scene, however, was not part of the original script.
According to Variety, Richard Gere revealed at an event during the Venice Film Festival that the scene was entirely his improvisation. “It wasn’t in the script… I didn’t even know how it would work, but it ended up being a crucial part of the movie,” he shared. Gere described Edward’s character as having “almost criminally little description.” He joked, “It was essentially a character who wore suits and had nice hair.”
Director Garry Marshall encouraged Gere to imagine what Edward might do while staying in the hotel, leading to the creation of this intimate scene. “The scene was basically ad-libbed. I played a sad kind of music that reflected the character’s inner feelings,” Gere explained. The improvised scene, however, became a defining moment for the film, adding layers of emotional complexity and depth to Edward’s character.
It unveils his hidden vulnerability and sadness, which Vivian is unaware of until that moment. It also changes her perception of Edward, allowing her to see him in a completely different light.
The film, produced on a budget of $14 million, went on to gross $463.4 million worldwide. Despite the film’s success, Gere admits that during filming, he wasn’t sure if it would resonate with audiences. “It was fun shooting it. But we weren’t sure if people would actually watch it,” he reflected. Both he, Julia Roberts, and director Garry Marshall were surprised by the film’s immense popularity.
