Pretty Woman: A Dark Origin Story Transformed into a Classic Romantic Comedy

The cherished romantic comedy Pretty Woman was not always the delightful fairy tale we recognize today. Initially named 3,000, the film started as a significantly darker drama that concentrated on issues of class disparity and inequality. Crafted by the struggling screenwriter J.F. Lawton, the original script possessed a gritty atmosphere and a considerably less hopeful conclusion. When Disney became involved, they completely reimagined the narrative — providing it with a substantial budget, a more cheerful tone, and ultimately converting it into a feel-good blockbuster that propelled Julia Roberts and Richard Gere to superstardom.

The Croissant-to-Pancake Blunder

One of the most entertaining bloopers in Pretty Woman occurs during a breakfast scene. Vivian is depicted eating a croissant, but in the subsequent shot, it inexplicably transforms into a pancake. Director Garry Marshall later clarified that he opted for the pancake shot because Roberts delivered a superior performance in that take. The outcome? A classic continuity mistake that fans continue to find humorous today — a minor error that only enhances the film’s appeal.