One can say that “Pretty Woman” is loosely based on an opera by Giuseppe Verdi titled La Traviata. Edward and Vivian went to the Italian Opera, whose story revolves around a man who falls for a young and lovely courtesan. Their story unravels somehow similarly to the film, except that it ends in tragedy.
Violetta, the courtesan, dies from tuberculosis. Unlike Edward, the young man is left in anguish at the end of the story.
Jason Alexander Before Seinfeld
Pretty Woman helped actors’ careers take off and included Jason Alexander, who played the character Philip Stuckey, the insensitive lawyer. When he accepted this role, he had already won a Tony Award and was a successful Broadway stage actor, yet remained a minor screen actor.
He became more popular after the movie was released, just in time for the first season of "Seinfeld," which would become a television hit.
Roberts Wasn't the First Choice for Molly
Julia Roberts’ role as Vivian Ward was initially offered to actress Molly Ringwald. She’s noted for her performances in "Sixteen Candles," the sweet "Pretty in Pink," and "The Breakfast Club," and her personality could have been a good fit for "Pretty Woman." However, she wasn’t too enthusiastic about it after reading the original dark script and turned it down.
Looking back, she has no regrets. She thinks the movie was perfect for Julia Roberts, saying she’s what made that movie.
Sunday Shopping
As you know, many of the film's scenes were filmed on Beverly Hill's famous Rodeo Drive. However, the only inconvenience was that all of these scenes had to be filmed on Sundays since the municipality has very strict rules on filming in that particular street.
It is strictly forbidden to film during the week since these are prime business hours, and the city ensures nothing affects the local business owner's profits.
The Hotel and Sets
Pretty Woman had a big budget, especially for a romantic comedy. This allowed the production to film in various locations, in upscale places around Los Angeles. They filmed scenes that were supposedly at the Beverly Wilshire hotel, but the actual shooting was done at the Los Angeles Ambassador Hotel.
If you ever find time to roam around Los Angeles, try going to Cicada, where Vivian and Edward dated and relive the show.