Richard Gere Reveals 'Pretty Woman's' Iconic Piano Scene Was Completely Improvised
Richard Gere recently delighted fans with some fascinating behind-the-scenes revelations about one of the most iconic scenes from the 1990 classic, Pretty Woman . During a masterclass hosted by Cartier at the Venice Film Festival, the legendary actor celebrated his 75th birthday by reflecting on his illustrious career, with special attention given to the film that has remained a favorite among audiences for over three decades.
Gere shared that the memorable and steamy piano scene with Julia Roberts was never part of the original script. It was, in fact, an improvisation that emerged organically during filming. In the scene, Gere’s character, Edward Lewis, is playing the piano late at night in the grand ballroom of the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel when Vivian, played by Julia Roberts, sleepily enters the room in a bathrobe. What follows is an intimate, passionate moment between the characters, which, as Gere humorously pointed out, was filled with "no chemistry," despite the palpable connection that the scene exudes on screen. Gere joked about this, laughing as he remarked, "No chemistry… I mean, this actor and this actress obviously had no chemistry between them."
The improvisation happened after the film’s director, Garry Marshall, asked Gere to consider what his character might do during his solitary moments in the hotel. Gere, who was also an accomplished pianist, began to play something reflective and moody, mirroring Edward’s internal struggle as a wealthy but emotionally isolated man. The unscripted nature of the scene added an unexpected depth to Edward’s character, allowing Vivian to see him in a new light—a man with a mysterious, almost damaged, quality that was previously hidden behind his polished exterior.
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The piano scene has since become integral to the narrative of Pretty Woman , illustrating the subtle shifts in the relationship between Edward and Vivian. Gere reflected on how the scene unexpectedly contributed to the film’s success, noting that it became a defining moment for his character, despite what he humorously referred to as the role being "criminally underwritten"—nothing more than "a suit and a good haircut."
Gere also reminisced about the overall experience of making Pretty Woman , revealing that neither he, Julia Roberts, nor director Garry Marshall anticipated the film’s eventual box office success. Produced on a modest budget of $14 million, the film went on to gross an astonishing $463.4 million worldwide, solidifying both Gere’s and Roberts’ statuses as Hollywood A-listers. Despite this, Gere admitted that while filming, there was little expectation that the movie would become the cultural phenomenon it is today.
This revelation at the Venice Film Festival not only highlights Gere's talent for improvisation but also underscores the serendipitous nature of filmmaking, where sometimes the most memorable scenes are the ones that are created on the fly. Fans of Pretty Woman will undoubtedly appreciate this glimpse into how one of the film’s most intimate moments came to life, entirely unplanned, yet perfectly executed.
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