“Pretty Woman” is an instant classic. Many people can quote lines from this movie and bond over their shared love for the Julia Roberts and Richard Gere movie. Some diehard fans can even quote the entire movie. But what about the lines that never made it to the big screen? Yup, “Pretty Woman” has a ton of deleted scenes that you’d only know about if you watched the movie on Blu-Ray or DVD. They give us added insight into the characters, and some of these scenes even change the entire context of the movie. Don’t believe us? Here are the most infamous ones:
A longer first meeting
Not all the scenes that were scrapped are totally new. Some of them were extended versions of existing scenes, such as the one where Vivian first meets Edward. It fleshes out the chemistry more deeply between these two, giving the audience more time to see just how intensely those sparks were flying from the start.
A dark, bleak scene with a pimp
The filmmakers wanted to keep the film a bit lighter, so they took out this scene where Carlos the pimp was demanding money from Vivian. Kit was actually the one who owed Carlos money, but Vivian got caught in the crossfire. While some people don’t like this scene as it was a reminder of the dark side of being a sex worker, we like the grittiness as it gives Vivian more of a character arc and a greater reason for her gratitude in leaving this lifestyle behind for her happily ever after with Edward.
Wild, wild horses
Despite the controversy over some deleted scenes, most fans (even those who dislike the cuts) agree that one moment should have stayed. In this scene, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere go horse riding together. We can see how this scene wasn’t absolutely essential to the development of their relationship, but it embodied the major chemistry the two have, and each frame of it looks like a romance novel cover. Ideally, it should have been left in the movie to show how the connection between these two was blossoming organically. Plus, who doesn’t love horses?
The strange John Ritter connection
That wasn’t the only time that horses made an appearance in a “Pretty Woman” deleted scene. Although it wasn’t as swoon-worthy as the first one between Gere and Roberts, it does have a bizarre Hollywood connection. The scene, which takes place at a polo match, shows Elizabeth letting Philip know that she will take a ride with the Ritters. The actress who played Elizabeth is Amy Yasbeck, who later went on to marry the well-known actor John Ritter. Upon watching this deleted scene, you can’t help but think that Yasbeck is about to bond with her future hubby’s family.
Naughty words edited out
“Pretty Woman” is so popular that it’s been televised time and time again. However, there’s some NSFW dialogue that needs to be edited before it can be aired on family-friendly networks. One of the funniest edits is the scene where Kit says, “Cinde-f**kin’-rella.” In the sanitized version, she just says Cinderella, and the scene was even re-shot so that people couldn’t tell when she was mouthing in a dubbed version. Another line that got transformed was “50 bucks, Grampa. For 75, the wife can watch.” The sentence got changed to “My grandmother has curtains just like that.” While it may seem nonsensical, it does make us laugh!
Is it worth it to watch the director’s cut of “Pretty Woman”?
While you can see the deleted scenes from “Pretty Woman” on YouTube, is it a game-changer to watch the scenes seamlessly placed back in the movie in the Director’s Cut? Is watching separate clips enough for you, or is the director’s cut worth a watch? Ultimately, you’re better off simply watching the deleted scenes online; while they add some new insight into the movie, it’s not enough to justify buying the movie again. However, if you’re a hardcore Julia Roberts or Richard Gere fan, we won’t judge you if you do want to!
