Pretty Woman became a romantic comedy that captivated millions and launched Richard Gere and Julia Roberts to superstardom. But that’s not how it was supposed to be. The original screenplay was titled 3,000, penned by then-struggling screenwriter J.F. Lawton. The early draft tackled much darker themes about societal disparity and corporate greed. The jewelry box scene was a practical joke.

The scene in which Richard Gere presents Julia Roberts with the expensive necklace is not only one of the most romantic and iconic moments in cinema history, but it also has a humorous backstory. Initially, it was intended as a lighthearted prank for the film’s gag reel. As you may recall, the jewelry box snaps shut on Julia Roberts’ fingers, resulting in one of the most genuine, charming laughs ever captured on film.

Director Garry Marshall revealed the true story behind the scene, explaining why he and Gere chose to play a trick on the young actress. According to Marshall, Roberts, then 23, would occasionally arrive on set drowsy from a late night out. “I said, ‘Richard, you gotta wake her up a little, so when she reaches for the box, slam it.'” It was a softbox. “I would never hurt her,” Marshall said.

It was not until the final stages of editing that they decided to keep the scene in the film. “We put it in… and it became like the trademark of the movie,” Marshall told me. And just like that, an unscripted joke transformed into cinematic magic. Edward’s disappearing shoes. As previously stated, there are some errors in Pretty Woman that are difficult to detect on first viewing, but some astute viewers have spotted them nonetheless. For example, when they leave the opera and go to the park, Vivian removes Edward’s shoes. However, as he begins to lie down, the shoes magically reappeared.