Pretty Woman (1990)

Before it became a romantic comedy icon, Pretty Woman was a gritty drama about prostitution and class in Los Angeles. Re-imagined as a glossy modern fairy tale, it became a cultural phenomenon. But what are we really watching – a love story for the ages, a problematic fantasy, or a sharp, if sugar-coated, satire of 1980s excess? Join us as we look past the opera gloves and ruby slippers to examine the film’s enduring, complicated legacy.

On the surface, it’s the ultimate Cinderella story: Edward Lewis (Richard Gere), a cold corporate raider, hires Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts), a charismatic Hollywood Boulevard sex worker, for a week as his elegant escort for business functions. What begins as a transactional arrangement slowly, improbably, transforms into a connection that challenges them both to rediscover their humanity.

Keep an eye on Héctor Elizondo's performance as the hotel manager, Mr. Thompson—often cited as the film's true "fairy godmother." Listen for the clever use of the opera La Traviata (the story of a courtesan who must abandon her lover).

Runtime: 119 minutes
Rated R

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