Richard Gere: The Other Star of Pretty Woman
Having appeared on the big screen in the late 1970s, Richard Gere, who has just celebrated his 75th birthday, has become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars thanks to the success of his films. American Gigolo (1980) and Officer and gentleman (1982). These roles quickly brought him into the spotlight, making him one of the most important actors of his generation. However, after these initial successes, Gere experienced a slump in the mid-1980s, a period in which his choice of films struggled to captivate audiences. He is ultimately with Pretty Woman (1990), a romantic comedy (but one that was supposed to end dramatically) directed by Garry Marshall, whose career was revived in spectacular fashion.
In Pretty WomanRichard Gere plays Edward Lewis, a wealthy and distant businessman who develops an unexpected relationship with Vivian Ward, a kindhearted prostitute played by Julia Roberts. The film was a huge success, earning over $460 million at the worldwide box officemaking its lead actress a big star and cementing Richard Gere’s place as Hollywood’s sex symbol. Pretty Woman It thus becomes an essential point of reference in the actor’s career (before a new crisis, followed by a resurrection in the 2000s).
“A dress and a nice haircut”
However, despite the positive impact of Pretty Woman On his career, Richard Gere recently expressed a critical opinion regarding the role that brought him back to the limelight. During a masterclass held at the Venice Film Festival this Sunday, September 1, the actor revealed that he had always had reservations about his character in the film. The actor has in fact stated that he thought the character of Edward Lewis was “shockingly underdeveloped”. He clarified, not without a hint of sarcasm: “It was basically a suit and a nice haircut”.
For him, Edward Lewis was more of a stereotype than a nuanced character. The actor seems to feel some frustration that this iconic role, although it relaunched his career, did not allow him to fully explore his potential as an actor.
An improvised cult scene
During the same masterclass at the Venice Film Festival, Richard Gere also shared an anecdote about one of the most memorable scenes of the Pretty WomanThe scene in question, in which Edward Lewis plays the piano in a hotel, was in fact improvised.
Gere revealed that this scene was conceived after a conversation with director Garry Marshall. Marshall asked him, “What do you do late at night in a hotel?” Gere replied, “Well, I usually get jet lagged when I’m in a hotel. So I stay up all night and there’s usually a ballroom or a bar somewhere. I find a piano and play the piano.” To which Marshall replied, “Let’s do something with that.”
Thus, the scene was born. Marshall simply asked Gere to “play something melancholic,” and Gere began improvising a melody that reflected the inner life of his character, Edward Lewis. This improvisation created an iconic scene that adds a subtle depth to Gere’s character, allowing him to show a more vulnerable and introspective side.
Source: Cine Serie
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