A Review of the Opening Sequence of Pretty Woman

A Review of the Opening Sequence of Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman is a romantic comedy, which is based on the stories of

Cinderella, the Prince and the Pauper and My fair lady. The film was

produced in 1990 and directed by Garry Marshall. It is set in the

Hollywood hills and the rough Hollywood Boulevard. Richard Gere and

Julia Roberts play the two main characters, Vivien Ward and Edward

Lewis. Edward is a wealthy man who is respected and admired by others.

Whereas Vivien is a lot poorer. Her only way of earning money is by

her job as a prostitute in Hollywood Boulevard.

In the film the music is very important. At the beginning it is set at

a party. It is Edward's party so it is very posh and classy. All

throughout the party scenes there is piano music being played in the

background. This shows that Edward and his friends are very

sophisticated. The music changes though when Edward is in his car

driving through the Hollywood hills down into the Hollywood Boulevard.

It turns into a more upbeat song it's lyrics include 'I'll get over

you,' this is a signifier because it links in with the fact that he

has just broken up with his girlfriend.

When the shot moves to Vivien in her bedroom the music changes again,

it changes to a louder, heavier song called 'Wild women do' which

matches Vivien's character as a prostitute living in the rough part of

the Hollywood Boulevard where she lives life wildly. Just from this

you can see a contrast between Vivien and Edward straight away.

The costumes that the two main characters wear are very different. At

the party at the beginning of the film, Edward and all of his friends

are wearing very posh...

... middle of paper ...

...ien is first introduced when she is in bed and the first shot is of

her underwear, we don't see her face until the next shot of her. The

biggest signifier within the first few shots is of the pictures on her

wall of her and her boyfriends but her boyfriends faces have been cut

or scratched out.

I think that in conclusion Garry Marshall was very successful in how

he was able to hook the audience. He used good techniques like the

cross cutting shots and also how he introduced the two main characters

away from each other leading their own lives. He made a very good

contrast between Edward and Vivien by having Edward as the rich

businessman and Vivien as the prostitute living in the Hollywood

Boulevard. However he also made comparisons between the two characters

for example neither of them are very good in relationships.