As a huge fan of classic Hollywood films, I have always been in awe of the incredible collaboration between director Garry Marshall and actress Julia Roberts. Their partnership spanned over two decades, resulting in some of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time.
It was the movie a decade in the making—in more ways than one.
Nine years after “Pretty Woman” catapulted Julia Roberts to stardom and established Richard Gere as a top Hollywood heartthrob, they teamed up once more in the movie “Runaway Bride.”
1999 saw the reunion of Roberts and Gere with their “Pretty Woman” director, Garry Marshall (who sadly passed away in 2016), in a romantic comedy about a small-town girl who’s scared of commitment after fleeing from three wedding altars. She’s paired with a jaded divorced newspaper columnist eager to see her run for a fourth time. Unsurprisingly, they eventually fall in love.
Enthusiasts rushed to the cinema to witness the duo’s captivating on-screen connection, propelling “Runaway Bride,” previously in development for over a decade with various A-list actors slated to take the leads at different points, into box office success surpassing that of “Pretty Woman” (1990).
Although “Runaway Bride” earned more revenue than “Pretty Woman,” this doesn’t necessarily make it more successful. The movie received poor reviews from critics, with only 46% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Its stars even acknowledged that the film didn’t manage to recapture the charm of their previous project. Additionally, Julia Roberts’ another popular romantic comedy “Notting Hill” was released just weeks prior.
Despite initial obstacles and changes in its production, Runaway Bride became one of Hollywood’s lasting romantic comedies thanks to Roberts and Gere’s captivating charisma, Marshall’s genre expertise, and their combined on-screen chemistry. It almost didn’t happen, but at one point, it had a different conclusion.
1. Originally intended stars for the 1991 film “Runaway Bride” to actual cast members, here comes a collection of 20 intriguing facts you may have missed…
1. Despite the idea appearing perfectly suited for Richard Gere and Julia Roberts to reprise their roles from “Pretty Woman” in a sequel titled “Runaway Bride”, it took over a decade for the project to materialize, with various actors initially slated to portray the bride-to-be and the cynical journalist.
In 1992, Geena Davis and Harrison Ford were initially chosen to star in a project, but it didn’t come together when the original director encountered problems with the screenplay. Over the ensuing years, Michael Douglas, Demi Moore, Ellen DeGeneres, and Mel Gibson were among those considered for the roles.
2. However, in 1996, Sandra Bullock expressed a keen interest in portraying Maggie and drove the project forward. Later, Ben Affleck and Tea Leoni were considered for the roles. But when Affleck stepped back, one of the producers approached Gere instead.
3. Although he was fond of the screenplay, Gere put forward a requirement: “Secure Julia for the role if you can, and I’ll sign up.” Initially hesitant after reading an earlier draft, Roberts reconsidered following a conversation with Gere, leading them to plan their acting collaboration once more.
For nearly a decade, efforts have been made to reunite the parties involved, according to studio producer Tom Rosenberg in an interview with The LA Times. Surprisingly, a resolution was reached surprisingly quickly – within just a week.
4. After that, Gere and Roberts needed to contact their previous director of “Pretty Woman,” Marshall. However, there was a complication: Marshall had committed to taking his wife on a trip to Australia for some rest and relaxation. According to Marshall’s interview with the publication, they persistently asked to speak with his wife. They used persuasive language like, “We rarely get this opportunity,” and, “We will take great care of him,” until finally Marshall agreed, “Alright, I’ll go.”
5. For me, the trio’s collective past significantly eased the filming process of “Runaway Bride,” as Marshall observed a transformation in my lead actor, who, after a decade, had honed his skills on set and embraced the limelight.
The director commented, “During ‘Pretty Woman,’ Richard played it safe, but this time around he was more open to adding humor. Our communication was mostly unspoken. I only needed to call out ‘Action’ and ‘Quiet'” for him to get the cue.
As a movie critic with over a decade of experience under my belt, I’ve seen my fair share of productions with big-name stars and hefty budgets. But when Roberts and Gere signed up for “Runaway Bride,” something told me this romantic comedy was going to be different. And boy, was I right!
7. Despite earning over $150 million domestically and $300 million globally, the film “Runaway Bride” received generally unfavorable reviews. Richard Gere later reflected on the movie to “Entertainment Weekly”, stating, “Although there are some great elements in the film, it didn’t capture the same enchantment as the original. It was unrealistic to anticipate that it would possess the same delightful charm. The movie was different, the timing was different, she was at a different stage, I was at a different stage.”
As a small-town resident myself, I can fully relate to Berlin’s Chamber president’s words. The transformation of our quaint little town into the fictional and eccentric Hale, Md., was nothing short of a miracle. The production brought in close to a million dollars, revitalizing our economy and causing a significant surge in real estate values. Not only that, but tourism almost doubled, bringing in visitors from all over.
9. After being dubbed “America’s Most Charming Small Town” by Budget Travel, Berlin continues to take pride in hosting the Roberts-Gere vehicle. The town commemorates this by organizing a “Runaway Bride” month to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
According to Ivy Wells, Economic and Community Development Director of Berlin, visitors often ask questions like, “Did you get a chance to meet Richard Gere?” or “What is Julia Roberts like? Can we see her house?” or “Where was the bridal shop located?”. Realizing their desire to celebrate the movie, the team decided to cater to the people’s curiosity and enthusiasm.
I couldn’t contain my excitement as I watched Maggie make her way down the aisle for the fifth time during filming. It was an amazing opportunity for Roberts to don various stunning wedding gowns, but let me tell you, she didn’t leap at the chance with open arms. As she expressed to Entertainment Weekly, “It was on the edge of being amusing.”
Costume designer Albert Wolsky was responsible for designing the initial four gowns, including the hippie-esque crochet one. According to him, “It was just amusing and endearing; it made me chuckle.” He mentioned that three replicas were produced due to the numerous wedding-themed stunts (such as trampoline jumps and motorcycle escapes). As for the daisy adornments in Julia Roberts’ hair, that idea came from her.
11. Regarding the organza dress adorned with satin stripes, which Maggie admired and eventually wore on her initial walk down the aisle with Ike (after she had it in a store window), Wolsky created an extra one as a precaution, should the delivery truck mishap damage the original.
According to Wolsky, the Federal Express uniform stands out as the most attractive to him, given its functionality when displayed on the screen.
12. Regarding the wedding dress, contrary to expectations, Wolsky chose an off-the-rack number from Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. There was just one Amsale Aberra gown with an off-shoulder design left, and Wolsky exclaimed, “It fits Julia perfectly!” and seemed ideal for gracing “the front cover of a romance novel.”
13. Ironically, Roberts was once labeled as a runaway bride in reality, as she canceled her planned June 1991 wedding that was supposed to happen at Soundstage 14 of 20th Century Fox, only three days prior to the event.
As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but share this juicy piece of Hollywood history! In this tale, the dashing groom is none other than Kiefer Sutherland, my beloved Flatliners co-star, whom she found herself drawn to after calling off her engagement with Dylan McDermott, my Steel Magnolias heartthrob. But the drama doesn’t end there! She eloped with Jason Patric, Sutherland’s Lost Boys co-star and close friend, who had recently been disinvited from the wedding. What a rollercoaster of love triangles and friendship twists!
1. Following a secret trip to Ireland during the filming of “Hook,” Roberts and Patrick first appeared together publicly later that year. However, they split up in 1992.
2006 marked a time when Sutherland managed to comprehend Roberts’ action in a Rolling Stone interview, acknowledging, “I applaud Julia for recognizing our youthful folly right up until the last moment, even though it was agonizing and tough. I’m grateful she recognized it.”
Unfortunately for Christopher Meloni, he missed out on being Maggie’s husband not just once, but twice. In “Runaway Bride” from 1997, he portrayed Coach Bob, who was Maggie’s intended fourth groom before Ike entered the scene. And in 2008’s “Nights in Rodanthe,” Meloni found himself in another romantic competition with Richard Gere for Maggie’s affections.
15. For Marshall, the movie production was a family event. His son, Scott Marshall, served as the second unit director and even filmed the opening scene featuring Roberts on horseback. Additionally, he acted as the hotel clerk smitten with Maggie. Meanwhile, his daughter, Kathy Marshall, appeared as a bridesmaid named Cousin Cindy. Notably, his wife, Barbara Sue Wells, who had planned to travel to Australia, also participated in the film.
In an interview, Marshall shared that his wife had a single role in a clothing store. She had been a part of the film “Pretty Woman,” but her part was reduced, leaving him with an obligation to make it up to her.
16. Marshall also makes a quick appearance, playing the first baseman during the baseball scene.
17. The unexpectedly endearing “platypus” expression on Maggie’s face, which wasn’t in the initial script, was improvised by Marshall after he witnessed Roberts making that face for her grandkids during rehearsals.
In the movie “Runaway Bride,” it’s surprising that many scenes didn’t raise much controversy. However, one particular scene was removed following objections from certain preview audiences.
In the final credits, there was a scene featuring two women running with a pet dog. A good-looking boy passed by, and the young girl handed the dog over to her grandmother, who didn’t want it and discarded it in the trash, according to Marshall’s conversation with Entertainment Weekly.
The response was varied among the crowd. Some people, similar to the audience in “Something About Mary,” erupted in laughter, while others expressed shock and disapproval, asking “Why did you have to kill the dog?” Marshall admitted shooting additional scenes and opting for one of those versions in the final cut.
One explanation for the movie’s lengthy production process was an significant issue with the script: It failed to provide a clear motivation as to why Maggie kept fleeing from the alter.
In this pivotal moment, a new scene emerged, revealing Maggie’s habit of adapting to her partner’s preferences instead of being true to herself. This was evident when she experimented with various egg dishes to discover her personal favorite, as Ike observed that she always prepared her eggs the same way as her fiancé. (Interestingly, she found herself enjoying Eggs Benedict in the end.)
20. After Marshall passed away at the age of 81 in 2016, Roberts honored her long-term collaborator and dear friend, the individual who kickstarted her career by casting her in her first major role in “Pretty Woman” when she was only 21 years old.
In Atlanta, where we’re filming “Mother’s Day”, I aim to fill him with the same joy as I did on the Pretty Woman set 25 years ago, shared Roberts with the Los Angeles Times. He’s a father figure extraordinaire in every situation; he feels like my dad in more ways than one. When I think of Garry, it’s as if he was the one who raised me.
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2024-07-30 13:19