Despite being completely different stories for different audiences, The Princess Diaries movies have two subtle but fun references to Pretty Woman. Filmmaker Garry Marshall became best known for his rom-coms in the 1980s and 1990s, and one of his most memorable works is the 1990 film Pretty Woman. Starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere (in their first rom-com collaboration with Marshall), Pretty Woman took the audience to Los Angeles to meet Vivian Ward (Roberts), a sex worker and escort, and Edward Lewis (Gere), a rich corporate raider from New York who hires Vivian to accompany him to social events for a week.
The more time they spend together, the more Vivian and Edward connect and eventually fall in love, but Vivian begins to feel that her job and lifestyle interfere with Edward’s. Despite its controversial topics, Pretty Woman was a critical and commercial success, boosting Roberts’ career and establishing her as a 1990s rom-com icon. Pretty Woman has also been highly influential in the rom-com genre, and even impacted subsequent works by Marshall. In 2001, Marshall brought The Princess Diaries, and despite being a family-friendly story, he included two subtle but fun references to Pretty Woman in it and its sequel.
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Both The Princess Diaries Movies Reference Vivian’s Snail Scene From Pretty Woman
The Princess Diaries Recreated Pretty Woman’s Snail Scene In Their Own Ways
At one point in Pretty Woman, Vivian accompanies Edward to dinner with his colleagues, in which they are served escargots. Unfamiliar with them and how to eat them, Vivian does her best to fit in, but when she cracks a snail, it flies into the air and is caught by a waiter. When Vivian shyly calls them “slippery little suckers”, the waiter simply smiles at her and tells her that “it happens all the time”. This became one of Pretty Woman’s most memorable scenes, so much so that Marshall recreated it in both Princess Diaries movies.
In The Princess Diaries, Mia’s (Anne Hathaway) first event as Genovian royalty is a state dinner, in which her clumsiness shines through. When trying to call for a toast, Mia accidentally breaks a cup, and a waiter helps her pick up the pieces. Mia apologizes and the waiter tells her that “it happens all the time”, and the waiter is played by Allan Kent, who also played the waiter in Pretty Woman’s snail scene. Kent returned in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, once more aiding Mia during a clumsy moment.
The Princess Diaries 2 reunites viewers with Mia now as the official Princess of Genovia, and it opens with a special ball for her 21st birthday at the castle, at which she’s expected to meet all eligible bachelors. When Mia enters the room, she waves at the guests and her bracelet flies into the air, with the guard behind her catching it. The guard was played by Kent and, once more, he delivered his iconic “it happens all the time” line to ease Mia’s embarrassment.
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The Princess Diaries Featured Many Pretty Woman Actors
Garry Marshall Brought Back Some Of His Frequent Collaborators
Garry Marshall and Allan Kent and his “it happens all the time” line aren’t the only links between Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries movies. Just like in other rom-coms by him, Marshall brought back some of his frequent collaborators in The Princess Diaries, starting with Héctor Elizondo, who played hotel manager Barney in Pretty Woman and Queen Clarisse’s head of security Joe in both Princess Diaries movies.
Kathleen Marshall played a clerk on the hotel desk in Pretty Woman and Clarisse’s secretary Charlotte in The Princess Diaries and its sequel; Larry Miller played the manager of the clothing store Vivian gets her new wardrobe from and Mia’s stylist; and Patrick Richwood played the elevator attendant in Pretty Woman and Mia’s eccentric neighbor in The Princess Diaries. Despite their different stories and target audiences, The Princess Diaries and Pretty Woman have some fun and interesting connections.
Pretty Woman
Directed by Gary Marshall, Pretty Woman stars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere as Vivian Ward and Edward Lewis. Lewis is a wealthy New York businessman who hires Hollywood sex worker Ward to accompany him during his stay in Los Angeles. Initially wary of each other, the couple’s relationship grows steadily deeper over Lewis’ stay, causing Ward to begin to rethink her career path.
- Director
-
Garry Marshall
- Release Date
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March 23, 1990
- Cast
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Richard Gere
, Julia Roberts
, Ralph Bellamy
, Laura San Giacomo
, Jason Alexander - Runtime
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119 minutes