Celebrating his 75th birthday at the Venice Film Festival, Richard Gere took a nostalgic journey through his illustrious career, particularly focusing on one of his most iconic roles in the beloved 1990 romantic comedy, Pretty Woman.

On August 31, Gere commemorated his milestone by leading a masterclass at the 81st Venice Film Festival. During this event, he revisited a crucial scene from Pretty Woman, the film where he starred opposite Julia Roberts. The scene, featuring a sensual interaction between Gere’s character Edward and Roberts’ Vivian atop a hotel piano, was met with enthusiastic applause and playful commentary from Gere. “I mean, no chemistry,” he quipped sarcastically, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “This actor and this actress obviously had no chemistry between them,” he added with a laugh.

Reflecting on the scene where Edward undresses Vivian on a hotel piano, Gere admitted, “I haven’t seen that in a long time. That’s a sexy scene.” He then delved into the backstory of the scene, revealing it wasn’t part of the original script but was later added to explore Edward’s deeper, more intimate side. With a smile, Gere reminisced, “I was playing a character that was almost criminally underwritten. It was basically a suit and a good haircut.”

To enrich Edward’s character, Gere collaborated with director Garry Marshall to brainstorm the piano scene. “Garry asked me, ‘What do you do late at night in a hotel?'” Gere recalled. “I told him I’m usually jet lagged and up all night, often finding a piano in a ballroom or bar to play something moody.” This improvisation led to one of the film’s most memorable and intimate moments.

Pretty Woman tells the story of Edward, a stern businessman who hires Vivian, a sex worker played by Roberts, to pose as his girlfriend during several business events over one week. As they spend time together, their professional arrangement evolves into genuine affection, complicating their initial deal. “We were having fun making this little tiny movie,” Gere shared while introducing the clip. “We didn’t know if anyone would ever see this little tiny movie or pay attention to it.”

Upon its release, Pretty Woman became a phenomenal success, ranking as the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time and setting a record for ticket sales for a romantic comedy. As of 2024, the film has grossed over $463 million globally.

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Reflecting on the film’s legacy last year, Julia Roberts shared her thoughts on Vivian and Edward’s future. In an interview with Gayle King on CBS Mornings, Roberts humorously speculated, “I think he passed away peacefully in his sleep from a heart attack, smiling. And now she runs his business.”