Trivia: Richard Gere actually plays the piano - and he composed this piece himself.
Trivia: The scene where Edward offers Viv the necklace and shuts the box on her fingers wasn't scripted - Richard Gere did it as a joke. You can tell because when he does it, Julia Roberts laughs and looks up and around (ie. at the film crew) - in the context of the scene there wasn't anyone there for her to look at. (01:21:45)
Trivia: Per Gessle (of the rock group Roxette) has said in interviews that he was asked to write a song for the film. However he didn't have the time so he gave the filmmakers an already recorded song, "It Must Have Been Love."
Trivia: On the movie poster, Edward's hair is brown. In the movie it's gray.
Trivia: At the beginning of the movie when Edward is driving around trying to find Beverly Hills, the bum he asked for directions from is actually the director of the movie, Garry Marshall.
Trivia: Julia Roberts has often said that "It Must Have Been Love", which plays when Vivian is leaving Edward and going back to her apartment, is one of her favorite songs.
Answer: There were no details other than Vivian's family was dysfunctional, and her abusive mother mistreated her by frequently locking her in the attic. Presumably, she left home as soon as possible. She turned to prostitution because it's more profitable than a low-wage job.
raywest ★