Richard Gere, known as the iconic romantic leading man of the 80s and early 90s, often starred in movies that had darker and grittier undertones than their typical ‘chick-flick’ image might suggest.
One of the standout romance films of the 1980s was “An Officer and a Gentleman,” featuring Richard Gere as the ultimate heartthrob of the era. In this film, every woman wished they could trade places with Debra Winger, especially during the unforgettable ending. Gere, clad in his naval officer’s pristine white dress uniform, sweeps Debra Winger off her feet, carrying her away in a captivating display of romance.
Throughout his career in the late 70s and 80s, Gere portrayed many alluring and romantic characters in films like “Days of Heaven,” “Yanks,” “American Gigolo,” “Breathless,” “Beyond the Limit,” and “No Mercy.” Even “Pretty Woman” from 1990, though known for its romantic ending, featured a twist on the classic Romeo and Juliet balcony scene, with Gere’s character ‘rescuing’ Julia Roberts on the fire escape of a shabby Hollywood motel.
Surprisingly, Gere was initially resistant to the iconic ending of “An Officer and a Gentleman,” considering it out of place within the film’s overall tone. The movie is a gritty drama, with Gere portraying a naval recruit who has a contentious relationship with his drill instructor, leading to some very dark moments.
Gere believed that the ‘fairytale’ ending contradicted the realism of the rest of the film. He recalled expressing his doubts, saying, “I argued against it from the beginning. I said, ‘This is bullsh*t.’ I was trying to make a very real, gritty movie, and all the rewrites we did were to keep it grounded in that territory of realism. And that didn’t fit at all — it was such a rave-up ‘movie moment.’”
As the crew prepared to shoot the scene, Gere remained unconvinced, thinking it would never make it into the final cut. He explained, “We were in the factory ready to shoot it, and I said, ‘We’re going to waste half a day shooting this thing. We’re behind schedule, we’ve got other stuff to do. This is never going to be in the movie.’ I remember Taylor [Hackford, director] said, ‘We’re here, it’s in the script, they expect us to shoot it, let’s just shoot it.’ I was definitely wrong.”
Despite his initial skepticism, the song “Up Where We Belong” by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes, featured in this scene, became a massive hit and is still remembered today. It’s a moment that has been frequently imitated in pop culture. Nevertheless, both “An Officer and a Gentleman” and “Pretty Woman” are films with grittier themes than their lighthearted romantic reputations might suggest.
So, despite their romantic endings, these films directed by Richard Gere often delved into deeper and more complex themes, adding layers to their characters and stories.