Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > The War of the Roses (1989)
The War of the Roses
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The War of the Roses (1989) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 33 | slideshow) Videos
The War of the Roses (1989) -- A married couple try everything to get each other to leave the house in a vicious divorce battle.

Overview

User Rating:
6.6/10   16,087 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 6% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Danny DeVito
Writers (WGA):
Warren Adler (novel)
Michael Leeson (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The War of the Roses on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
8 December 1989 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Thriller more
Tagline:
Once in a lifetime comes a motion picture that makes you feel like falling in love all over again. This is not that movie.
Plot:
A married couple try everything to get each other to leave the house in a vicious divorce battle. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Romancing The Stone To Be Remade
 (From EmpireOnline. 4 December 2008, 12:37 AM, PST)

Emotional DeVito Collects Film Honor
 (From WENN. 10 July 2007)

User Comments:
not your typical Hollywood yukfest more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Michael Douglas ... Oliver Rose

Kathleen Turner ... Barbara Rose

Danny DeVito ... Gavin D'Amato
Marianne Sägebrecht ... Susan

Sean Astin ... Josh at 17

Heather Fairfield ... Carolyn at 17
G.D. Spradlin ... Harry Thurmont
Peter Donat ... Jason Larrabee

Dan Castellaneta ... Man in Chair
Gloria Cromwell ... Mrs. Marshall
Harlan Arnold ... Mr. Dell
Mary Fogarty ... Mrs. Dell
Rika Hofmann ... Elke
Patricia Allison ... Maureen
Peter Brocco ... Elderly Mourner
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
116 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Colour:
Colour
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby SR
Company:
Gracie Films more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
While shooting the scene where Michael Douglas (Oliver Rose) and Kathleen Turner (Barbara Rose) are sitting in the chandelier, director Danny DeVito pretended to break for lunch while the two actors were 30 feet above ground. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the final scene in the chandelier, Barbara goes from being barefoot, to shod, back to barefoot again. more
Quotes:
Gavin: There is no winning! Only degrees of losing! more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Practice: War of the Roses (#8.17)" (2004) more
Soundtrack:
Pretty Lady, Lovely Lady more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
17 out of 20 people found the following comment useful:-
not your typical Hollywood yukfest, 2 June 1999
8/10

Director Danny Devito and the writers are to be credited for following this story's dark premise straight to its grim conclusion, and not opting for a cop-out 'happy ending'. Maybe that accounts for the movie's relatively low user rating. Whatever. Turner and Douglas are superb here. I saw Douglas on the Carson show after the movie came out, relating how, after a day's shoot, he and Turner would get together to remind each other that they were still friends. Seeing the movie shows why they had to do this. Note how the movie begins in the openness and light of Nantucket in summer and gets progressively darker, ending in the claustrophobic closeness of the nailed-up house. A classic black comedy for grownups. Don't watch this one with your spouse unless you are on really good terms.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The War of the Roses (1989)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Did part of her still love him? jcloud28
Who Would you Cast in a Remake screamtaza
there is a book nank1971
Worst movie I've ever seen! stimpy979797
Did Barbara Really Kill Oliver's Dog? stat_479
Wouldn't it have been attempted murder when Barbara ran over Olivers car jjk488-1
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
American Beauty City of Shoulders and Noses Prizzi's Honor The Kite Runner The Night of the Hunter
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.