The War of the Roses (1989)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Danny DeVito

Writers (WGA):

Warren Adler (novel)
Michael Leeson (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 December 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Thriller

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.

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Lawyer | Murder | Urination | Materialism

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

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

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:R (certificate #30033) | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

119 Fremont Place, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Gracie Films

Trivia:

Cher was considered for the role of Barbara Rose.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Benny (the dog) greets Oliver as he is coming out of the sauna, we hear Benny barking, however we see him licking Oliver.

Quotes:

Gavin: Oliver, my father used to say that a man can never outdo a woman when it comes to love and revenge.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mama's Family: War of the Roses (#6.12)" (1989)

Soundtrack:

Only You (And You Alone)

Brilliant Black Comedy

I will not summarize this brilliant Danny DeVito Film except to say that it was a funny, savage, and often sinister look at one dissolving marriage and the insanity of two people holding on to the wrong things for the wrong reasons.

Douglas and Turner start out so perfectly. The audience can't help but fall for them as they themselves fall in love. Turner's selflessness and constant good intentions make her character's later bitterness understandable. Douglas' ambition towards the goal of outwardly perfect and upwardly mobile blind him to the growing chasms in his marriage. Yet you can't help but feel for him. He seems to love his wife, despite his inability to accept her for who she truly is.

This is truly a cautionary tale about both marriage and divorce.

I wish that Danny DeVito would produce this kind of quality work on a yearly basis. The state of American cinema would be much better for it.