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

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The War of the Roses (1989) -- A married couple try everything to get each other to leave the house in a vicious divorce battle.
The War of the Roses (1989) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.6/10   16,946 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
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:
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
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations more
User Reviews:
Shrewd insight into the end of a relationship. more (80 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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
Philip Perlman ... Bidder at Auction

Susan Isaacs ... Auctioneer's Assistant
Trenton Teigen ... Josh at 10
Bethany McKinney ... Carolyn at 10
Shirley Mitchell ... Mrs. Dewitt

Ellen Crawford ... Nurse #1

Michael Adler ... Dr. Hillerman
Lisa Howard ... Nurse #2
Jeff Thomas ... Orderly
Jacqueline Cassell ... Gavin's Secretary
Vickilyn Reynolds ... Nancy, Oliver's Secretary
Eunice Suarez ... Latin Woman
Julia Elliott ... Latin Assistant

Tony Crane ... Teenage Boy
Ryan Wickers ... Josh at 3
Shaun Wickers ... Josh at 3
Catherine Donohue ... Carolyn at 3
Mary Donohue ... Carolyn at 3
Sue Palka ... Anchorwoman
Morris Jones ... Anchorman
Roy Brocksmith ... Mr. Fisk
Peter Hansen ... Mr. Marshall

Robert Harper ... Heath
Prince Hughes ... Bleeding Man
Danitra Vance ... Manicurist Trainee
David Wohl ... Dr. Gordon
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Popeye ... Benny
Tyler ... Kitty Kitty
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Directed by
Danny DeVito 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Warren Adler (novel)

Michael Leeson (screenplay)

Produced by
James L. Brooks .... producer
Doug Claybourne .... executive producer
Michael Leeson .... co-producer
Arnon Milchan .... producer
J. Marina Muhlfriedel .... associate producer
Polly Platt .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
David Newman 
 
Cinematography by
Stephen H. Burum (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Lynzee Klingman 
 
Production Design by
Ida Random 
 
Art Direction by
Mark W. Mansbridge 
 
Set Decoration by
Anne D. McCulley 
 
Costume Design by
Gloria Gresham 
 
Makeup Department
Stephen Abrums .... makeup supervisor
Audrey L. Anzures .... hair stylist
Kathryn Blondell .... hair stylist
John M. Elliott Jr. .... makeup artist (as John Elliott)
John M. Elliott Jr. .... makeup artist: Kathleen Turner
Bunny Parker .... hair stylist (as Bunny Parker-Adamson)
Gina Rylander .... makeup artist
 
Production Management
Robert Latham Brown .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matt Bearson .... second assistant director
Jeffrey M. Ellis .... second assistant director
Thomas Lofaro .... first assistant director
 
Art Department
Steven Braund .... property maker
Oscar Delgadillo .... set dresser
Mark Fabus .... set designer
Perry Gray .... set designer
Sherman Labby .... production illustrator
Robert Misetich .... set paint foreman
Stan Tropp .... set designer
Butch West .... construction coordinator
Steven Westlund .... property master
 
Sound Department
Christopher E. Bennett .... apprentice sound editor
Bill W. Benton .... sound re-recordist
Marty Church .... adr mixer
Marty Church .... foley mixer
Don Coufal .... boom operator
John Duvall .... foley editor
Matthew Iadarola .... sound re-recordist
Michael J. Kohut .... sound re-recordist
Elliott Koretz .... sound editor
Michael Magill .... sound editor
Chuck Michael .... foley editor
Dan Sharp .... sound re-recordist
Leslie Shatz .... sound re-recordist
Leslie Shatz .... supervising sound editor
David E. Stone .... sound editor
Renee Tondelli .... adr supervisor
Jennifer L. Ware .... sound recordist
Jeff Wexler .... sound mixer
 
Special Effects by
John Frazier .... special effects
 
Stunts
M. James Arnett .... stunts (as Jim Arnett)
Janet Brady .... stunts
Richard Drown .... stunts
Jon H. Epstein .... stunts
Marcia Holley .... stunts
Tracy Keehn-Dashnaw .... stunts (as Tracy Keehn)
Patricia M. Peters .... stunts (as Trisha Peters)
Chuck Picerni Jr. .... stunts
Michael Runyard .... stunt coordinator (as Mike Runyard)
Cris Thomas-Palomino .... stunts (as Chris Palomino)
Sammy Thurman .... stunts
Scott Wilder .... stunts
Lane Leavitt .... stunts (uncredited)
Keith Tellez .... utility stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Apger .... second assistant camera
Alan S. Blauvelt .... assistant camera
Dustin Blauvelt .... camera operator
François Duhamel .... still photographer
Clyde Hart .... key grip
Steven C. Hodge .... film lighting technician
Alex Skvorzov .... gaffer
David Wayne .... still photographer
Scott C. Williman .... lamp operator
Rick Fee .... first assistant camera (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
David Rubin .... casting
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Oda Groeschel .... costumer
Janis Mekaelian .... costumer
G. Tony Scarano .... costumer
 
Editorial Department
John Ganem .... assistant editor
Lawrence Jordan .... associate editor
L. James Langlois .... assistant editor
Maria Lee Silver .... assistant editor
Nicholas C. Smith .... additional editor
 
Music Department
Tim Boyle .... score mixer
Sandy DeCrescent .... orchestra contractor
Steven L. Smith .... music preparation
Tom Villano .... music editor
 
Transportation Department
Gina August .... driver
James Nordberg .... transportation
 
Other crew
Elaine Bass .... title designer
Saul Bass .... title designer
Thomas R. Burman .... body double creator: Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner
Mary Courtney .... production coordinator
Wendy Davies .... stand-in
Bari Dreiband-Burman .... body double creator: Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner
Wilma Garscadden-Gahret .... script supervisor
Jane Hamsher .... production assistant
Cindy Lasher .... nurse
Taman McCall .... location manager
Heather Murphy .... production coordinator: Washington
Julie Offer .... location projectionist
Paul Rahmes .... personal assistant to director
Errol Reichow .... assistant location manager
Mark Reilly .... stand-in
David Ian Salter .... production intern
Fred Scialla .... stand-in
Jill Simpson .... special assistant to producers
Mark Suveg .... craft service
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Runtime:
116 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
It's popularly rumored that the filmmakers inserted a short shot of the couple's dog into the "pâté" scene after screen testing audience thought it was too cruel. According to Danny DeVito, the dog was always intended to appear; however, it originally wasn't shown until the end of the chandelier scene, and that particular insert was a late addition. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the final scene on the chandelier, Oliver and Barbara ask Gavin and Susan to get them a ladder. It is clearly dark with no hint of sun. Five minutes later as they return the sun is fully shining. more
Quotes:
Gavin: Oliver, my father used to say that a man can never outdo a woman when it comes to love and revenge. more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Pretty Lady, Lovely Lady more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
9 out of 11 people found the following review useful.
Shrewd insight into the end of a relationship., 11 August 2005
10/10
Author: a01car from United States

The War of the Roses offers the best analysis of the emotions behind the end of a relationship when one partner irreversibly falls out of love with another, who remains terminally hopeful that their love can be rekindled. Danny Devito manages to accomplish this while simultaneously putting together a very entertaining and funny black comedy.

Kathleen Turner does a tremendous job depicting a frustrated homemaker who has gradually and irreversibly grown to loathe her husband, played by Michael Douglas. Douglas in turn cleverly plays the oafish and smug breadwinner desperately seeking to preserve the marriage, though never quite admitting it to the audience or himself.

Overall, the War of the Roses remains a classic movie generally under-appreciated.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The War of the Roses (1989)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
A question for all the women out there..... juzzpeepinin
Did they really die? MOVIEfan727
Who Would you Cast in a Remake screamtaza
Meaning of the hand gesture at the end? (spoiler) razorback_tom
Did part of her still love him? jcloud28
Worst movie I've ever seen! stimpy979797
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