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The War of the Roses (1989)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
8 December 1989 (USA)
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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
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NewsDesk:
(6 articles)
Birthday Suits: Giant Sized Edition
(From FilmExperience. 17 November 2009, 11:05 AM, PST)
Add All About Steve to the List of Punful Movie Titles
(From Huffington Post. 3 September 2009, 3:41 PM, PDT)
(From FilmExperience. 17 November 2009, 11:05 AM, PST)
Add All About Steve to the List of Punful Movie Titles
(From Huffington Post. 3 September 2009, 3:41 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
You're gonna laugh: with or without embarrassment, it's up to you
more (80 total)
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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
116 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
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:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
In 1953, Alfred Newman composed and recorded the 20th Century Fox Fanfare "with Cinemascope extension". In 1989, his son, David Newman re-recorded the fanfare for "The War of the Roses" in order to have the last note of the fanfare segue seamlessly into the first note of the opening titles music.
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Goofs:
Continuity: In the final scene in the chandelier, Barbara goes from being barefoot, to shod, back to barefoot again.
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Quotes:
[Oliver Rose pees on the fish Barbara Rose had prepared for the guests]
Barbara Rose: I would never humiliate you like this!
Oliver Rose: You're not equipped to, honey.
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Barbara Rose: I would never humiliate you like this!
Oliver Rose: You're not equipped to, honey.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Practice: War of the Roses (#8.17)" (2004)
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Soundtrack:
Only You (And You Alone)
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (80 total)
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I just saw this on telly again after a long time, and, having quickly browsed through user comments, I realise pretty much everything has been said about this film - in some cases to nauseating detail too - including all sorts of social and psychological analysis of the "battle of the sexes", etc etc....what people forget is that this is essentially a story about how love turns into blinding hate and that everything else that goes on is completely incidental, including the characters' backgrounds, sexes, social status, the milieu they live in, or the current sign of the times. From that point of view this is primarily a study of characters (and a fascinating one too) rather than anything else.
Turner and Douglas wrap up a brilliant script and a sparkling dialogue with what seems to be considerable ease and an impressive attention to detail, no doubt guided along by De Vito, whose direction is firm and playful at the same time, and in many instances even inspiring - he gets the mood just right, the tone constantly on an uncomfortable edge between a mordantly funny comedy and an ugly human conflict. In fact, the whole length of the film film ticks exceptionally well - slowed here and there, possibly, by the lack of strength of secondary characters - Sagerbrecht is a bit uneasy in this, at least to my liking, and the kids are completely bypassed -the scenes involving them are perhaps the weakest. The ending moral finger-wagging given by De Vito's character is also a bit heavy handed - but then this is Hollywood after all. It could have easily been much worse, we could have been fed a happy ending, god forbid. Instead, De Vito calls his own sweet wife and says he's coming home. Well, I can live with that, although some European director would have just left Oliver and Barbara laying there smashed under the chandelier and that would have been it. But I shouldn't complain....
Overall very funny and enjoyable. Check it out.