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The War of the Roses (1989)

R  116 min  -  Comedy   -  8 December 1989 (USA)
6.7
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Ratings: 6.7/10 from 21,422 users   Metascore: 79/100 
Reviews: 82 user | 36 critic | 17 from Metacritic.com

A married couple try everything to get each other to leave the house in a vicious divorce battle.

Director:

Danny DeVito

Writers:

Warren Adler (novel), Michael Leeson (screenplay)

Stars:

Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito
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Still of Kathleen Turner in The War of the Roses Still of Michael Douglas in The War of the Roses Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito and Kathleen Turner in The War of the Roses
32 photos | 2 videos | 43 news articles | full cast and crew »

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Related News

BBC1 to screen War of the Roses epic
11 January 2012 8:04 AM, PST | The Guardian - TV News
Why we're still seduced by the romcom
19 September 2011 2:11 AM, PDT | The Guardian - Film News
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Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Douglas ...
Kathleen Turner ...
Danny DeVito ...
Marianne Sägebrecht ...
Susan
Sean Astin ...
Josh at 17
Heather Fairfield ...
Carolyn at 17
G.D. Spradlin ...
Harry Thurmont
Peter Donat Peter Donat ...
Jason Larrabee
Dan Castellaneta ...
Man in Chair
Gloria Cromwell Gloria Cromwell ...
Mrs. Marshall
Harlan Arnold Harlan Arnold ...
Mr. Dell
Mary Fogarty Mary Fogarty ...
Mrs. Dell
Rika Hofmann Rika Hofmann ...
Elke
Patricia Allison Patricia Allison ...
Maureen
Peter Brocco Peter Brocco ...
Elderly Mourner
Full cast and crew »
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Storyline

The Roses, Barbara and Oliver, live happily as a married couple. Then she starts to wonder what life would be like without Oliver, and likes what she sees. Both want to stay in the house, and so they begin a campaign to force each other to leave. In the middle of the fighting is D'Amato, the divorce lawyer. He gets to see how far both will go to get rid of the other, and boy do they go far.. Written by Rob Hartill  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Couple | Lawyer | Male Female Relationship | Father Daughter Relationship  | See more »

Taglines:

Once in a lifetime comes a motion picture that makes you feel like falling in love all over again. This is not that movie.

Genres:

Comedy

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Der Rosenkrieg See more »

Filming Locations:

119 Fremont Place, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$9,488,794 (USA) (10 December 1989) (1259 Screens)

Gross:

$83,699,711 (USA)
See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gracie Films, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Cher was considered for the role of Barbara Rose. See more »

Goofs

Continuity: After Barbara runs over Oliver's car, we see a view from the left side of the crushed car. Then, after a shot of the dinner guests followed by a close-up of Barbara in the truck, there is a shot showing the front of the car, with steam suddenly rising from the engine. Since the car was not running, the engine would not have been hot, so there would have been no steam. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Gavin: [Gavin is talking to a client] You have some valid reasons for wanting a divorce.
[blows his nose with a handkerchief]
Gavin: Excuse me. My sinuses are very sensitive to irritants.
[sprays nasal decongestant up his nostrils]
Gavin: In the past five months, I think I've breathed freely with both sides working maybe a week total.
[pulls a cigarette out of a pack]
Gavin: I gotta cut this out. It's gonna kill me.
[lights his cigarette]
Gavin: I hadn't smoked for thirteen years. I kept the last cigarette from my last pack. I said if I never smoked this one cigarette I'll never smoke again, period. Thirteen years I kept that cigarette.
[...]
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: The Best of Jon Lovitz (2005) See more »

Soundtracks

"Pretty Lady, Lovely Lady"
Written by Nicky Addeo
Performed by Nicky Addeo See more »