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

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags have been used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for The War of the Roses can be found here.

Yes. The film is based on the 1981 novel The War of the Roses by American author Warren Adler. The novel was adapted for the movie by American screenwriter Michael J. Leeson.

Divorce lawyer Gavin D'Amato (Danny DeVito) relates to one of his clients the story of another client, the Roses. Very much in love when they married some 20 years ago, Oliver Rose (Michael Douglas), a successful lawyer himself, worked hard to provide his wife Barbara (Kathleen Turner) with the house of her dreams. Over the years, however, Barbara's feelings of love changed to those of loathing and disgust, and she wanted a divorce, which is why Oliver consulted with Gavin. Gavin advised Oliver to remain in the house but live separately so that Barbara could not lay claim to the house or sell out everything from under him. Barbara did not want Oliver living there, so they began a campaign to force each other to move out. Then things got vicious.

No. At first hearing that Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas, and Danny DeVito, all three of whom successfully starred together in Romancing the Stone (1984) and The Jewel of the Nile (1985), were being united in this movie, many viewers assume that The War of the Roses is the third movie in the series. Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile follow the exploits of Joan Wilder (Turner), Jack Colter (Douglas), and Ralph (DeVito), The War of the Roses tells the story of Barbara Rose (Turner), Oliver Rose (Douglas), and Gavin D'Amato (DeVito). Same actors, different characters, different story.

It may be a mild wave to the English War of the Roses [1455-1485], which pitted the House of the Lancasters (red) against the House of the York (white) for the throne of England. Other than the name 'Roses' and the clashes between the two, however, there is no relation.

It's a 1960 British-made Morgan Plus 4 (+4) roadster. Photo here.

No. She did so in the book, but it was too gruesome for the movie, which is why there's a quick shot of Bennie lurking in the bushes AFTER the pâté scene.

Some, but not all. Although Turner really was a gymnast in her youth, she did NOT do the handstand in the beginning of the movie nor did she do the back flip in Gavin's office. Danny Devito makes this clear on the director's commentary. Turner and Douglas did, however, do all of the chandelier shots (with the exception of the shot where they actually hit the floor).