The War of the Roses (movie)

1989 film directed by Danny DeVito
(Redirected from The War of the Roses (film))

The War of the Roses is a 1989 American black comedy film based upon the 1981 novel of the same name by Warren Adler. The film follows a wealthy couple with a seemingly perfect marriage. When their marriage begins to fall apart, material possessions become the center of an outrageous and bitter divorce battle.

The War of the Roses
Directed byDanny DeVito
Screenplay byMichael J. Leeson
Based onThe War of the Roses
by Warren Adler
Produced byJames L. Brooks
Arnon Milchan
Starring
CinematographyStephen H. Burum
Edited byLynzee Klingman
Music byDavid Newman
Production
company
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • December 8, 1989 (1989-12-08)
Running time
116 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$26 million
Box office$160.2 million

The film co-stars Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. DeVito directed the film, which also had producer James L. Brooks working on a project outside of The Simpsons. The opening title sequence was created by Saul Bass and Elaine Makatura Bass.

In both the novel and the film, the married couple's family name is Rose, and the title is an allusion to the battles between the warring Houses of York and Lancaster who were contending for the English throne during the late Middle Ages. In Germany, the film was such a huge success that its German title Der Rosenkrieg became synonymous with high-conflict divorce and is now regularly used in the media.

Cast change