Search - The War of the Roses on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children Movie Release: 1989 DVD Release: 12/18/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 56 mins Studio: 20th Century Fox Total Copies: 6 Genres: Comedy, Satire, Black Comedy

Divorce lawyer Danny De Vito warns his prospective client that the story he's about to tell isn't a pretty one, but the client listens with eager intensity -- as do the folks out there in the movie in the audience. The War of the Roses can best be described as a slapstick tragedy concerning the decline and literal fall of a marriage. After 17 years, Oliver (Michael Douglas) and Barbara (Kathleen Turner) Rose want a divorce. Not for this couple is there anything resembling a "civilized understanding": Barbara wants their opulent house, and Oliver isn't about to part with the domicile. Barbara nails the basement door shut while Oliver is downstairs, Oliver disrupts Barbara's fancy party by taking aim at the catered dinner, Barbara lays waste to Oliver's sports car....and so it goes, culminating in a disastrous showdown around, about and under the living room's fancy chandelier. DeVito and screenwriter Michael Leeson never let us forget that the couple's self-indulgent imbroglio exacts an awful price upon their children (Sean Astin and Heather Fairfield). The War of the Roses was adapted from the novel by Warren Adler. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Michael Douglas - Oliver Rose
Kathleen Turner - Barbara Rose
Danny DeVito - Gavin D'Amato
Marianne Sägebrecht - Susan
Sean Astin - Josh, Age 17

Divorce was never funnier in the black comedy The War of the Roses, directed by Danny DeVito and starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. Fox has done a wonderful job on this 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The colors and black levels all look clean and bright with no bleeding or muting present. A small amount of grain shows up in a few spots, though it's nothing intrusive to the viewing of the film. The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 (English and French) and lacks the punch of a good 5.1 sound mix. While the soundtrack is free of any distortion or hiss, the lack of fidelity and depth make this a somewhat disappointing sound mix. Also included on this disc are English and Spanish subtitles.
This edition of War of the Roses includes a few fine extra features. The first is a great commentary track by director/actor Danny DeVito. The director seems to have a wealth of knowledge about the making of the film, and is both charming and funny. Up next is a collection of deleted scenes with a very funny introduction by Danny DeVito. These scenes are strung together in one full-length sequence. Four storyboards are included, as well as some sketches of some scenes from the film. Finally there is a still gallery of photos from the film (props, posters, effects, and production), the entire shooting script, four theatrical trailers, and six TV spots for the movie. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide