Everyone remembers the chandelier. That massive, glittering piece of crystal plummeting toward the floor while a husband and wife cling to it for dear life, fueled by nothing but pure, unadulterated spite. It’s the definitive image of Danny DeVito’s 1989 dark comedy masterpiece. But when people search for the cast of The Roses, they aren't just looking for a list of names they can find on a dusty IMDB page. They’re usually looking for that specific lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry that turned a story about a messy divorce into a cautionary tale that still makes modern audiences cringe and laugh in equal measure.
The movie, officially titled The War of the Roses, didn't just happen. It was a calculated collision of three of the biggest stars of the eighties. You had Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, who already had sizzling onscreen history from Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile, and then you had Danny DeVito, who pulled double duty as both a co-star and the director.
Honestly, the casting is the only reason this movie works. Without the specific charm of the leads, the story would just be a depressing slog about two miserable people hurting each other. Instead, it’s a high-stakes chess match where the board eventually gets set on fire.
The Powerhouse Duo: Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner
The heart of the cast of The Roses—or the dark, shriveled pit where the heart should be—belongs to Oliver and Barbara Rose.
Michael Douglas plays Oliver Rose. At the time, Douglas was the king of the "flawed professional" archetype. He brought this frantic, status-obsessed energy to Oliver that makes you understand why he’s successful, but also why he’s absolutely exhausting to live with. He’s a man who measures his worth by the square footage of his house and the quality of his antiques. When Barbara asks for a divorce, Oliver doesn't see a failed marriage; he sees a threat to his assets.
🔗 Read more: Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus Explained (Simply)
Then you have Kathleen Turner as Barbara Rose. This is arguably one of her best performances because she has to transition from a doting, supportive wife into a woman who is genuinely terrifying. Turner’s husky voice and commanding presence were essential here. She wasn't playing a victim. Barbara is the aggressor just as often as Oliver is. There’s a specific scene involving a pâté—if you know, you know—that showcases Turner’s ability to blend domesticity with absolute malice.
Their history as a "screen couple" was weaponized by DeVito. Audiences went into the theater expecting the romantic spark they saw in their previous adventure films. Instead, they got a front-row seat to that spark burning the whole house down. It was a brilliant bit of meta-casting that played with viewer expectations.
Danny DeVito: The Narrator and the Architect
You can’t talk about the cast of The Roses without focusing on Danny DeVito himself. He plays Gavin D’Amato, Oliver’s lawyer and the film’s narrator. Gavin is the "sane" one, which is ironic considering he’s the one telling this horrific story to a potential client as a warning.
DeVito’s direction is what gives the cast the room to be so over-the-top. He uses wide angles and distorted perspectives to make the Rose mansion feel like a labyrinth or a prison. As an actor, DeVito provides the necessary breathing room. He’s the audience surrogate, watching these two people destroy their lives and occasionally trying to throw a bucket of water on the fire, even though he knows it's useless.
💡 You might also like: Big Brother 27 Morgan: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
His character serves a structural purpose. By having Gavin tell the story, the movie frames the war as a legend—a "don't let this happen to you" fable. It adds a layer of dark humor that prevents the film from becoming a straight-up horror movie about domestic abuse.
The Supporting Players: Building the World of the Roses
While the "Big Three" take up most of the oxygen, the supporting cast of The Roses fills out the edges of this disintegrating world.
- Marianne Sägebrecht as Susan: Susan is the Roses' housekeeper. She’s perhaps the most tragic character because she has to witness the slow-motion car crash from the inside. Sägebrecht brings a quiet, observant energy that contrasts sharply with the screaming matches happening in the foyer.
- Sean Astin and Heather Fairfield: They play the Rose children, Josh and Carolyn. It’s easy to forget that the kids are even in this movie, which is exactly the point. The parents are so consumed by their hatred for one another that the children become secondary characters in their own home. Seeing a young Sean Astin—pre-Goonies and way pre-Lord of the Rings—is always a trip for modern viewers.
- G.D. Spradlin as Harry Thurmont: He plays the senior partner at Oliver's law firm. He represents the "old guard" and the pressure Oliver feels to maintain a perfect, prestigious image.
Why This Cast Worked Where Others Failed
A lot of movies try to do "dark comedy divorce," but most of them feel mean-spirited without being funny, or funny without having any stakes. The cast of The Roses succeeded because they committed 100% to the bit.
Michael Douglas didn't try to make Oliver "likable." Kathleen Turner didn't try to make Barbara "sympathetic." They both leaned into the petty, ugly reality of a relationship that has turned sour. There is no "good guy" in this movie. There is only "my side" and "your side."
📖 Related: The Lil Wayne Tracklist for Tha Carter 3: What Most People Get Wrong
The chemistry between Douglas and Turner was so established by 1989 that they could skip the formalities and jump straight into the resentment. They knew how to push each other’s buttons on screen. That familiarity is what makes the escalating violence feel so personal. When Barbara steps on Oliver’s hand, or when Oliver saws the heels off her shoes, it feels like a betrayal because we’ve seen these two actors "in love" in other movies.
The Legacy of the 1989 Ensemble
Looking back, the cast of The Roses represents a specific era of Hollywood filmmaking where stars were allowed to be deeply unappealing. Today, studios often worry about "test scores" and whether an audience likes the protagonist. DeVito and his cast didn't care if you liked Oliver and Barbara. They wanted you to be fascinated by them.
The film remains a staple in film schools for its pacing and its use of physical comedy within a tragic framework. The chandelier scene is taught as a masterclass in tension and payoff. But really, it’s the actors' faces in those final moments—the realization that they’ve lost everything just to "win" a house—that sticks with you.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of this iconic cast, here is how you can actually engage with the history of the film:
- Watch the "Adventure Trilogy" in Order: To truly appreciate the subversion in The War of the Roses, watch Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile first. Seeing the evolution of Douglas and Turner as a duo makes the 1989 film hit much harder.
- Look for the LaserDisc Commentary: If you can find the old Criterion Collection or special edition releases (often available on secondary markets like eBay), Danny DeVito’s director commentary is gold. He explains exactly how he choreographed the physical stunts with the actors to ensure nobody actually got killed by a falling fixture.
- Read the Original Novel: Warren Adler wrote the book the movie is based on. Reading it allows you to see how the cast of The Roses interpreted their characters differently than they were written on the page. The book is arguably even darker, if you can believe that.
- Track the 2024/2025 Remake News: There have been long-standing rumors and recent developments regarding a "reimagining" of the story. Comparing the new cast (which reportedly may involve Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman) to the 1989 originals provides a fascinating look at how acting styles and "divorce culture" have shifted over thirty-five years.
The 1989 film remains the gold standard because the cast of The Roses didn't blink. They took a story about the end of love and turned it into an operatic, violent, and hilarious piece of cinema that hasn't aged a day. Whether you're a fan of Michael Douglas's intensity or Kathleen Turner's sheer screen presence, this movie stands as the peak of their collaborative powers.