Book Vs Movie
The War of the Roses
The Warren Adler 1981 Novel Vs the Danny DeVito 1989 Film
The Margos are still hanging out in the 80s and this episode is devoted to a book and film that were considered controversial for the time. (Some of our Facebook fans said “no thank you!” to this one.) The War of the Roses is based on a novel by Warren Adler and Danny DeVito directed the dark comedy.
In the book (which author Adler based on a conversation he had with a gentleman getting divorced in 1978 and was still living with his ex-wife) Jonathan and Barbara Rose decide to divorce after 20 years of marriage and two kids. Jonathan is crushed because she did not visit him at the hospital when he had a heart issue. Barbara realizes she hates him after giving him her youth and creating a beautiful home.
They live in a Washington D.C. suburb and at the time, there was no “no-fault divorce” so they are stuck living together until they can work out an amicable settlement. The fact is, they both the house and possessions than each other and their anger builds to violent action.
The movie stars Michael Douglas (named Oliver Rose,) Kathleen Turner (Barbara Rose,) and Danny DeVito (Gavin D’Amato) and after it’s release (one month after Betty Broderick killed her husband after a contentious divorce!) it was considered controversial for its dark themes and comedy. This is 10 years before The Sopranos which regularly mixed unlikeable characters with violence and humor.
So between the book & movie–which did we like?
In this ep the Margos discuss:
- The story Warren Adler’s book
- Why some audiences were turned off by the ending (spoiler alert!)
- Biggest changes between book and movie
- The cast including Douglas, Turner, DeVito, Marianne Sagebrecht (Susan,) Sean Astin (Josh Rose,) Heather Fairfield (Carolyn Rose), and Dan Castellaneta (Man in Chair.)
Clips Featured:
- The War of the Roses trailer
- Barbara and Oliver “meet cute”
- Dinner Party
- “Get out of the car”
- Barbara attempts to seduce Gavin
- Music: “Only You” by The Platters
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Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.com
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