War of the Roses

Coupeville and the Penn Cove area stand in for Nantucket in the lovers’ story

This classic 1989 comedy was directed by Danny DeVito and stars Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas, and Whidbey Island! The film follows the breakdown of a marriage until both spouses are in all-out war with each other, but the island features early in the film as their meeting place when they’re still falling in love. As with other movies, Coupeville and the Penn Cove area stand in for Nantucket in the lovers’ story, once again showing off the town’s versatility as an onscreen location that has drawn so many filmmakers. The historic San de Fuca Schoolhouse also makes a memorable appearance early in the film, and though you can’t go inside you surely won’t miss seeing it when taking a pleasant drive around the cove. Stop in at 3 Sisters Market instead, for a great shopping experience of local farm products and gorgeous views back across to Coupeville.

See the scenes that feature the Penn Cove area at these time stampes:

00:05:03
Downtown Coupeville, facing downhill to Toby’s Tavern with the Coupeville Wharf to the right (painted light blue instead of its signature red). Panning left across Front St.

In the next shot you can see the historic Haller House in the background, behind the estate auction tent where the two main characters meet.

00:07:02
Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas cross Front Street and walk down the sidewalk together after the auction, with the shot panning right to left with the Toby’s Tavern and Knead and Feed signs both visible (both real island businesses!). Toby’s is one of the oldest bars on the island and still open and popular today, ready for your visit with steaming bowls of chowder and their own in-house beer. The long running Knead & Feed was finally retired in 2019, but is now the delicious Mexican restaurant Molka Xete.

00:07:25
San de Fuca Schoolhouse made up as a church, complete with faux cemetery out the front.

00:08:00
A private jetty on Penn Cove stands in for a small ferry landing. First seen in the film quite memorably through Barbara’s legs as she shows off her gymnastics skills (Kathleen Turner’s character).

00:08:30
The private jetty is seen through a window in the lovers’ bedroom, after Barbara doesn’t get on the ferry.

Credits of note:
The Location Manager listed in the film’s credits is Vicky Berglund, today known as Vicky Berglund-Davenport and the Production Services Manager at Washington Filmworks!