Amadeus

1984 USA Color 160 minutes

Photo of F. Murray AbrahamPhoto of Elizabeth BerridgePhoto of Richard Frank

Review

There are simply too many notes, that's all
Just cut a few and it will be perfect.
Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?

Photo of Tom Hulce (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), court composer to the emperor in 18th-century Vienna, has not been blessed with musical genius. He lives music and has dedicated his life to becoming a great composer. And before meeting Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce), Salieri thought he was. When Mozart arrives in Vienna he is commissioned by the Emperor to write a German-language opera.

Photo of F. Murray Abraham (Salieri)Salieri becomes viciously jealous of Mozart, but quietly admires the brilliance of his work. When Mozart keeps on demonstrating the mediocrity of Salieri, the older composer snaps. Desperate for revenge on God for giving the rogue Amadeus such talent, Salieri vows to destroy the young composer. When Mozart gets into financial trouble, having no success with his work, Salieri takes the opportunity to hatch a dark plot to bring him down.

Cast

Directed by Milos Forman

Links and more

Listen to: Amadeus laughs (Small mp3 file, 14kb) Amadeus laughs
Listen to: Mary me (Small mp3 file, 22kb) Mary me
Listen to: Too many notes (Small mp3 file, 44kb) To many notes
Mozart's biography at The 1911 Encyclopedia

 

photo of Nicholas Kepros

News

Photo of Roy Dotrice

Congratulations
Within 9 days it will be Roy Dotrice`s 85th birthday. (May 26, 1923)
(Leopold Mozart)

Congratulations
Within 27 days it will be Simon Callow`s 59th birthday. (June 13, 1949)
(Emanuel Schikaneder)

Trivia

Release date: September 6, 1984

The movie was shot at:
Mostly real locations
Four sets were built: Salieri’s hospital room, Mozart’s apartment, the vaudeville theater and a staircase.

Oscars:
Best Actor -> F. Murray Abraham
Best Director ->Milos Forman
Best Sound
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium -> Peter Shaffer
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
Best Costume Design
Best Makeup

Oscar nominations:
Best Actor -> Tom Hulce
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing

F. Murray Abraham: “I believe Salieri must have responded to Mozart the way most artist do- with amazement, humility, envy and finally with gratitude”. Source / More (Book)

Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker in Star Wars) wanted the role of Mozart in the film because he also played the role on Broadway.

In letters written about him, Mozart’s laugh was described as “like metal scraping glass”.

The performance of Don Giovanni in the movie was filmed on the same stage where the opera first appeared.

Bibliography