Rating: PG
Genre:
Comedy Drama
Theatrical Release: 09/19/1984(USA),
Release Date: 12/17/1997
SubTitles: English/French
Dubbed: English/French
Sound: DD5.1/DDS
Run Time: 160 Minutes
Flags: Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language
Distributor/Studio: Warner Home Video
For this film adaptation of
Peter Shaffer's Broadway hit, director
Milos Forman returned to the city of Prague that he'd left behind during the Czech political crises of 1968, bringing along his usual cinematographer and fellow Czech expatriate,
Miroslav Ondricek.
Amadeus is an expansion of a Viennese "urban legend" concerning the death of 18th-century musical genius
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. From the vantage point of an insane asylum, aging royal composer Salieri (
F. Murray Abraham) recalls the events of three decades earlier, when the young Mozart (
Tom Hulce) first gained favor in the court of Austrian emperor Joseph II (
Jeffrey Jones). Salieri was incensed that God would bless so vulgar and obnoxious a young snipe as Mozart with divine genius. Why was Salieri--so disciplined, so devoted to his art, and so willing to toady to his superiors--not touched by God? Unable to match Mozart's talent, Salieri uses his influence in court to sabotage the young upstart's career. Disguising himself as a mysterious benefactor, Salieri commissions the backbreaking "Requiem," which eventually costs Mozart his health, wealth, and life. Among the film's many pearls of dialogue, the best line goes to the Emperor, who rejects a Mozart composition on the grounds that it has "too many notes."
Amadeus won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor for
F. Murray Abraham. In 2002, the film received a theatrical re-release as "Amadeus: The Director's Cut," a version that includes 20 minutes of additional footage.
~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Average Review:
Number of reviews: 1
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A reviewer
from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
An Oscar-Winning Dramatic Musical Triumph.
Peter Shaffer brings his hit Broadway play to the silver screen and the result was the winning of eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, Milos Forman as Best Director, Best Screenplay Adaptation and Best Costume Design. Tom Hulce portrays the childish composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91), whose short life and musical accomplishments are seen through the envious eyes of his rival, Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham in an Oscar-winning performance). Much of Mozart's beautiful music is heard throughout the movie. With Elizabeth Berridge, Simon Callow, Roy Dotrice, Christine Ebersole, Jeffrey Jones, Charles Kay, Kenny Baker, Richard Frank, Patrick Hines, Nicholas Kepros, Cynthia Nixon and Vincent Schiavelli.
;)
