Release date: 1984
Stars: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce and Elizabeth Berridge
Synopsis: 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 Ondrícek. 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.
