Amadeus

Released: September 21, 1984

Studio: Orion

Genre: --

Box Office (numbers in millions):

Domestic: 51.97 Worldwide: ?

Adjusted for Inflation:

Domestic: 173.50 Worldwide: ?

Directing: Milos Forman

Screenwriting: Peter Shaffer

Starring: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Simon Callow, Roy Dotrice, Christine Ebersole, Jeffrey Jones

Review:

Amadeus is a “stunning, opulent biography” ^FS of musical prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Hulce), although not 100% accurate. ^FS It is based on the Broadway play by Peter Shaffer, who adapted his work for an Oscar-winning screenplay.

The story focuses on Antonio Salieri (Abraham), the official royal composer for Austrian Emperor Joseph II (Jones). Salieri is consumed with jealousy over the “admiration and respect bestowed on Mozart” ^VD for his “incredible musical genius”^FS while he “struggle[s] with his own mediocrity.” ^AFI07

“Flashbacks illuminate the mad, energetic brilliance of Mozart,” ^AFI07 who is “simultaneously spoiled, vulgar and talented.” ^FS Although Salieri becomes a “hate-filled monster whose only aim in life is to ruin his more talented colleague.” ^TO’95 Still, he “emerges as the more tragic and sympathetic character, partly because he alone, of all his contemporaries, can appreciate this almost perfect music, and – more importantly, perhaps – because he speaks up for all of us whose talents fall short of our desires.” ^TO’95

“The film was well-received by both critics and audiences alike with its lavish set and period costume design (filmed on location in Prague), its accessibility and nonpretentiousness, and its sly intelligence and musings over the capricious nature of "God-given" talent.” ^FS

Sources:

^AFI07 American Film Institute (2007). “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition”
^FS Filmsite.org “100 Greatest Films”
^TO’95 Time Out (1995). “Centenary Top One Hundred Films”
^VD Video Detective (1997). “Top 100 Films of All Time”

Awards/Honors/Lists:

Dave’s Movie Database Lists:

Oscars:

Wins: 8, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (F. Murray Abraham), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art/Set Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, Best Sound

Nominations: 11, including Best Actor (Tom Hulce), Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing.