perhaps emotionally disturbed Antonio Salieri attempts suicide, and in doing so, apologizes for killing Mozart some 31 years earlier. He survives and is admitted to an insane asylum, where he tells a young priest his tale of jealousy and mediocrity.The priest is fascinated and alternately troubled by the lengthy and emotional story. Salieri tells of growing up in Italy with a father who did not care for music; and how he rejoiced for the chance to go to Vienna after his father's untimely death. He tells of how he first had met the young Mozart, and how immature and dirty minded Mozart was. He also tells of how "The Creature" had an intimate relationship with the girl that Salieri had cared for. Most importantly, however, he confided in the priest that he had learned to hate God for giving him a deep love of music, only to deny him the talent to create truly memorable music. He thought God had given him Mozart to mock him. Salieri's heart filled with such rage, such hatred and such jealousy, that he had vowed to himself to make God an enemy and to kill the young Mozart.As the movie moves along, carrying with it a deep sadness of the human condition, it also celebrates life by giving the audience joyous music, wonderful atmosphere and a general appreciation of humanity for not only eighteenth century Europe, but in any age where music speaks for our emotions.The movie won eight Academy Awards in March of 1985. The only reason it did not win nine was that Tom Hulce was nominated for best actor instead of best supporting actor. He actually was in a supporting role, and in a strange twist of irony, F. Murray Abraham won the best actor statuette; citing probably the only time when Salieri beat out Mozart in anything.The movie itself was shot in Prague where Milos Forman said " It is a gem because it's possible to pivot the camera a full three hundred and sixty degrees and never encounter a modern vision." Very few new sets had to be built, as the scenes and buildings they found were quite often apropos to their needs.Amadeus works well on virtually every cinematic plane that exists. It is a masterpiece that must be viewed multiple times to receive what the film has to offer. The emotions of humanity, through the eyes of the troubled Salieri, indeed speak for all of mediocrity. He is their champion and their king.

undoing of a great talent by both external forces and his own weaknesses iv has great costumes and music and v has a great supporting cast.

the man who was so dedicated to the ruination of Mozart ended up helping him in the end. I question the historical accuracy of that as well. I recently bought the director's cut to this movie. Until I saw the director's cut, Sallieri seemed like a more sympathetic character, someone who just couldn't buy a break. Who can't identify with that? But after seeing the director's cut and seeing what I think is an important scene between Sallieri and Mozart's wife, he seemed more like a jerk. You also understand why Frau Mozart was so rude to Sallieri at the end of the movie, whereas before, you see the next to the last scene and you think, "Whoa! Where did this come from?" This was a great movie, for entertainment value only. If you want historical accuracy, watch a documentary or read a biography from the library or something. Because of this movie, I am now a rabid Mozart fan. If the movie can make Mozart converts, then it can't be bad at all.

heart a violent and uncontrolled anger, causing the poison of his own malice... Tom Hulce is remarkable as the over-excited genius, with a high-pitched giggle, whose unique music shows a continuous growth in expressive power...Jeffrey Jones gives a delightful performance as the 'musical king' who does not censor things lightly...Elizabeth Berridge is the perplexed and tempted woman who delivers the Court Composer a portfolio filled with her husband's manuscripts, and is horrified in hearing that 'some service deserves service in return.'Christine Ebersole is the young, high-spirited soprano, emotionally disturbed by Mozart's dramatic change...Richard Frank is the Chaplain, at the hospital, who hears Salieri's faults...Roy Dotrice is the menacing figure in a long, gray cape and dark gray hat...Nicholas Kepros is the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg who seems quite sure that Mozart has sold himself to Vienna...Vincent Schiavelli is Salieri's valet who tries to tempt his master to open the door with a favorite dessert...Cynthia Nixon is the young maid-servant who is invited to go to Mozart's house and offer her services... Roderick Cook is the harsh and highly correct Emperor's Chamberlain who makes certain to a passionate Mozart that a little modesty would suit him better... Charles Kay is the corpulent man, highly conscious of his position as Director of the Opera, who rips out several pages of Mozart's music...Jonathan Moore is the kindly and educated Imperial Librarian who argues that opera is here to ennoble human spirits... Simon Callow is the impresario who asks the enchanted Amadeus to write for him a proper part with a couple of catchy songs, and he will guarantee him a 'luxurious triumph.'Kenneth McMillan is the prosperous merchant who treats his dogs like his own children...One of my favorite sequence is when a bewildered Mozart is received by the Emperor who is practicing a little March of Welcome composed by the illustrious Salieri... After some comments and remarks, Mozart, returns the manuscript back to the Emperor, and sits on the piano to play Salieri's musical composition demonstrating to the Emperor that he already had it in his head 'on one hearing only.' Mozart plays the first half of the march with great precision, then proceeds to modify the written score so that it turns out into a much better march... Filmed in Prague with a joyous music from Mozart's phenomenal repertoire, Milos Forman's 'Amadeus' is a masterpiece of drama intelligent and moving, handsomely filmed, competently directed, extremely well-acted, exquisitely mounted... The script gives a thought-provoking scenario that is clever, believable and interesting...

gospel by about two hundred years, Salieri mistakes obsessing with God over his own earthly desires with actual godliness, even being happy when his father - who objects to Salieri's musical interests - chokes to death and leaves Salieri free to pursue his musical dreams. He chalks this up to God's will for his career. Problems begin when Salieri meets a twenty-something Mozart at the court of the Emperor in Vienna, where Salieri is the court composer. Mozart is everything Salieri is not - profane, forward, and a great composer. Salieri starts down the road to insanity as he realizes the childish Mozart has all of the gifts he ever wanted and has been denied. However, Salieri is not an outright failure as was Ed Wood. In many ways he is something worse than a ridiculous failure - he is mediocre, and worse yet, he knows it.Salieri,angry at God for honoring a profane ungrateful boy like Mozart while ignoring his own one desire to be a great composer, swears to destroy Mozart. The strange thing is, as long as Mozart is alive, Salieri is the honored composer, not Mozart, though this just seems to infuriate Salieri even more. Salieri seems to be the only person in Vienna who recognizes Mozart's talent. This just begs the question - why did it never occur to Salieri that being able to recognize something as valuable before anyone else does is a talent in and of itself? After all, in 1975 the second best thing to being Bill Gates would have been to have recognized his genius and invested heavily in his success. But I digress.The cinematography and art direction on this film are outstanding. The visuals start out light and festive, matching Mozart's mood and prospects. As poverty, illness, and the guilt of his father's death close in on Mozart during the second half of the film, the mood and visuals become very dark to match what is happening in Mozart's own life. Highly recommended.

of Austria , Jeffrey Jones , schemes his tormentor's destruction . F.Murray Abraham's Salieri is a mediocre composer who desires greatness but is tortured himself by jealous , sorrow and envy , though admiring the greatest composer he has ever heard . His worst attacks of angst happen when he comes into contact with Tom Hulce's Mozart . Mozart is so awful , so much crass vulgarian who , despite his gifts remains unaffected and delighted by the beauty he composes while irking the hell out of everyone around him . Several real , or at least apocryphal, events from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's life were incorporated into the screenplay, including the interlude between the child Mozart and Marie Antionette . We are very interested in following developments and alternatively to their horrifying ending . It's a stunning film full of superb music , literate , wit and an immensely dramatic fire . The picture contains some striking visual images , lavish setting with enormous production design by Patrizia Von Brandenstein , terrific period piece with realistic scenario for the XVIII century filmed on location in Prague, besides nifty brilliant costumes . In fact , Prague , Milos Forman's native city, was ideal as a stand-in for Vienna , as modern television antennas, plastic and asphalt had rarely been introduced under Communist rule . This is an agreeable rendition by playwright Peter Shaffer of his play about the dramatic rivalry among two great composers . Tom Hulce delivers a stunning portrayal, a boorish musician kissed with genius , sometimes a little bit exaggerated, of the popular composer whose music is become immortal. Hulce expresses musical genius and a first class finger-matching . Tom Hulce practiced four hours a day at the piano to appear convincing . Salieri is performed in masterly style throughout by F. Murray Abraham , winning deservedly one of the movie's Oscars , conveying inner feeling by looks , movements and gestures .Evocative and colorful cinematography by Miroslav Ondricek . Entire film was shot with natural light , in order to get the proper diffusion of light for some scenes, it was covered windows from the outside with tracing paper . Terrific musical score by John Strauss with orchestra directed by Neville Marriner , as musical conductor of Mozart's music has a glorious sweep ; there are played the followings Mozart's plays : Concert nº 27 for pianoforte and orchestra in Flat Major , Ave Verum Corpus , Concert for clarinet and orchestra number 39 , number 40 and number 41 , Requiem ; furthermore , opera representations : Figaro's weddings , The magic flute , Don Giovanni ; in fact , the performance of "Don Giovanni" in the movie was filmed on the same stage where the opera first appeared . Sets and costumes for the operatic productions were based on sketches of the original costumes and sets used when the operas premiered . The motion picture was lavishly produced by Saul Zaentz and excellently directed by Milos Forman Valmont, Ragtime ,Hair , Someone flow the Cucko nest , Larry Flint ; it won eight Adamy Award as main actor , adapted screenplay , art direction , set decoration , make-up , costume , director and picture . In addition , it achieved several prizes , such as : Golden Globes , L.A. Films Critics , and French Cesar , among others . Devotees of the music will appeal this film which is a fine tribute to classical music .

well - e.g. "Elvira Madigan", where Mozart's 21st piano concerto became "the Elvira Madigan theme".The direction and cinematography are gorgeous and impeccable. This is a beautifully-crafted film which invokes a great sense of time and place.Now for the bad...The myth of Salieri's murder or attempted murder has been around since the time of Mozart. It's the sort of juicy story that just develops a life of its own, despite all evidence to the contrary. It's unfortunate that it has been perpetuated by so many - from Mozart's time to Pushkin to Shaffer. The Mozart's portrayal as childish and vulgar is inaccurate. He had a sense of humor and fun. Sometimes his sense of humor was vulgar in interaction with those closest to him, but he certainly knew how to conduct himself as a professional in public. In the movie, he is depicted as both immoral and an alcoholic toward the end of his life. Affairs have been speculated, but almost anyone who draws public attention has to endure such speculation, true or not. In Mozart's case, there is no serious evidence to back up the gossip. Certainly, he was not a drunkard! Also, although he was certainly not wise in his handling of his financial affairs, he was just as surely not without students and lived quite comfortably for most of his adult life.Salieri's portrayal as a mediocre composer is also wrong. Salieri was certainly in the shadow of Mozart, but he was a talented composer of mostly operas unlike Mozart, Salieri rarely composed instrumental music . Had Mozart not lived at the same time, Salieri would certainly have been better known, but then the same could be said of almost every contemporary composer. It's worth noting that Salieri's students included Beethoven and Liszt.Costanze's portrayal is closer to the truth, but still misses the mark. By all accounts, she was a devoted wife and Mozart was devoted to her. She certainly did not leave for "the spa" when he was sick. The backstory of her as the daughter of Mozart's landlady ignores the fact that she was the younger sister of a girl Mozart had wanted to marry when he and his mother were in Paris. The older sister eventually became famous as a prima donna and spurned him. Mozart remained in good terms with the family and was boarding with them in Vienna when he and Costantze developed into a couple. Leopold Mozart was opposed to the marriage mostly because the family had a reputation for what we would call a Bohemian lifestyle.Leopold Mozart's portrayal is more accurate, but then his isn't a fleshed-out character in the show. Leopold's relationship with his son was complex and, after the death of Mozart's mother, increasingly strained. The motives imputed to him by the script are not only wrong, but over-simplified. One thing we do know for sure is that it was not Salieri that commissioned the requiem mass. Count Walsegg-Stuppach was the mysterious "man in gray" who intended to pass the work off as his own.While I enjoyed the movie enough to give it an 8 rating, it's unconscionable to think that many people may accept its slanders as truth.

you're casual enough to belong in the martini crowd or just like going out to see operas, then chances are your time is going to be spent perfectly well. And yes, even the entire family will like this one, despite getting a little crude on occasion. Unlike THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION that one was great, but it just seemed too long , it is fully satisfying and the talented stage performances make this one to appreciate. We should also examine Mozart's life and love of music, which bodes strongly for a lengthy picture. The film's total magic is in the directing talents of Milos Foreman.AMADEUS is a wondrous spectacle of harmony and ambition from centuries ago, and like I said before, it isn't an all-out cinematic masterpiece. While not for those who lack interest in classical music, it is a hungry feast for some. Hey, I may not be a fan of public television, so why waste some pledge money when this movie sticks to your mind in years to come.