The Competition (1980)

Director:

Joel Oliansky

Writers:

Joel Oliansky (story) and
William Sackheim (story) ...

Release Date:

3 December 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Music

Tagline:

They broke the cardinal rule of the competition...they fell in love.

Plot:

The movie centers on a piano competition whose winner is assured of success. It is Paul's last chance to compete...

Plot Keywords:

Piano | Male Female Relationship | Orchestra | San Francisco California | Love Affair

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Richard Dreyfuss	...	Paul Dietrich
Amy Irving	...	Heidi Joan Schoonover
Lee Remick	...	Greta Vandemann
Sam Wanamaker	...	Andrew Erskine
Joseph Cali	...	Jerry DiSalvo
Ty Henderson	...	Michael Humphries
Vicki Kriegler	...	Tatjana Baronova
Adam Stern	...	Mark Landau
Philip Sterling	...	Mr. Dietrich
Gloria Stroock	...	Mrs. Dietrich
Bea Silvern	...	Madame Gorshev
James Sikking	...	Brudenell (as James B. Sikking)
Delia Salvi	...	Mrs. DiSalvo
Jimmy Sturtevant	...	Vinnie DiSalvo
Kathy Talbot	...	Denise DiSalvo

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

When the film was released, the press releases promoted the fact that this was one of the rare times when the audience actually got to see the actors playing the keys of the piano. Most films that dealt with scenes or plots where characters play the piano would be shot from behind or in front of the piano so their hands were not visible. The actors for The Competition rehearsed so that they could actually mimic the hand movements of a pianist.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: The piano fingering is often out of sync with the music, especially during Heidi's performance of Prokofiev's 3rd.

Quotes:

Greta Vandemann: [to Andrew Erskine] Andrew! It costs extra to carve "schmuck" on a tombstone, but you would definitely be worth the expense!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: The Competition (#6.17)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

Love Theme - The Competition (People Alone)

Great movie for pianists and musicians!

Richard Dreyfuss (Mr. Holland's Opus, The Good Bye Girl), plays Paul Dietrich. a very problematic and sometimes annoying pianist. Paul is supported by his parents that puts pressure on him. He is also thirty years old and this is the cutting edge for this type of music competition. This is his last competition. All he wants to do is win, no matter how, and is hurting himself because of it. Amy Irving (Yentl), plays another pianist who is much more relaxed with herself and her music. Her teacher, Greta Vandemann, played by Lee Remick (Anatomy of a Murder) is possessive about Heidi. Greta Vandemann can trace her teachers all the way up to Beethoven himself! Heidi does not have the pressures that Paul has, she does not even care about winning. She stays in this beautiful house in San Francisco where she can practice on her nice piano, and Paul stays in a cheap hotel. He is a walking volcano. He is petulant, arrogant and annoying but at the same time can cry, which shows that he is human, vulnerable and also very afraid. He hides his feelings but it shows in his behavior. There are other musicians: the black guy who likes practicing the piano naked, the Italian who can play only one concerto but he is really looking for a way to become another De Niro, Pacino or Travolta. There is a very young Russian that adds a little suspense to the plot. They are all stereotypes. My favorite scenes are: Paul teaching Heidi how to drive a car; Heidi stopping playing in the middle of her performance because the middle register is uneven; how beautifully she played Prokofiev ‘s 3rd Concert; Paul been astonished because he was unaware that she could really play; Paul telling Greta that must to be a tremendous responsibility in having to know everything. Greta jumping for joy because she is always so proper. That shows another side to her. This is an enjoyable movie especially for pianists and musicians.