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The Competition (1980)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
3 December 1980 (USA)
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Tagline:
They broke the cardinal rule of the competition...they fell in love. more
Plot:
The movie centers on a piano competition whose winner is assured of success. It is Paul's last chance to compete...
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Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars.
Another 2 nominations
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User Comments:
The definitive motion picture about classical pianists for me.
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | 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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
123 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
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.
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Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: The piano fingering is often out of sync with the music, especially during Heidi's performance of Prokofiev's 3rd.
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Quotes:
Paul:
Nobody looks that good in direct sunlight, so it's not like you're such a knockout.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: The Competition (#6.17)" (2002)
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Soundtrack:
Sonata for Piano
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (19 total)
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The Competition (1980)
The Main Cast:
Richard Dreyfuss (Paul Dietrich) Amy Irving (Heidi Joan Schoonover) Lee Remick (Greta Vandemann)
Two concert pianists, played by Richard Dreyfuss and Amy Irving, fall in love at a prestigeous competition they are finalists in, but there is much more to the story than that. The film gives an insight as to what takes place in those competitions during which the participants must be aware of and protect themselves from the "competitive edge" of the other pianists. The acting by the entire cast and the directing is exceptional, but what is more exceptional than that is the fingersynching of the actors while appearing to actually play the piano. The late Lee Remick is outstanding as Amy Irving's teacher. A thoroughly enjoyable film with great acting, script, direction and music. A tip of the hat should go to Jean Evensen Shaw and her assistant Dorothy Hull for tutoring the actors about where, when and how to place their fingers on the keyboard. But, since nothing is ever perfect, I can still imagine James Mason, who wasn't in the movie, rapping the knuckles of a few of the pianists because of poor hand position. Richard Dreyfuss was the worst. Amy Irving was perfect! She had her hands always above the keys and did a stellar job of fingersynching the playing of Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Concerto #3, which is actually played by Daniel Pollack. The 5 minutes and 25 seconds Amy Irving spent at the piano during the performance of that piece was one of the highlights of the film. I can't praise this film too highly. However, the end left something to be desired, although not as much as one would think. But I would be remiss in my praise if I didn't at least give the lion's share of the credit to Joel Oliansky for all the hard work he and his crew put into the making of this film and getting it to the public.