FAQ for
Amadeus (1984) More at IMDbPro »

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags have been used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for Amadeus can be found here.

No. Amadeus was filmed from a screenplay by English playwright Sir Peter Shaffer, who adapted it from his 1979 stage play Amadeus. The idea that Salieri 'killed' Mozart was first presented by Russian author Alexandr Rushkin's 1830 verse drama Mozart i Salieri. An online copy of Mozart and Salieri translated by Alan Shaw can be found here.

The movie makes the proposition that the name Amadeus means 'beloved of God," connecting to Salieri's belief that Mozart is God's instrument. The proposition, however, is inaccurate, as "Amadeus" is most often translated to mean "loves God", "lover of God", or "for the love of God".

This just goes to show that Salieri (played by F. Murray Abraham) was right, that he would be forgotten while the upstart Mozart (played by Tom Hulce) would be written in history. Yes, Antonio Salieri [1750-1825[ was a real person, an Italian composer and conductor. As the Austrian imperial Kapellmeister from 1788 to 1824, he was one of the most important and famous musicians of his time. However, as near as it's possible to tell, he was not out to kill Mozart. Although they competed for some commissions, all indications are that they had a friendly relationship. Salieri lent Mozart court manuscripts and even tutored one of his sons. He was an important and sought after teacher, and his most famous pupils include Beethoven, Schubert, and Liszt.

Not in Marcia Davenport's biography of Mozart, 1932, but you never know. In private, Mozart could be crude. In his letters he could be quite insulting and had a love of scatological humor. He wrote canons with titles like "Leck mich im Arsch" (Lick My Ass). He also loved to drink, party, and gamble, often spending copious amounts of money. Another point is that almost all of Mozart's dialog spoken in the movie was Mozart's own words, translated from the German, of course, and taken from his letters and other sources.

Mozart collapses from exhaustion during the premiere performance of The Magic Flute. Salieri takes Mozart home and puts him to bed. Mozart thanks Salieri for coming to his opera, and Salieri assures Mozart that he is 'the greatest composer known to me.' Suddenly, there comes a pounding on the door. Mozart is certain that it's his mysterious patron and tells Salieri to answer the door and ask him for money. It's really only the cast from The Magic Flute checking on Mozart's well-being and bringing him his cut of the night's take. Salieri takes the money to Mozart and tells him that his patron has promised him another 100 ducats if he will finish the Requiem by tomorrow evening. Badly in need of the money, Mozart agrees to work on it, dictating while Salieri transcribes. Meanwhile, Constanze (Elizabeth Berridge) has decided to return home. When she finds Salieri there, she orders him to leave and locks the Requiem away despite Salieri's insistence that he will respect only Mozart's wishes. When Constanze turns to Mozart to get him to back her up, she realizes that he is dead. Mozart's body is subsequently placed in a black coffin, loaded on a funeral wagon, and taken outside the city to be dumped into a mass grave, in accordance with Viennese custom. The scene then switches to Salieri's confession to Father Vogler (Richard Frank). Tears fill the eyes of the priest, while Salieri laughs and explains that God killed Mozart rather than allow his 'beloved' to share his glory with a mediocrity like himself. 'I am the patron saint of mediocrity,' Salieri says as the attendant wheels him away to breakfast on sugar rolls. As Salieri is taken down the hall, he absolves mediocrities everywhere, and Mozart laughs.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died on 5 December 1791 at the age of 35. The cause of death has been debated over the years, but the most widely accepted hypothesis is that he died from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that sometimes follows after a Streptococcus infection.

Milos Forman's famous biopic has been released as a Director's Cut on DVD that runs approx. 20 minutes longer and features several extended plot sequences with a more or less sexual undertone but there are also "normal" scenes that have been trimmed for the theatrical version. A detailed comparison between both versions with pictures can be found here.

In chronological order. Unless otherwise specified, all composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

(*) incomplete entry / (+) uncertain / (DC) Directors Cut

First cut / Leopold's theme (recurring): Don Giovanni (K. 527), Ouverture

Opening credits: Symphony No. 25 In G Minor (K. 183) 1st Movement

Salieri reminisces: Axur, re d'Ormus ("Axur, King of Ormus"), Act IV: Son queste le speranze. Antonio Salieri

Father Vogler recognizes it: Serenade No. 13 for Strings In G Major (K. 525): Allegro / "Eine Kleine Nacht Musik"

Young Mozart performs: Klavierstück / "Piece for harpsichord in F major", (K. 33b)

Young Salieri's prayer and vow / the funeral of Salieri's father: Stabat Mater - Quando corpus - Amen, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi

Salieri searches for Mozart: Bubak and Hungaricus, Early 18th Century Gypsy Music

Mozart is late for his music / Salieri hears "the voice of God": Serenade No. 10 for 13 Wind Instruments In B-Flat Major (K. 361), 3rd Movement

Salieri's trifle / Mozart improves it: The Marriage of Figaro (K. 492), Act I, Non Più Andrai

Katerina Cavalieri shows off: Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail / "The Abduction from the Seraglio" (K. 384) (*)

Katerina Cavalieri sails away on stage: Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail / "The Abduction from the Seraglio" (K. 384) Turkish Finale (*)

Wolfgang and Constanze marry: Mass in C Minor (K. 427) Kyrie

Salieri teaches a student: Caro mio ben / "My dear beloved", Giuseppe Giordani (DC)

Salieri reads Mozart's originals: Concerto for Flute and Harp in C Major (K. 299) 2nd Movement / Symphony No. 29 in A Major (K. 201) 1st movement, Allegro Moderato / Concerto No. 10 for Two Pianos And Orchestra in E Flat Minor (K. 365) 3rd movement, Allegro / Symphonie Concertante in E Flat Major (K. 364) 1st Movement, Allergro Maestoso / Mass in C Minor (K. 427) Kyrie

Constanze returns: Mass in C Minor (K. 427) Kyrie (DC)

Wolfgang finds Constanze crying: Adagio for Glass Harmonica in C Minor, (K. 617) (+) (DC)

Herr Schlumberg's dogs: Piano Concerto No. 15 in B-Flat (K. 450) 3rd Movement, Allegro (DC)

Mozart strolls through town: Piano Concerto No. 15 in B-Flat (K. 450) 3rd Movement, Allegro

The Mozarts go shopping: Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail / "The Abduction from the Seraglio" (K. 384) Act I, Singt dem grossen Bassa Lieder

...and partying: Ich möchte wohl der Kaiser sein (K. 539)

...in the manner of Johann Sebastian Bach: Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail / "The Abduction from the Seraglio" (K. 384), Act II: "Vivat Bacchus! Bacchus Lebe!"

Mozart composes at the pool table: The Marriage of Figaro (K. 492) Act 4, Contessa, perdono

Salieri sneaks into Mozart's house: Piano Concerto No. 22 in E Flat Major (K. 482) 3rd movement, Allegro

Salieri finds the score: The Marriage of Figaro (K. 492) Act 4, Contessa, perdono

Mozart is already rehearsing: The Marriage of Figaro (K. 492) Act I, Cinque, dieci, venti

The ballet: The Marriage of Figaro (K. 492) Act 3, Ecco la Marcia

"music of true forgivenes": The Marriage of Figaro (K. 492) Act 4, Contessa, perdono

Salieri conducts his opera: Axur, Re d'Ormus, Act 5, Misero, I Falli Suoi, Antonio Salieri

Mozart summons Leopold: Don Giovanni (K. 527) Act 2, A Cenar Teco

Salieri prepares to visit Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, (K. 466), 1st Movement, Allegro

Salieri leaves / Salieri presents his plan: Requiem in D Minor (K. 626) Requiem

Parody opera: From Don Giovanni, The Abduction from the Seraglio and The Marriage of Figaro (*)

Wolfgang doesn't hear the knocking: Requiem in D minor (K. 626) Dies Irae, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph von Eybler, Franz Xaver Süssmayr

Lorl is fightened, Wolfgang mocks Leopold's portrait: The Magic Flute (K. 620) Ouverture

Constanze sleeps next to Wolfgang: Requiem in D Minor (K. 626) Rex Tremendae, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph von Eybler, Franz Xaver Süssmayr

Mozart, Schikaneder and the singers party: The Magic Flute (K. 620) mix (*)

Mozart comes home in the morning: Requiem in D minor (K. 626) Rex Tremendae Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph von Eybler, Franz Xaver Süssmayr

The Queen of the night: The Magic Flute (K. 620) Act II, Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen

Papageno: The Magic Flute (K. 620) Act II, Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen

Papageno and Papagena: The Magic Flute (K. 620) Act II, Pa, pa, pa

Constanze at the spa: (*)

Salieri assists: Requiem in D Minor (K. 626) Confutatis, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph von Eybler, Franz Xaver Süssmayr

Wolfie! : Requiem in D Minor (K. 626) Lacrimosa, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph von Eybler, Franz Xaver Süssmayr

The champion of mediocraties / end credits: Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor (K. 466) 2st Movement, Romanze, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven