The Competition (1980)

Paul Dietrich, at almost 30 years old, is a fading piano prodigy. Heidi Schoonover is a talented young pianist with a promising future. When Paul hears of an upcoming competition that could make his career, he dedicates himself to winning.

Director:

Joel Oliansky

Writers:

Joel Oliansky (screenplay), Joel Oliansky (story)

Stars:

Richard Dreyfuss, Amy Irving, Lee Remick

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 nominations.

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

Storyline

The movie centers on a piano competition whose winner is assured of success. It is Paul's last chance to compete, but newcomer Heidi may be a better pianist. Can romance be far away? Will she take a dive despite the pressure to win from her teacher, Greta, or will she condemn Paul to obscurity?

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Plot Keywords:

piano | kiss | sex | male nudity | male rear nudity | 

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Taglines:

If you're really in love... nothing's going to stand in your way.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Star Richard Dreyfuss, even after pre-production piano playing training, continued to practice the piano with music consultant Jean Evensen Shaw during the three months of principal photography filming the picture. Dreyfuss would participate in extra further piano rehearsing between takes on the movie. Reportedly, Dreyfuss had struggled with the hand co-ordination required to play a piano.

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Goofs

Music for piano four-hands, that is two pianists playing at the same piano, is often printed with the two parts on different pages. The "primo" (top) is on the right pages, and the "secondo" (bottom) is on the left pages. So the two players of that Mozart sonata would not be looking at the same place.

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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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Alternate Versions

ABC edited 31 minutes from this film for its 1985 network television premiere

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Connections

Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)

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Soundtracks

Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major
Composed by Sergei Prokofiev (as Prokofiev)
Performed by Daniel Pollack, piano

User Reviews

If You

To begin without thanking the principals for awesome piano faking would be horrendous, likewise to not applaud their training by Jean Evensen Shaw. There is a precision to what they do, with Amy and Richard to be sure but with all of them, that is astounding. It's a sweet tale but also an insight into the cruel world of music competition where the real hero this time around has to be Ludvig himself. If you have music and performing in you; if you have been classically trained; if you believe in love; then you will in turn love this movie and its music.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 December 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Competition

Filming Locations:

Shrine Auditorium - 665 W. Jefferson Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$76,163, 7 December 1980

Gross USA:

$14,287,755

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,287,755

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rastar Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1