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IMDbPro

Amadeus

  • 1984
  • PG
  • 2h 40m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
410K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,017
39
Amadeus (1984)
Trailer for Amadeus
Play trailer2:20
3 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaMusic

The life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as told by Antonio Salieri, the contemporaneous composer who was deeply jealous of Mozart's talent and claimed to have murdered him... Read allThe life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as told by Antonio Salieri, the contemporaneous composer who was deeply jealous of Mozart's talent and claimed to have murdered him.The life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as told by Antonio Salieri, the contemporaneous composer who was deeply jealous of Mozart's talent and claimed to have murdered him.

  • Director
    • Milos Forman
  • Writers
    • Peter Shaffer
    • Zdenek Mahler
  • Stars
    • F. Murray Abraham
    • Tom Hulce
    • Elizabeth Berridge
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.4/10
    410K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,017
    39
    • Director
      • Milos Forman
    • Writers
      • Peter Shaffer
      • Zdenek Mahler
    • Stars
      • F. Murray Abraham
      • Tom Hulce
      • Elizabeth Berridge
    • 727User reviews
    • 129Critic reviews
    • 88Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #72
    • Won 8 Oscars
      • 43 wins & 15 nominations total

    Videos3

    Amadeus
    Trailer 2:20
    Watch Amadeus
    Amadeus
    Trailer 2:25
    Watch Amadeus
    Amadeus
    Trailer 2:20
    Watch Amadeus

    Photos123

    F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce in Amadeus (1984)
    Amadeus (1984)
    Jeffrey Jones and Tom Hulce in Amadeus (1984)
    F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce in Amadeus (1984)
    Constanze (ELIZABETH BERRIDGE) shows Mozart's music to Salieri (F. MURRAY ABRAHAM)
    (L-r:) Mozart (TOM HULCE), Emperor Joseph II (JEFFREY JONES), Count Von Strack (RODERICK COOK) and Count Orsini-Rosenberg
    Salieri (F. MURRAY ABRAHAM) with Baron Van Swieten (JONATHAN MOORE, in background)
    (L-r:) Frau Weber (BARBARA BRYNE), Constanze (ELIZABETH BERRIDGE), Mozart (TOM HULCE), Katerina Cavalieri (CHRISTINE EBERSOLE) and Emperor Joseph II (JEFFREY JONES)
    Mozart (TOM HULCE) composes music over a billiard table
    Tom Hulce in Amadeus (1984)
    Jeffrey Jones and Tom Hulce in Amadeus (1984)
    An ailing Mozart (TOM HULCE) dictates notes of music to Salieri (F. MURRAY ABRAHAM) who writes them down for him

    Top cast

    Edit
    F. Murray Abraham
    F. Murray Abraham
    • Antonio Salieri
    Tom Hulce
    Tom Hulce
    • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Elizabeth Berridge
    Elizabeth Berridge
    • Constanze Mozart
    Roy Dotrice
    Roy Dotrice
    • Leopold Mozart
    Simon Callow
    Simon Callow
    • Emanuel Schikaneder
    Christine Ebersole
    Christine Ebersole
    • Katerina Cavalieri
    Jeffrey Jones
    Jeffrey Jones
    • Emperor Joseph II
    Charles Kay
    Charles Kay
    • Count Orsini-Rosenberg
    Kenneth McMillan
    Kenneth McMillan
    • Michael Schlumberg (2002 Director's Cut)
    Kenny Baker
    Kenny Baker
    • Parody Commendatore
    Lisbeth Bartlett
    • Papagena
    • (as Lisabeth Bartlett)
    Barbara Bryne
    • Frau Weber
    Martin Cavina
    • Young Salieri
    • (as Martin Cavani)
    Roderick Cook
    • Count Von Strack
    Milan Demjanenko
    • Karl Mozart
    Peter DiGesu
    • Francesco Salieri
    Richard Frank
    • Father Vogler
    Patrick Hines
    • Kappelmeister Bonno
    • Director
      • Milos Forman
    • Writers
      • Peter Shaffer
      • Zdenek Mahler(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film ironically helped spark a revival of Salieri's music, which had previously languished in obscurity.
    • Goofs
      Both Mozart and Salieri are shown conducting an orchestra in modern style, by standing in front and waving the arms. In the 18th century, the conductor played first violin or harpsichord, the other musicians watching his head and hand movements. It was the rise of large orchestras in the 19th century that forced the conductor to abandon his instrument and take a more visible position.
    • Quotes

      Antonio Salieri: [reflecting upon a Mozart score] On the page it looked nothing. The beginning simple, almost comic. Just a pulse. Bassoons and basset horns, like a rusty squeezebox. And then suddenly, high above it, an oboe. A single note, hanging there, unwavering. Until a clarinet took over and sweetened it into a phrase of such delight! This was no composition by a performing monkey! This was a music I'd never heard. Filled with such longing, such unfulfillable longing, it had me trembling. It seemed to me that I was hearing the voice of God.

    • Crazy credits
      The producer, screenplay writer and director thank the following for their boundless assistance in our effort to present the physical authenticity and aura you have seen and felt in "Amadeus": -The National Theatre of Czechoslovakia and Prague's Tyl Theatre management for allowing us to film in the Tyl sequences from the operas: "Abduction from the Seraglio," "The Marriage of Figaro," and "Don Giovanni." It was actually in this magnificently preserved theatre that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart conducted the premiere performance of "Don Giovanni" on October 29, 1787. -His Eminence Cardinal Frantisek Tomasek for his kindness in permitting us to use his beautiful residence headquarters in Prague as the Emperor's palace. -The Barrandov Studios and CS Filmexport for their help in filming "Amadeus" in Prague and in castles and palaces throughout Czechoslovakia.
    • Alternate versions
      The Orion Pictures logo, which was seen at the beginning of the film when it was first released theatrically, was not shown when the film played on both cable and commercial television, and is not seen on the VHS or DVD releases.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Making of 'Amadeus' (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), K. 492, Act IV, Ah Tutti Contenti
      (1786) (uncredited)

      Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte

      Performed by The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields (as Academy of St Martin In The Fields)

      Conducted by Neville Marriner

      Excerpts Sung by Samuel Ramey (Figaro), Felicity Lott (Countess), Richard Stilwell (Count Almaviva), Isobel Buchanan (as Isabel Buchanan) (Susanna), Anne Howells (Cherubino), Deborah Rees (Barbarina), Alexander Oliver (Basilio), Robin Leggate (Don Curzio), John Tomlinson (Dr. Bartolo), and Willard White (Antonio)

    User reviews727

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Amadeus Speaks for All Mankind
    In 1984, Saul Zaentz, Peter Shaffer and Milos Forman collaborated in bringing a truly remarkable life to the silver screen. The story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, through the eyes of rival composer, Antonio Salieri. The film is complete with an insightful script (courtesy of Mr. Shaffer), magnificent acting, wondrous sets and costume designs, incredible choreography (thanks to Twyla Tharp), and, above all, the glorious music of Mozart himself.

    The movie of Salieri's life, through which Mozart played an integral part, is told in flashback mode, beginning in around the year 1822. An old and 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.
    helpful•206
    49
    • richcarter150
    • May 4, 2004

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    FAQ9

    • Is "Amadeus" based on a book?
    • Why is this film titled with Mozart's supposed middle name?
    • Was Salieri a real person or just made up for the movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 19, 1984 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • France
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • Latin
      • German
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Peter Shaffer's Amadeus
    • Filming locations
      • Barrandov Studios, Prague, Czech Republic(Studio, Volkstheater, Hospital Room, Mozart's Apartment and Staircase sets)
    • Production companies
      • The Saul Zaentz Company
      • AMLF
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $18,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $51,973,029
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $505,276
      • Sep 23, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $52,066,791
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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