- Film Review
- Reviewed By David Parkinson
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5 out of 5
The winner of eight Oscars and an unexpected box-office smash, Amadeus is simply one of the finest biographical dramas ever made. Reworked rather than simply adapted by Peter Shaffer from his own hit play, the film is as much about the mediocrity and envy of the composer Antonio Salieri as it is about the eccentric genius of his rival Mozart. There is, therefore, a sort of poetic justice in the fact that F Murray Abraham - for those with an interest in biographical minutiae, the "F" stands for Fahrid - pipped Tom Hulce for the best actor award. But surely Jeffrey Jones deserved a nod for his delightful portrayal of Emperor Joseph II? Returning to Prague (standing in for Vienna) for the first time since the Soviet invasion in 1968, director Milos Forman and his regular cinematographer Miroslav Ondricek revel in the beauty of the city, but credit must also go to Patrizia von Brandenstein for her superb sets and inspired choice of location interiors. As one would expect, the music is majestic, thanks largely to Neville Marriner's outstanding interpretation of everything from gypsy dances to Don Giovanni. This director's cut of the film contains an extra 20 minutes of footage not seen in the original theatrical release.
Plot Summary
Composer Antonio Salieri is a favoured artist in the court of Austrian emperor Joseph II, but he finds himself pushed aside in favour of a young Mozart. Salieri admires the younger maestro's music, but is incensed that someone so vulgar and obnoxious should be gifted with such talent, and as jealousy consumes him, he plots his rival's downfall. Extended cut of Milos Forman's period drama, adapted by Peter Shaffer from his own play and starring F Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Antonio Salieri
- F Murray Abraham
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Tom Hulce
- Constanze Mozart
- Elizabeth Berridge
- Emanuel Schikaneder
- Simon Callow
- Leopold Mozart
- Roy Dotrice
- Katerina Cavalieri
- Christine Ebersole
- Emperor Joseph II
- Jeffrey Jones
- Count Orsini-Rosenberg
- Charles Kay
- Parody Commendatore
- Kenny Baker (2)
- Papagena
- Lisabeth Bartlett
- Frau Weber
- Barbara Bryne
- Young Salieri
- Martin Cavani
- Count Von Strack
- Roderick Cook
- Karl Mozart
- Milan Demjanenko
- Francesco Salieri
- Peter Digesu
Crew
- Director
- Milos Forman
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