Amadeus (1984)

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For this film adaptation of Peter Shaffer's Broadway hit, director Milos Forman returned to the city of Prague that he'd left behind during the Czech political crises of 1968, bringing along his usual cinematographer and fellow Czech expatriate, Miroslav Ondricek. Amadeus is an expansion of a Viennese "urban legend" concerning the death of 18th-century musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. From the vantage point of an insane asylum, aging royal composer Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) recalls the events of three decades earlier, when the young Mozart (Tom Hulce) first gained favor in the court of Austrian emperor Joseph II (Jeffrey Jones). Salieri was incensed that God would bless so vulgar and obnoxious a young snipe as Mozart with divine genius. Why was Salieri--so disciplined, so devoted to his art, and so willing to toady to his superiors--not touched by God? Unable to match Mozart's talent, Salieri uses his influence in court to sabotage the young upstart's career. Disguising himself as a mysterious benefactor, Salieri commissions the backbreaking "Requiem," which eventually costs Mozart his health, wealth, and life. Among the film's many pearls of dialogue, the best line goes to the Emperor, who rejects a Mozart composition on the grounds that it has "too many notes." Amadeus won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor for F. Murray Abraham. In 2002, the film received a theatrical re-release as "Amadeus: The Director's Cut," a version that includes 20 minutes of additional footage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Theatrical Feature Running Time:

180 mins

Complete Cast:

Director(s):

Milos Forman

Writer(s):

Peter Shaffer

Producer(s):

Bertil Ohlsson, Michael Hausman, Saul Zaentz

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

PG(Adult Language, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children)

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• 1984 - Amadeus - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Art Direction
• 1984 - Amadeus - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Sound
• 1984 - Amadeus - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Sound
• 1984 - Amadeus - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Actor
• 1984 - Amadeus - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Costume Design
• 1984 - Amadeus - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Makeup
• 1984 - Amadeus - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Picture
• 1984 - Amadeus - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Art Direction
• 1984 - Amadeus - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Sound
• 1984 - Amadeus - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Director
• 1984 - Amadeus - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Makeup
• 1984 - Amadeus - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Sound
• 1984 - Amadeus - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Adapted Screenplay
• 1998 - Amadeus - American Film Institute - 100 Greatest American Movies
• 1984 - Amadeus - French Academy of Cinema - Best Foreign Film
• 1984 - Amadeus - Golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
• 1984 - Amadeus - Golden Globe - Best Picture - Drama
• 1984 - Amadeus - Golden Globe - Best Director
• 1984 - Amadeus - Golden Globe - Best Screenplay
• 1984 - Amadeus - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Actor
• 1984 - Amadeus - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Director
• 1984 - Amadeus - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Screenplay
• 1984 - Amadeus - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Picture