Amadeus
Warner Bros. (1984)
Drama
In Collection
#742
0*
Seen ItYes
085393621827
IMDB   8.4
2 hr 39 mins USA / English
DVD  Region 1   PG
F. Murray Abraham Antonio Salieri
Tom Hulce Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Elizabeth Berridge Constance Mozart
Simon Callow Emanuel Schikaneder
Roy Dotrice Leopold Mozart
Christine Ebersole Katerina Cavalieri
Jeffrey Jones Emperor Joseph II
Charles Kay Count Orsini-Rosenberg
Kenny Baker Parody Comendatore
Lisbeth Bartlett Papagena
Kenneth McMillan Michael Schlumberg
Barbara Byrne Frau Weber
Martin Cavina Young Antonio Salieri
Miroslav Sekera Young Mozart
Roderick Cook Count Von Strack
Douglas Seale Count Arco
Director
Milos Forman
Producer Saul Zaentz
Michael Hausman
Bertil Ohlsson
Peter Shaffer
Writer Peter Shaffer
Cinematography Miroslav Ondricek
Musician Johann Sebastian Bach
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi


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 22 minutes of additional footage. — Hal Erickson
Edition Details
Distributor Warner Home Video
Chapters 38
Release Date 2002
Packaging Snap Case
Screen Ratio Widescreen 2.35:1 Color
Subtitles English; French
Audio Tracks ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 [CC]
FRENCH: Dolby Digital Surround
Layers Dual Side, Single Layer
No. of Disks/Tapes 1

Features
Interactive Menus
Productions Notes
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer
Alternate Music-Only Track