First| Previous| Up| Next| Last
Amadeus (1984)
Front Cover Actor Back Cover
F. Murray Abraham Antonio Salieri
Tom Hulce Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Elizabeth Berridge Constance Mozart
Roy Dotrice Leopold Mozart
Simon Callow Emanuel Schikaneder
Christine Ebersole Katerina Cavalieri
Jeffrey Jones Emperor Joseph II
Charles Kay Count Orsini-Rosenberg
Kenneth McMillan Michael Schlumberg
Kenny Baker
Lisbeth Bartlett Papagena
Movie Details
Genre Music; Musical; Crime
Director Milos Forman; Milos
Producer Saul Zaentz; Peter Shaffer
Writer Peter Shaffer; Peter
Cinematography Miroslav Ondricek; Miroslav
Musician
Studio Creative Design
Language English
Audience Rating PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Running Time 158
Country USA
Color Color
Plot
The satirical sensibilities of writer Peter Shaffer and director Milos Forman (One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest) were ideally matched in this Oscar-winning movie adaptation of Shaffer's hit play about the rivalry between two composers in the court of Austrian Emperor Joseph II--official royal composer Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), and the younger but superior prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce). The conceit is absolutely delicious: Salieri secretly loathes Mozart's crude and bratty personality, but is astounded by the beauty of his music. That's the heart of Salieri's torment--although he's in a unique position to recognize and cultivate both Mozart's talent and career, he's also consumed with envy and insecurity in the face of such genius. That such magnificent music should come from such a vulgar little creature strikes Salieri as one of God's cruelest jokes, and it drives him insane. Amadeus creates peculiar and delightful contrasts between the impeccably re-created details of its lavish period setting and the jarring (but humorously refreshing and unstuffy) modern tone of its dialogue and performances--all of which serve to remind us that these were people before they became enshrined in historical and artistic legend. Jeffrey Jones, best-known as Ferris Bueller's principal, is particularly wonderful as the bumbling emperor (with the voice of a modern midlevel businessman). The film's eight Oscars include statuettes for Best Director Forman, Best Actor Abraham (Hulce was also nominated), Best Screenplay, and Best Picture. --Jim Emerson
Personal Details
Seen It Yes
Collection Status In Collection
Purchase Price $19.97
Links Amazon US
Amadeus at Movie Collector Connect
Amazon US
Edition Details
Edition Japan Edition
Format DVD
Region Region 1
Screen Ratio 2.35:1
Layers Dual Side, Dual Layer
Barcode 085393621827
Release Date 12/17/1997
Subtitles English; French
Packaging Snap Case
Audio Tracks English Dolby Digital 5.1
French Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
No. of Disks/Tapes 2
Extra Features
Alternate Music-Only Track Interactive Menus New Transfer / Digitally Restored Image & Sound Production Notes Scene Access Theatrical Trailers Color Closed-captioned Widescreen Dolby