Tuesday, January 18, 2011

AMADEUS

Amadeus
Orion, 1984, Color, 158 minutes, ***½
Released September, 1984

Amadeus triumphs as gripping human drama, sumptuous period epic, glorious celebration of the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - and as the winner of eight 1984 Academy Awards, including Best Picture (produced by Saul Zaentz), Actor (F. Murray Abraham), Director (Milos Forman) and Adapted Screenplay (Peter Shaffer).

It's 1781 and Antonio Salieri (Abraham) is the competent court composer to Emperor Joseph II. When Mozart (Oscar nominee Tom Hulce) arrives at court, Salieri is horrified to discover that the godlike musical gifts he desires for himself have been bestowed on a bawdy, impish jokester. Mad with envy, he plots to destroy Mozart by any means. Perhaps, even murder.

Beautifully produced biopic of the classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). Nearly three hours of wonderful music - symphony and opera excerpts. Depressing story, but interesting nonetheless. Beautiful Mozart music featured and used in the background score throughout the film.

Producer: Saul Zaentz
Executive Producers: Michael Hausman and Bertil Ohlsson
Director: Milos Forman
Screenplay: Peter Shaffer (based on the stage play by Peter Shaffer)
Music Director: Neville Marriner
Musical Composers: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonio Salieri and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Choreography: Twyla Tharp
Production Designer: Patrizia von Brandenstein
Art Directors: Karel Cerny, Francesco Chianese and Josef Svoboda
Costume Design: Theodor Pistek
Special Effects: Dick Smith
Director of Photography: Miroslav Ondricek
Film Editing: Michael Chandler, Nena Danevic

Awards: Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor (F. Murray Abraham), Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay (Peter Shaffer), Best Art Direction/Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Sound and Best Makeup; Academy Award nominations for Best Actor (Tom Hulce), Best Cinematography (Miroslav Ondricek) and Best Film Editing

Cast: F. Murray Abraham [Antonio Salieri], Tom Hulce [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart], Elizabeth Berridge [Constanze 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 Commendatore], Lisbeth Bartlett [Papagena], Barbara Bryne [Frau Weber], Martin Cavani [Young Salieri], Roderick Cook [Count Von Strack], Milan Demjanenko [Karl Mozart], Peter DiGesu [Francesco Salieri], Richard Frank [Father Vogler], Patrick Hines [Kappelmeister Bonno], Nicholas Kepros [Archbishop Colloredo], Philip Lenkowsky [Salieri's Servant], Herman Meckler [Priest], Jonathan Moore [Baron Van Swieten], Cynthia Nixon [Lorl], Brian Pettifer [Hospital Attendant], Vincent Schiavelli [Salieri's Valet], Douglas Seale [Count Arco], Miroslav Sekera [Young Mozart], John Strauss [Conductor], Karl-Heinz Teuber [Wig Salesman], Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields

Musical Program: Symphony No. 25 in G Minor; Stabat Mater; Bubak and Hungaricus; Serenade for Winds; The Abduction from the Seraglio; Symphony No. 29 in A; Concerto for Two Pianos; Mass in C Minor; Symphonie Concertante; Piano Concerto in E Flat; The Marriage of Figaro; Don Giovanni; Zaide, aria, Ruhe Sanf; Requiem; Introitus; Dies Irae; Rex Tremendae Majestatis; Confutatis; Lacrymosa; Piano Concerto in D Minor

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