Amadeus was nominated for 53 awards and received 40, including eight Academy Awards (including the Academy Award for Best Picture), four BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and a Directors Guild of America award. It's in AFI's 100 best films of all time. I saw this at the cinema in the first week of release and it has lost none of its magic over the decades. Simply sublime.
Unfortunately, you saw the Theatrical cut, before the Director's Cut for home video ruined the movie, with Elizabeth Berridge's nude scene completely changing the point of Salieri's motivations. Rumor has it Warner's working on remastering both cuts for the 4K release, and we can only cross fingers and hope that the "true" version will be available again.
What a crime that both Tom Hulce and F. Murray Abraham were nominated as best actor in a leading role for the same movie, instead of the standard solution with one being nominated for leading and one for supporting, even if it's a blurry line for some movies. They both should have won, and credit to F. Murray Abraham in his Oscar's acceptance speech for saying he wanted to share it with Tom Hulce.
I was 17 when this came out theatrically and I was dragged to it for my school music class. As a young heavy metal fan I dreaded seeing it. Man was I wrong, this is an incredible film.🔥👍
I was a teenage metalhead when this movie came out and I was looking forward to it very much because heavy metal is hugely influenced by classical music, and it did not disappoint. Such a great movie.
Same, I was 18 and devoted Rock/ Metal fan. I saw this movie was just entranced by it. I fell in love with the acting , and especially the music. I remember watching the credits to Amadeus and being moved to tears. Have been a big fan ever since.
"Salieri was also a composer if I'm not mistaken...I haven't heard of his music though". This was one of your beginning statements, and I laughed at that because it sums up the movie perfectly. I love that you showed this movie. It's one of my favorites. As to it being historically accurate, that's my one disappointment with the movie. Like many other movies, it is based very loosely on fact, and does portray him as a goofball in a number of scenes unfortunately. I'll leave it to you to view the documentaries and tons of info out there showing all the inaccuracies. The problem is, the acting, writing, cinematography, and choreography are darn near perfect. I think that's why people think this is a factual movie. Such a terrific movie to watch. If you want to watch another good "historical" movie, check of The King's Speech. I think you'd like it.
If we do not know for sure that Mozart really "acted as a goofball" in real life, it was proven that he loved "butt and poop" jokes, and we know that because of many letters he wrote. He also composed and wrote the lyrics to several light humorous pieces that display a very childish and scatological humour (many serious articles and videos about that around the web). So I think their portrayal of him in the movie is fair, and based on historical evidence. He was probably a pretty light hearted, humorous individual. It was a side of him, and it doesn't diminish his genius, or the deeper side of his personality you can also hear in his work.
Well, the movie was based on the play by Peter Shaffer, who felt the movie adaptation of his previous play (Equus) didn't work as a movie. Milos Forman told Shaffer that a movie based on a play needs to be reorganized as a movie with various scenes and not as a theatre production with one set. For instance the priest and the Salieri flashbacks/confessions were only in the movie, not in the play. Shaffer said the play was only a fantasy about Salieri and Mozart, not fact. But this fantasy feels really real.
The lives and careers of Salieri and Mozart made for a fine play and film about how the mediocre achieve great positions while the truly talented struggle for acceptance, and of the jealousy of the not so talented dreamer for the gifts of the genius. That’s really what the film is about. It’s a fact that Salieri was actually a quite good composer but his conservative style simply didn’t have the longevity that more innovative composers who came along had. Mozart’s struggles had much more to do with a fickle Viennese society which actively would declare musicians in or out of favor for extramusical reasons, although he really was poor at managing his money as is shown in Amadeus. Anyway, the point is that these figures provided Peter Shaffer with a great background upon which he could tell his story and it made that story more compelling in spite of it being mostly fiction.
@@MDK2_Radio i think it goes deeper than simply jealousy and social acceptance. The truly gifted, exceptional, and genius have their exceptional abilities generally at the expense of other 'more ordinary' abilities, such as basic life skills. Like being able to associate that u need money in order to live. Like the fact that u need to get along and rely on people (even if they don't have your abilities) in order to function a comfortably survive in society. Exceptional people r exceptional, and they generally know it. Which generally makes them pompous arrogant and obtuse. To the point of being very unlikable. OR sonetimes they r not arrogant. Rather they r so wrapped up in their genius they fail to focus on basic life skills like being able to socialize, make money, or maybe even feed themselves or dress. There is only a fine line between genius and autistic. Many geniuses or exceptional people r simply misunderstood by the society around them. Even mistaken for simple, insubordinate, or simply insane. Remember that society is chiefly made up of people that lack the capacity to understand genius oe exceptional abilities. They would rather pass it off or ignore it. Sometimes it may b due to jealousy, but I think that for the most part its simply misunderstanding or misinterpretation
The idea that Salieri killed Mozart is an old one, there were suggestions like this by the 1820s at least. Salieri did have a nervous breakdown because of the accusations, seeing as he was completely innocent. The accusations were really an Italian vs. German music hullabaloo, with Salieri standing in for the Italian, even though his music was completely in the German style.
It came about alongside the increasing German nationalism which heavily influenced how the German culture viewed (and despised) foreign art. It's easy to see how such a conspiracy gets perpetuated in this environment as a tool. I wish the film itself disclaimed either at the end or at the start about just how fictional this whole account is. I don't think it would diminish the film's quality at all, and would be more responsible towards history.
@@zxbc1 Well, don't conflate unsubstantiated with untrue. We don't know but that his overwork at this time did contribute to his death, and we will never know who commissioned his final work, or whether Salieri had any part in it. History itself is never truly an accurate record, but a long string of gossip, records and propaganda.
Well it's not just that there's no proof of the theory, in fact there's proof that Salieri and Mozart liked each other. Salieri often helped Mozart when he was in trouble (he also taught Beethoven btw). I love the movie but it's a total fiction.
@@hansmahr8627 At least the movie has an excellent excuse: Salieri is the one telling the story... as an old man... in an asylum. And he did end up in one when he was elderly. Every single historical inaccuracy, you could easily chalk up to an old man misremembering things. I love the unreliable narrator trope, and this movie does it very well.
Those big and beautiful, elaborate sets? They're actually real buildings, mostly in and around Prague and Vienna. I visited the Prague State Theatre just before Covid to watch The Wedding of Figaro, the same opera house where they filmed the Wedding scenes in this movie, and the place where Don Giovanni went into premiere.
A complete masterpiece of a movie, and the greatest movie ABOUT music. The scene where Salieri was transcribing the Requiem as Mozart was dictating to him is just the greatest musical scene of all time, and it's the climax of the film. Incredible how Mozart's music is the soundtrack of the film, where it informs the emotions and themes of the characters and narrative. Of course, the movie's central narrative of Salieri and Mozart's relationship is completely fictional, but it makes for a great drama.
It's a tale as old as time, about jealousy and revenge, composed to the tunes of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a child prodigy. Beautiful scenery and excellent acting. I watch it at Christmas time, every year, without fail. Glad Shan reacted to this masterpiece, many thanks.
The first scene between the priest and Salieri always cracks me up. Within a few notes of hearing Mozart, he can hum the rest of the tune. Even today, Mozart is famous and though you say you have not heard much music by Mozart, I'm sure you have and just haven't realized it. Great movie choice and reaction.
The first time I saw Tom Hulce he was playing the lead in Animal House, so you can imagine how hard it was to imagine him playing Mozart. But he was amazing in the role!
The Salieri-Mozart feud is mostly fictional but it made for a great movie nonetheless. They were actually friends and respected each other greatly. It was very hard to know what people died from back then as you can imagine. They can only speculate but one thing they know is that when he was a kid travelling Europe extensively to play for Monarchy, it was very gruelling and he got sick a lot and it greatly impacted his system negatively.
I have never subscribed to a reactor after having seen only one reaction until today. Dude, this was awesome. As someone who's seen this movie around 30 times I'm really impressed what you've observed during your first watch.
In the theatrical version they didn't have the scene where Soliari demanded Mozart's wife to be with him. It explains why she was so hostile to him being there at the end. This is still one of the best films I have ever seen. Another cool point: Most movies write music to fit the scenes. But because Mozart's music was pre-existing, the scenes were written to be paced with the music, which created a wonderful pacing. I'd like to see this done more in films.
@@BartholomewSmutz Understandable. Because the theatrical version is the version I came to love and memorize, that is my initial feeling too. But I'd like to watch this version myself sometime and give it a chance. I want to make sure that feeling isn't just because of what I'm used to.
@@Daniel-Strain I've watched both. When I watch the director's cut there were a couple scenes that made me think what the hell is this doing in there? Of course had I seen the director's cut at the theater I probably wouldn't have thought that.
Speaking as a TV/Film composer, it's *always* a treat, and a *HUGE relief* to have a director give you license to score a piece (or write a production number, etc.) on your own, where they edit to that. One of the most painful aspects of the work is feeling like you've nailed a piece, then getting a new edit in for revision, where they've cut for other reasons. It's part of the composer skillset, but knowing that doesn't make it feel any better. This is why I require revision caps, kill fees/structured payments in all my contracts. Just leads to resentment otherwise. Some of the projects I've done went into as many as seven revisions. They ended up with what they asked for, and I got paid, but I hate the final, and it indeed tanked, and the whole thing ended with a bad taste in my mouth (and I assume, theirs). In the best circumstances, however, it's a matter of trust. You've got a director who believes in your instincts, and knows if they edit to the music you believe in (usually among the first few versions), it will pay off in the end. One famous example is Spielberg handing John Williams (who's great at rev.s) the timecode conn on the climax of E.T., with the bicycle flight. (Imagine the movie if Williams got a note saying "It's great, but we need to shave 00:06;17 from this cue. Runtime issue . . . Oh, and can you move the start of the crescendo back by 00:03:23 but still hit the Moon frame, and also make it feel the same? Great, thx. Can't wait to hear it tomorrow, bud!") This is exactly why I and many others say: *filmmakers should get the composer locked down and working as early as possible in the process!*
Shan, When watching this film you feel like you have also heard the confession of Salieri and are stunned by it, just like the priest. At the start of the film and you hear Mozart's laugh for the first time you wonder how you will sit through the entire movie. But when you hear the laugh for the last time at the films end. It's like a laugh from an old friend you miss already. Every element of this film is perfect. Cheers, Chris Perry.
This is literally my favorite film, thank you so much for doing this! Other people in the comments talked about what were some of the differences between the theatrical cut and director's cut, so I won't go into that, but I will say that when putting this version out the studio wanted a longer cut with added deleted scenes and had Miloš Forman do that so they could call it a director's cut, the truth is that he prefers the original theatrical cut and I agree with him. Now don't get me wrong, this version is still a great film, but the theatrical cut is perfect and it deserves all the awards in got.
The film isn’t historically accurate in depicting the relationship between Mozart and Salieri. The two are generally considered to have been friendly rivals with a mutual respect for one another. But the depiction of Mozart is based on actual historical documents and letters that he wrote. He was a heavy drinker and loved to party, had a very childish sense of humor, and a laugh that was described by many contemporaries as grating and annoying.
The movie is based on a relayed story that an elderly Salieri, suffering from dementia and in an institution, falsely claimed he was responsible for Mozart's death.
The incident of a masked patron asking for a requiem is considered to be an anonymous local nob with cash, who may have wanted one for his wife, and Mozart only joked in letters that "I feel as if I'm working on my own." And if Salieri interfered with the runs of Mozart's operas, that was hardly uncommon among the b****y composer-rivalry community in Vienna, and still common with backstage-drama at opera companies today.
Great movie but absolutely belongs to the alternate or "what if" genre historical drama - no one is sure where the rumor of murder began but Alexander Pushkin collection of short stories "Little Tragedies" appears to have first codified it into popular consciousness in 1830 and there it has long lingered.
There was a theatre in Prague which dated from Mozart's time, which had never been remodeled, so it was used for filming "Amadeus", saving money and adding an air of authenticity.
It was, according to a behind-the-scenes video on the DVD, also the exact same theatre where Mozart himself premiered 'Don Giovanni'. The lack of alterations was thanks to the Soviet Regime which was still in place in the 80's.
I saw the original version and prefer it. The most notable difference was in the movie cut, Stanzi did not offer to sleep with Salieri and he never tried to get her to. She still went and showed him the music so that Mozart could be considered but they left it at that. Also some of his interaction with students (and the student's parents) were cut from the film. They did take some liberties with historical fact (but hey, so did Shakespeare). This remains one of my favorite films of all time. I actually originally saw the movie as a field-trip when our high school band director took the entire band to see the film. Before seeing the film, he told us the following story about Mozart: At the time, there were rules forbidding people from bringing staff paper into a concert so people could not steal a composer's ideas... Mozart became known for doing things like attending a concert, then going home and writing out the entire symphony with all the parts and sending a copy to the composer :) I have no idea if it is true, but he was certainly a musical genius.
Dear Shan, u recognizing the greatness of this movie reafirms my love for this channel. You are a friend of movies and a fellow connoisseur. This is one of my favorite movies. It is a flawless masterpiece.
Not historically accurate but based on true people and events. Yes, Mozart had a vulgar sense of humor and even wrote songs containing butt humor. Yes he drank way too much and took medications which is probably why he died young. It's true that "The Marriage of Figaro" had been banned by Emporer Joseph, and Mozart did have rivals in the Emperor's musical court including Rosenberg. Somehow he got the opera to be played in the national theater but it closed after 9 performances. His requiem was commissioned (I believe) by a mysterious stranger, but not Salieri. He died before it was completed, and finished by one of Mozart's students. I consider this movie "historical fiction", but it is one of the most brilliant movies in my opinion.
Saw the movie 10 times when it came out. It was my "Star Wars" at the time. I was completely taken with the music and the way it was used/presented in the movie.
Great reaction... and fun fact: you've already heard Mozart's Requiem - it was featured in The Big Lebowski when The Dude visits Lebowski and he's sitting by the fireside mourning the kidnap of bunny - as The Dude reads the ransom note.
So glad to see another good reaction to this movie. It’s really an astoundingly good film, on every level. The old man Salieri makeup is often considered the best marriage of makeup and performance in film. Makeup by the original master of makeup effects, Dick Smith. Smith did Brando in The Godfather, all the effects in The Exorcist. He was especially good at old age work.
I hope I'm remembering the night correctly... during the course of the evening at the Oscars that year, as it was progressively becoming apparent that Amadeus was going for a clean sweep of the awards, the winner of best soundtrack or movie score went up on stage, and said something to the effect that, lol, for that year "... I'd like to thank Mozart for not being alive..." THANKS for this one, it is a definite Shan-must-see ;)
I'm glad you enjoyed this -- Amadeus is one of my favorite 80s films; Shaffer's screenplay is excellent. Another classic 80s period film based on an adaptation of a great play is Dangerous Liaisons, with an excellent cast. (The screenplay is based on a play which is itself an adaptation of the classic French novel.) Check it out!
@@Alice_Long Interesting, I've never head of it, I'll check it out because I love the novel. The play/screenplay by Hampton is remarkably faithful to the novel, plus is contains many witty puns/double entendres
I love this movie and I love that you reacted to it. It's one of my absolute favorite films. F Murray Abraham was masterful in this one. Another stellar period piece is Dangerous Liasons with Glenn Close and John Malkovich. Some of the best on screen chemistry ever! I've always been surprised it was not a more popular film. Thanks for not turning October into just horror films like 99% of the other reaction channels. As someone not into horror films, I've appreciated your content even more than usual this month!
Slingblade Casablanca Glengarry Glen Ross True Romance The Graduate …a few of my favorite films that I think are excellent and Shan would absolutely enjoy.
You absolutely must react to Barry Lyndon. Every shot is a masterpiece painting and natural light using candles ( they got permission from NASA to borrow their lenses)! A period piece starring Ryan O'Neil, directed by Stanley Kubrick!
No, not historically accurate AT ALL. Mozart made (in intimate circles and private letters) some vulgar jokes, but this was something very 'Salzburg', and other family members were known to make similar jokes. People tend to have an image of poor Leopold (Mozart's father) as some dour sourpuss, but nothing could be further from the truth. This is simply because the only letters we have between father and son were from the period Mozart and his mother travelled on business and she died during the trip, Mozart going alone on a business trip and being sidetracked by his heavy infatuation with Aloysia Weber - which scared the beejeesus out of Leopold, as Mozart was not of age yet and here he was, planning to 'save the Weber family from poverty' by writing opera's for Aloysia, instead of persueing - as Leopold wanted - some gainful employment as a court musician!! And then, once Mozart is in Vienna and has a position, he quarrels with his boss, gets booted out (quite literally) and tries to make it solo, which was quite a new thing! Which must've worried poor Leopold no end. And THEN he finds out that he has found lodgings with the widow Weber, and while Aloysia is married, she still has two unmarried daughters in the house.. and Leopold hears the gossip that his son is 'walking out' with Constanze! So father and son have a falling out. Leopold fearing that his son is making the same mistakes he did when he was younger, accusing widow Weber of being some Madam, renting out her daughters to naive Salzburger boys and Mozart, being a man and deeply in love with Constanze, first trying to placate and then digging his heels in the sand. Anyhow, Mozart marries Constanze, the marriage is VERY happy, despite losing most of their children, and Constanze is NOT the ditzy nitwit portrayed in the movie. Nor is Mozart some kind of 'Rain Man'. The man was highly educated and knowledgeable about music and composition. So much so that some things became second nature to him, but making difficult things LOOK easy is the mark of a true competence. The breech with Leopold didn't last and when Leopold later stayed a few weeks with his son and daugher-in-law in Vienna, and heard Haydn's compliments of his son's prowess as an composer, he wrote very happy letters to his daughter, back in Salzburg. And that's all we know. And that is the trouble with these things; we only see a few angry letters from Leopold from a specific period and think these characterize the man. We see a few private letters where Mozart jokes around with family members and friends and think this is what he did all day, every day. We read one letter where Mozart tries to soften Leopold towards his beloved by painting her in a way HE THINKS Leopold might be placated towards her, and we believe that this is what Mozart himself thought important about her. But these things were snapshots. There are anecdotes, but most were written up years after Mozart died, or give a snapshot of a moment, and because we know so little, much is made of these sentences. As for Salieri.. Salieri was a kind and generous man, happilly married to the love of his live, the father of several daughters and one son (whom he lost as a young man, which grieved his deeply). Braunbehrens wrote an excellent biography about him, as well as the best Mozart biography ever; "Mozart in Vienna'. Highly recommended.
The author is making a guess at the origins of Don Giovanni, and his relationship with Leopold isn't that far off from the movie. And it's a historical fact that somebody hired him anonymously to write a requiem mass. And it's also a fact that Salieri was suspected of doing away with Mozart.
I hadn't seen this movie since I was a child, and I remember liking it even though I couldn't recall any scenes. Watching your reaction, I'm putting it on my watch list with wifey.
This was filmed in Prague. The Opera house in the movie is the actual opera house where Don Giovanni premiered. Milos Forman was from there but defected in the 60s. It was the first time back when making Amadeus.
Shan thank you for a wonderful reaction/analysis to Amadeus, one of my all-time favorite movies. If you would consider another from the 80s, I suggest Gandhi directed by by Sir Richard Attenborough made in 1982. Even though you may already be familiar with it I would very much enjoy your take on it
A couple years ago I went to a screening of this at an auditorium/concert hall in Eugene, Oregon while the entire soundtrack was played in real time by a symphony orchestra. Pretty neat.
Because of this movie, I learned of "The Marriage of Figaro" and "The Magic Flute". A book on video game programming I was reading not much later actually referenced The Magic Flute. From there, I researched "Entrance of the Queen of the Night" and discovered Diana Damrau. I still cannot listen to her without whistling along with it. Perhaps my favorite piece of music is the "Contessa Perdono" from Marriage of Figaro. And of course most everyone is familiar with the Sull'aria of Marriage of Figaro, from "The Shawshank Redemption". I still have the soundtrack on CD.
I remember seeing this in the theater when I was 9. I fell in love with classical music and later took up the cello ( briefly...I regret not continuing.) One of my favorite movies.
I believe the section between Salieri and Mozart's wife and her late night visit was not in the original cut, though it does show her bringing Mozart's work to Salieri. The plot line where Salieri sets up Mozart as some sort of predator of young ladies was also not part of the original cut. I think I saw this 4 times in the theater when it first was released. Great movie! Thanks for reviewing it!
One of my favorite movies, thanks so much for getting to it. Spectacular reaction and commentary. Very insightful and appreciative. Enjoyed it so much.
Apparently You Tube doesn't like when someone puts links in comments because mine is gone. Aside from expressing my long-time love of this film I noted that "The Magic Flute" will be by the Metropolitan Opera on Dec. 11 this year and broadcast to select movie theaters. Fathom Events lists the places and will sell tickets eventually (not yet). Don't worry if you don't speak German, the translation is projected above or below the performance. Opera is not inaccessible. I plan on going since I've only seen Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" in a live performance. This film made me a fan of classical music and I've been to a couple dozen operas since then. I still need to see some Wagner though, wish I'd gone to "Tristan und Isolde" last year but my car was dead.
I LOVE this movie and truly enjoyed your reaction today. You have a great catalogue. I’ve been binge watching everything for days now. Just thought I’d let you know that this 51 year old from Seattle really appreciates your thoughtful observations and detailed reactions. Looking forward to more! 💞
I remember watching this in high school during a substitute teacher day and no one was paying attention to the movie but I was utterly enthralled and awe struck. It was actually one of the more memorable moments I appreciated from that time of my life.
Bravo! Fantastic review of such a masterpiece, Shan! F. Murray Abraham won the Oscar for Best Actor for Amadeus, and he deserved it 100 percent. Amadeus took home 8 Academy Awards that year, two of which were Best Picture and Best Director. Deservedly earned! So happy to see you reviewing this! 👍😎
4:36 - F. Murray Abraham won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. In my opinion, he's really the main "star" of the story, I watch it for him. Yeah, and for Tom Hulce too, who is a very charming and funny actor in this performance for sure. But for brilliance, it's Abraham all the way! It's been a while since I've seen both versions side-by-side, but from what I remember, the biggest differences are: The scene where he's performing for the family with the barking dogs was cut all together. When his wife goes to Salieri for the teaching post, she he doesn't proposition her and she doesn't return later to get frisky with him. Instead, when she picks up the music that's on the floor, she says "is it not good?" he says "it is miraculous", she says "so you'll help us, then?" and he just stares at her, doesn't respond, and walks out, stepping on his music. I think there are also a couple of tiny insert scenes of Salieri "talking to God" that were either trimmed down or cut. In the end, the "theatrical" version is 2h 40m, which is the version I personally prefer. If you like the pacing of this version, imagine it being even more taut and lean. Mozart did not, in fact, complete his Requiem Mass, which is what he was dictating at the end, and is the music playing in the background during his funeral. Mozart was buried in a commoner's unmarked grave. Like you said, it's a shame major studios don't make more period art pieces like this anymore. Although, the closest one lately I think would have to be The Last Duel. Are you planning on seeing that one, Shan? Ridley Scott, looks promising...
Masterfull reaction. I watch a lot of reactors. You give a very detailed refined analysis. Always enjoyable. Other reactors are also enjoyable to see their joy excitement etc but they can't match your analysis. Cheers
33:15 The play has Salieri breaking the fourth wall to talk directly to the audience. I saw the 1982 Sydney production and was blown away. The original 1980 Broadway cast starred Ian McKellen as Salieri, Tim Curry as Mozart and Jane Seymour as Constanze. One of the replacement actors for Mozart was Mark Hamill! Maybe that’s where he developed his Joker laugh?
(Btw, I love that you’re intelligent & knowledgable of history. It’s refreshing & I could listen to u speak til the end of time. Your voice is soothing, m’friend.🖖)
One of the finest films made in the history of the medium. Great choice, Shan. The historical Mozart did have a high pitched laugh and a sometimes vulgar sense of humor. He body was laid to rest in an unmarked massgrave as depicted in the film. The Salieri-Mozart plot of the film is fiction. The real Salieri was a true friend of Mozart and tried to help and advance his colleague in life. Salieri had the disciplin that Mozart lacked in life and it is kind of alluded to in the fictional plot, that had Salieri been able to constrain his jealousy, he could have been a tremendous positive influence on Mozarts life and career.
Amazing movie, always loved this movie. A another historical movie you need to watch is Lawrence of Arabia. Lawrence of Arabia is 90% accurate as it was a autobiography and well documented. The cinematography is stunning! A must watch!
Glad you enjoyed this movie, it's one of my favourites! It's historically accurate that Mozart had a scatological sense of humour. Salieri disliking Mozart and most of the story coming from that is a fabrication.
So happy that you loved this film, so do I. I will reccomend Dangerous Liaisons. It stars Glen Close,John Malkovich& Michelle Pfeiffer. I think you will enjoy it. Excellent movie.
Omg I just went to see Don Giovanni on Sunday.😄My aunt took me to a showing at Grand Rapids. I’m glad you saw this movie and love seeing your thoughts on Mozart and his music.
The marriage of Figaro is a masterpiece. I saw it performed in Los Angeles about 13 years ago and it was a wonderful experience. I've also seen the reqium mass performed and countless other pieces written by Mozart. Coming from an original punk rocker people are shocked that I love his music soo much.
Excellent film F Murray Abraham is so so great thanks Shan and whatever happened to Tom Hulce besides this and Animal House I never saw him again and he’s such a good actor, thanks again
Talking of perfect period pieces, you should watch Barry Lyndon, directed by Stanley Kubrick. No one else reacts to it because it is rather slow, but it is a visual masterpiece and I regard it as Kubrick's technically best film (although my personal favorite is still the Shining.) You have the nuanced understanding of film to appreciate it in a way many other reactors might not.
Absolutely "Barry Lyndon". The very definition of "moving paintings". I'm sure Shan will do it one day. I have a feeling all the Kubrick reactors will eventually get to it.
Another amazing aspect of this film was that Forman had the soundtrack recorded before the filming began and composed the scenes around Mozart's music.
Salieri actually was a teacher of Beethoven, who held him in high regard. Mozart on the other hand at his lifetime was not the most beloved composer in Vienna. But his widow understood how to promote his work and kept his name alive. Ignaz Pleyl fe. was more successful and also favored by the public, but is almost forgotten today (even though some believe that he wrote the music for the Marseillaise).
Fun fact: Tom Hulce originated the role played by Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men in its original form as a play when on Broadway. Thanks for the great reaction to a masterpiece of a film.
I dont know, if anyone said it, but a nice FUNFACT: The scene, when Mozart and Salieri started working on the requiem, Mozart looks at him and repeats "A minor .... A minor .... A minor" And Salierei asked "A minor ....Confutates maledicti?" It fits and looks like Mozart is to weak to concentrate. However, the truth is, to keep both actors true to the piece and its beat, both had earplugs, but Tom Hulces didnt work, he kept repeating until he could hear the music again. It fits perfectly so the kept it
thank you for this, it's a masterpierce. Nobody tries excellent movies without vote and... evreyone do the same video... It's sad... but you really discovers the art of cinema, try dead ringers, butterfly effect, midnight express, the perfume, films we don't see with other youtuber! I like that!
Tom Hulce (Mozart) gave an excellent performance in a movie with Ray LIotta and Jamie Lee Curtis, "Dominic and Eugene". He also was in the movie "Animal House".
@@catherinelw9365 Well, hopefully you don't rely on your "guesses" in your livelihood. As a bonus you can "guess" the nationality of the director of the movie.
As others have pointed out, the scene where Stanzi returns to sleep with Salieri in order to secure a post for Mozart wasn't in the theatrical cut. Keeping it explains why she was upset to see Salieri in their home at the end. HOWEVER, without this scene, in the theatrical version, there's a direct cut from Salieri reading Mozart's original drafts to him declaring God as his enemy and burning the cross. This was one of my favorite moments in the movie and it's still there, just not as impactful. Otherwise I could happily watch a 4 hour cut of this movie.
This was my first time seeing that scene, and I've seen the movie many times. I had no idea there was a director's cut. I have to watch it in it's entirety now.
I couldn't agree with you more. These Directors Cuts need to stop. In the theatrical version it still made sense why she wanted Salieri out, music was killing him and contributing to his irresponsibility.
Oooh, a modern classic! This was the first 'serious' movie Ioved as a kid, partly because of the Falco song, "Rock Me, Amadeus" and partly because I loved Tom Hulce's earlier portrayal in "Dominick & Eugene."
Hey Shan, it's not this extended director's cut version that won all those awards. It was the original theatrical release (OTR) that did. Not sure why some reactors do these "extended versions", "director's cut" of movies which are nothing more than a way for movie holders to have sold more tapes and DVDs to an unsuspecting public, after the OTRs come out. Frankly I find all these extended versions drag movies out much longer and, more often than not, diminish the quality and initial impact of OTRs. I suggest doing movie OTRs that won the awards or impacted audiences enough to suggest movies to you newbies. I have purchased and watched several extended or director's cut versions and was disappointed in all of them. Watch them AFTER doing an OTR if you like, but experience the OTRs that made these movies legendary in the first place, and do the extended-director's versions afterwards to compare if you wish. One thing I learned doing movies that way is one understands and appreciates the artistry of editing, the "Best Film Editing" and "Best Picture" awards and why many scenes are not used, best edited out and left on the cutting room floor. I would like to watch this with you, but since I haven't seen the director's cut I can't watch this because I watch only reaction videos of movies I have seen. Sorry. Perhaps you can do OTR reactions on all the extended versions you've done just to compare the editing, and see for yourself because in a sense you haven't seen a given OTR so it would be like watching it for the first time. ✌️😎
I love this movie so much, but i've never seen the extended version. I gotta see it now!. I was always a fan of Beethoven first, and Mozart 2nd, but this film was so amazing (IMMORTAL BELOVED is amazing too, but this one is another level). Thanks for reviewing this (BTW the song you hear in the end credits {Piano concerto in D minor}....ONE OF THE BEST PIECES OF MUSIC EVER MADE!! I remember hearing it on a cassette tape of greatest classical music from various composers when I was a kid, and it was easily the best piece of music on the entire cassette) thanks and keep smiling 🤘😃
Geniuses of the type exemplified in Mozart (who literally got the last laugh, you notice) are very rare. Newton is another example. And they don't tend to last long before either burning out dying. Because they experience the world *so* differently, they can't relate to others and the lack of understanding and connection can wind up simply killing them.
Such an excellent movie. I remember in the mid 80s renting this as a VHS and since then I've seen it multiple times but I have not seen this extended version yet. great review/reaction. Another fantastic movie is 'Immortal Beloved' with Gary oldman as Beethoven. Go forth and react my friend, react!
Great review to a great film. If I may Shan, might I recommend you check out the films of British director David Lean? In particular "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago" are unquestionable classics I'd really be interested to hear your take on.
Amadeus was nominated for 53 awards and received 40, including eight Academy Awards (including the Academy Award for Best Picture), four BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and a Directors Guild of America award. It's in AFI's 100 best films of all time.
I saw this at the cinema in the first week of release and it has lost none of its magic over the decades. Simply sublime.
Unfortunately, you saw the Theatrical cut, before the Director's Cut for home video ruined the movie, with Elizabeth Berridge's nude scene completely changing the point of Salieri's motivations.
Rumor has it Warner's working on remastering both cuts for the 4K release, and we can only cross fingers and hope that the "true" version will be available again.
What a crime that both Tom Hulce and F. Murray Abraham were nominated as best actor in a leading role for the same movie, instead of the standard solution with one being nominated for leading and one for supporting, even if it's a blurry line for some movies. They both should have won, and credit to F. Murray Abraham in his Oscar's acceptance speech for saying he wanted to share it with Tom Hulce.
It was on the afi list but was removed from the 10th anniversary edition
@@rxtsec1 Well, the less said about that particular list the better. Some of the inclusions/removals are absurd.
Wow.
I was 17 when this came out theatrically and I was dragged to it for my school music class. As a young heavy metal fan I dreaded seeing it. Man was I wrong, this is an incredible film.🔥👍
Lol my dad is a metal head and this is his favorite movie. He showed it too me when I was a kid and I became obsessed with Mozart ✨✨
I was a teenage metalhead when this movie came out and I was looking forward to it very much because heavy metal is hugely influenced by classical music, and it did not disappoint. Such a great movie.
Which is funny - I always thought that Mozart was portrayed as a petulant rock star, just in a different era.
Same, I was 18 and devoted Rock/ Metal fan. I saw this movie was just entranced by it. I fell in love with the acting , and especially the music. I remember watching the credits to Amadeus and being moved to tears. Have been a big fan ever since.
You and I are the exact same age and yeah, what an awesome movie! One of my top favorites to this day. 😎👍
"Salieri was also a composer if I'm not mistaken...I haven't heard of his music though". This was one of your beginning statements, and I laughed at that because it sums up the movie perfectly.
I love that you showed this movie. It's one of my favorites. As to it being historically accurate, that's my one disappointment with the movie. Like many other movies, it is based very loosely on fact, and does portray him as a goofball in a number of scenes unfortunately. I'll leave it to you to view the documentaries and tons of info out there showing all the inaccuracies.
The problem is, the acting, writing, cinematography, and choreography are darn near perfect. I think that's why people think this is a factual movie. Such a terrific movie to watch.
If you want to watch another good "historical" movie, check of The King's Speech. I think you'd like it.
If we do not know for sure that Mozart really "acted as a goofball" in real life, it was proven that he loved "butt and poop" jokes, and we know that because of many letters he wrote. He also composed and wrote the lyrics to several light humorous pieces that display a very childish and scatological humour (many serious articles and videos about that around the web).
So I think their portrayal of him in the movie is fair, and based on historical evidence. He was probably a pretty light hearted, humorous individual. It was a side of him, and it doesn't diminish his genius, or the deeper side of his personality you can also hear in his work.
Well, the movie was based on the play by Peter Shaffer, who felt the movie adaptation of his previous play (Equus) didn't work as a movie. Milos Forman told Shaffer that a movie based on a play needs to be reorganized as a movie with various scenes and not as a theatre production with one set. For instance the priest and the Salieri flashbacks/confessions were only in the movie, not in the play. Shaffer said the play was only a fantasy about Salieri and Mozart, not fact. But this fantasy feels really real.
The King's Speech was a great movie! And this one was too...
The lives and careers of Salieri and Mozart made for a fine play and film about how the mediocre achieve great positions while the truly talented struggle for acceptance, and of the jealousy of the not so talented dreamer for the gifts of the genius. That’s really what the film is about. It’s a fact that Salieri was actually a quite good composer but his conservative style simply didn’t have the longevity that more innovative composers who came along had. Mozart’s struggles had much more to do with a fickle Viennese society which actively would declare musicians in or out of favor for extramusical reasons, although he really was poor at managing his money as is shown in Amadeus. Anyway, the point is that these figures provided Peter Shaffer with a great background upon which he could tell his story and it made that story more compelling in spite of it being mostly fiction.
@@MDK2_Radio i think it goes deeper than simply jealousy and social acceptance. The truly gifted, exceptional, and genius have their exceptional abilities generally at the expense of other 'more ordinary' abilities, such as basic life skills. Like being able to associate that u need money in order to live. Like the fact that u need to get along and rely on people (even if they don't have your abilities) in order to function a comfortably survive in society. Exceptional people r exceptional, and they generally know it. Which generally makes them pompous arrogant and obtuse. To the point of being very unlikable. OR sonetimes they r not arrogant. Rather they r so wrapped up in their genius they fail to focus on basic life skills like being able to socialize, make money, or maybe even feed themselves or dress. There is only a fine line between genius and autistic. Many geniuses or exceptional people r simply misunderstood by the society around them. Even mistaken for simple, insubordinate, or simply insane. Remember that society is chiefly made up of people that lack the capacity to understand genius oe exceptional abilities. They would rather pass it off or ignore it. Sometimes it may b due to jealousy, but I think that for the most part its simply misunderstanding or misinterpretation
The idea that Salieri killed Mozart is an old one, there were suggestions like this by the 1820s at least. Salieri did have a nervous breakdown because of the accusations, seeing as he was completely innocent. The accusations were really an Italian vs. German music hullabaloo, with Salieri standing in for the Italian, even though his music was completely in the German style.
It came about alongside the increasing German nationalism which heavily influenced how the German culture viewed (and despised) foreign art. It's easy to see how such a conspiracy gets perpetuated in this environment as a tool. I wish the film itself disclaimed either at the end or at the start about just how fictional this whole account is. I don't think it would diminish the film's quality at all, and would be more responsible towards history.
@@zxbc1 Well, don't conflate unsubstantiated with untrue. We don't know but that his overwork at this time did contribute to his death, and we will never know who commissioned his final work, or whether Salieri had any part in it. History itself is never truly an accurate record, but a long string of gossip, records and propaganda.
Well it's not just that there's no proof of the theory, in fact there's proof that Salieri and Mozart liked each other. Salieri often helped Mozart when he was in trouble (he also taught Beethoven btw).
I love the movie but it's a total fiction.
@@hansmahr8627 At least the movie has an excellent excuse: Salieri is the one telling the story... as an old man... in an asylum. And he did end up in one when he was elderly. Every single historical inaccuracy, you could easily chalk up to an old man misremembering things. I love the unreliable narrator trope, and this movie does it very well.
Salieri got screwed again teaching Beethoven.We know what happened with Ludwig.
Those big and beautiful, elaborate sets? They're actually real buildings, mostly in and around Prague and Vienna.
I visited the Prague State Theatre just before Covid to watch The Wedding of Figaro, the same opera house where they filmed the Wedding scenes in this movie, and the place where Don Giovanni went into premiere.
You have done what I only dream of.
I've been to Mozart's house in Vienna, but Prague is still on the bucket list. . .
@@liviia305 Here in Prague is whole villa where Mozart lived. :)
It was filmed only in Prague and some other location in Bohemia and Moravia, not in Vienna and in Austria in general..
A complete masterpiece of a movie, and the greatest movie ABOUT music. The scene where Salieri was transcribing the Requiem as Mozart was dictating to him is just the greatest musical scene of all time, and it's the climax of the film. Incredible how Mozart's music is the soundtrack of the film, where it informs the emotions and themes of the characters and narrative.
Of course, the movie's central narrative of Salieri and Mozart's relationship is completely fictional, but it makes for a great drama.
It's a tale as old as time, about jealousy and revenge, composed to the tunes of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a child prodigy. Beautiful scenery and excellent acting. I watch it at Christmas time, every year, without fail.
Glad Shan reacted to this masterpiece, many thanks.
The first scene between the priest and Salieri always cracks me up. Within a few notes of hearing Mozart, he can hum the rest of the tune. Even today, Mozart is famous and though you say you have not heard much music by Mozart, I'm sure you have and just haven't realized it. Great movie choice and reaction.
I also could hum the rest of the tune, several centuries later.
Brilliant username lol
The first time I saw Tom Hulce he was playing the lead in Animal House, so you can imagine how hard it was to imagine him playing Mozart. But he was amazing in the role!
"Amadeus" was a massive hit among people from all genres of music, when it was released back in the mid '80's.
So much so that there was a popular pop song about him. Rock Me Amadeus was one of my favs. Lol.
This movie is a masterpiece THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REACTING TO IT
The Salieri-Mozart feud is mostly fictional but it made for a great movie nonetheless. They were actually friends and respected each other greatly. It was very hard to know what people died from back then as you can imagine. They can only speculate but one thing they know is that when he was a kid travelling Europe extensively to play for Monarchy, it was very gruelling and he got sick a lot and it greatly impacted his system negatively.
I have never subscribed to a reactor after having seen only one reaction until today. Dude, this was awesome. As someone who's seen this movie around 30 times I'm really impressed what you've observed during your first watch.
In the theatrical version they didn't have the scene where Soliari demanded Mozart's wife to be with him. It explains why she was so hostile to him being there at the end. This is still one of the best films I have ever seen. Another cool point: Most movies write music to fit the scenes. But because Mozart's music was pre-existing, the scenes were written to be paced with the music, which created a wonderful pacing. I'd like to see this done more in films.
I actually preferred the theatrical version.
@@BartholomewSmutz So did I. I have a nice HD version you can find of someone who reconstructed the theatrical version using the current Blu-Ray.
@@BartholomewSmutz Understandable. Because the theatrical version is the version I came to love and memorize, that is my initial feeling too. But I'd like to watch this version myself sometime and give it a chance. I want to make sure that feeling isn't just because of what I'm used to.
@@Daniel-Strain I've watched both. When I watch the director's cut there were a couple scenes that made me think what the hell is this doing in there? Of course had I seen the director's cut at the theater I probably wouldn't have thought that.
Speaking as a TV/Film composer, it's *always* a treat, and a *HUGE relief* to have a director give you license to score a piece (or write a production number, etc.) on your own, where they edit to that. One of the most painful aspects of the work is feeling like you've nailed a piece, then getting a new edit in for revision, where they've cut for other reasons. It's part of the composer skillset, but knowing that doesn't make it feel any better. This is why I require revision caps, kill fees/structured payments in all my contracts. Just leads to resentment otherwise. Some of the projects I've done went into as many as seven revisions. They ended up with what they asked for, and I got paid, but I hate the final, and it indeed tanked, and the whole thing ended with a bad taste in my mouth (and I assume, theirs).
In the best circumstances, however, it's a matter of trust. You've got a director who believes in your instincts, and knows if they edit to the music you believe in (usually among the first few versions), it will pay off in the end. One famous example is Spielberg handing John Williams (who's great at rev.s) the timecode conn on the climax of E.T., with the bicycle flight.
(Imagine the movie if Williams got a note saying "It's great, but we need to shave 00:06;17 from this cue. Runtime issue . . . Oh, and can you move the start of the crescendo back by 00:03:23 but still hit the Moon frame, and also make it feel the same? Great, thx. Can't wait to hear it tomorrow, bud!")
This is exactly why I and many others say: *filmmakers should get the composer locked down and working as early as possible in the process!*
Always considered this a perfect film glad to see someone appreciate this classic with such genuine enthusiasm.
Another marvelous selection. Amadeus is one of the finest films ever made.
I agree, definitely a comfort film for me. Every now and then Mozart’s laugh pops into my head and haunts me
Shan, When watching this film you feel like you have also heard the confession of Salieri and are stunned by it, just like the priest. At the start of the film and you hear Mozart's laugh for the first time you wonder how you will sit through the entire movie. But when you hear the laugh for the last time at the films end. It's like a laugh from an old friend you miss already. Every element of this film is perfect. Cheers, Chris Perry.
This is literally my favorite film, thank you so much for doing this! Other people in the comments talked about what were some of the differences between the theatrical cut and director's cut, so I won't go into that, but I will say that when putting this version out the studio wanted a longer cut with added deleted scenes and had Miloš Forman do that so they could call it a director's cut, the truth is that he prefers the original theatrical cut and I agree with him. Now don't get me wrong, this version is still a great film, but the theatrical cut is perfect and it deserves all the awards in got.
The film isn’t historically accurate in depicting the relationship between Mozart and Salieri. The two are generally considered to have been friendly rivals with a mutual respect for one another. But the depiction of Mozart is based on actual historical documents and letters that he wrote. He was a heavy drinker and loved to party, had a very childish sense of humor, and a laugh that was described by many contemporaries as grating and annoying.
The movie is based on a relayed story that an elderly Salieri, suffering from dementia and in an institution, falsely claimed he was responsible for Mozart's death.
@@peteg475 emphasis on "falsely ".
The incident of a masked patron asking for a requiem is considered to be an anonymous local nob with cash, who may have wanted one for his wife, and Mozart only joked in letters that "I feel as if I'm working on my own."
And if Salieri interfered with the runs of Mozart's operas, that was hardly uncommon among the b****y composer-rivalry community in Vienna, and still common with backstage-drama at opera companies today.
Salieri was a close friend AND pallbearer at Mozart's funeral
Great movie but absolutely belongs to the alternate or "what if" genre historical drama - no one is sure where the rumor of murder began but Alexander Pushkin collection of short stories "Little Tragedies" appears to have first codified it into popular consciousness in 1830 and there it has long lingered.
There was a theatre in Prague which dated from Mozart's time, which had never been remodeled, so it was used for filming "Amadeus", saving money and adding an air of authenticity.
It was, according to a behind-the-scenes video on the DVD, also the exact same theatre where Mozart himself premiered 'Don Giovanni'. The lack of alterations was thanks to the Soviet Regime which was still in place in the 80's.
I saw the original version and prefer it. The most notable difference was in the movie cut, Stanzi did not offer to sleep with Salieri and he never tried to get her to. She still went and showed him the music so that Mozart could be considered but they left it at that. Also some of his interaction with students (and the student's parents) were cut from the film.
They did take some liberties with historical fact (but hey, so did Shakespeare). This remains one of my favorite films of all time.
I actually originally saw the movie as a field-trip when our high school band director took the entire band to see the film. Before seeing the film, he told us the following story about Mozart: At the time, there were rules forbidding people from bringing staff paper into a concert so people could not steal a composer's ideas... Mozart became known for doing things like attending a concert, then going home and writing out the entire symphony with all the parts and sending a copy to the composer :) I have no idea if it is true, but he was certainly a musical genius.
Also, that scene between Mozart and Sallieri working on the Requiem Mass is... chef's kiss!
Dear Shan, u recognizing the greatness of this movie reafirms my love for this channel. You are a friend of movies and a fellow connoisseur. This is one of my favorite movies. It is a flawless masterpiece.
Not historically accurate but based on true people and events. Yes, Mozart had a vulgar sense of humor and even wrote songs containing butt humor. Yes he drank way too much and took medications which is probably why he died young. It's true that "The Marriage of Figaro" had been banned by Emporer Joseph, and Mozart did have rivals in the Emperor's musical court including Rosenberg. Somehow he got the opera to be played in the national theater but it closed after 9 performances. His requiem was commissioned (I believe) by a mysterious stranger, but not Salieri. He died before it was completed, and finished by one of Mozart's students. I consider this movie "historical fiction", but it is one of the most brilliant movies in my opinion.
"even wrote songs containing butt humor"
Case in point : The piece titled "Leck mich im Arsch" (literally "Lick me in the ass")
@@Mercure250 "Leck mich im Arsch" lol if ya get into the common stereotypes it sounds on point
Saw the movie 10 times when it came out. It was my "Star Wars" at the time. I was completely taken with the music and the way it was used/presented in the movie.
great reaction! You "got" this film very well upon first viewing. I enjoy your smart analysis and genuine appreciation. I've subscribed. :)
Great reaction... and fun fact: you've already heard Mozart's Requiem - it was featured in The Big Lebowski when The Dude visits Lebowski and he's sitting by the fireside mourning the kidnap of bunny - as The Dude reads the ransom note.
So glad to see another good reaction to this movie. It’s really an astoundingly good film, on every level. The old man Salieri makeup is often considered the best marriage of makeup and performance in film. Makeup by the original master of makeup effects, Dick Smith. Smith did Brando in The Godfather, all the effects in The Exorcist. He was especially good at old age work.
I hope I'm remembering the night correctly... during the course of the evening at the Oscars that year, as it was progressively becoming apparent that Amadeus was going for a clean sweep of the awards, the winner of best soundtrack or movie score went up on stage, and said something to the effect that, lol, for that year "... I'd like to thank Mozart for not being alive..."
THANKS for this one, it is a definite Shan-must-see ;)
I'm glad you enjoyed this -- Amadeus is one of my favorite 80s films; Shaffer's screenplay is excellent.
Another classic 80s period film based on an adaptation of a great play is Dangerous Liaisons, with an excellent cast. (The screenplay is based on a play which is itself an adaptation of the classic French novel.) Check it out!
@@Alice_Long Interesting, I've never head of it, I'll check it out because I love the novel. The play/screenplay by Hampton is remarkably faithful to the novel, plus is contains many witty puns/double entendres
"Amadeus is one of my favorite 80s films"
wow just noticed ya right
so old, but still sooo good
I love this movie and I love that you reacted to it. It's one of my absolute favorite films. F Murray Abraham was masterful in this one. Another stellar period piece is Dangerous Liasons with Glenn Close and John Malkovich. Some of the best on screen chemistry ever! I've always been surprised it was not a more popular film. Thanks for not turning October into just horror films like 99% of the other reaction channels. As someone not into horror films, I've appreciated your content even more than usual this month!
Slingblade
Casablanca
Glengarry Glen Ross
True Romance
The Graduate
…a few of my favorite films that I think are excellent and Shan would absolutely enjoy.
Big yes for slingblade
"Did women really wear those elaborate costumes on a daily basis HOLY CRAP NUDITY!" you gotta clip that reaction lol
15:39 I watched it several times myself. Very funny. The reaction wasn't seeing the titties. It was, "Damn, now I have to blur this scene."
Yes they really did.
You absolutely must react to Barry Lyndon. Every shot is a masterpiece painting and natural light using candles ( they got permission from NASA to borrow their lenses)! A period piece starring Ryan O'Neil, directed by Stanley Kubrick!
No, not historically accurate AT ALL. Mozart made (in intimate circles and private letters) some vulgar jokes, but this was something very 'Salzburg', and other family members were known to make similar jokes. People tend to have an image of poor Leopold (Mozart's father) as some dour sourpuss, but nothing could be further from the truth. This is simply because the only letters we have between father and son were from the period Mozart and his mother travelled on business and she died during the trip, Mozart going alone on a business trip and being sidetracked by his heavy infatuation with Aloysia Weber - which scared the beejeesus out of Leopold, as Mozart was not of age yet and here he was, planning to 'save the Weber family from poverty' by writing opera's for Aloysia, instead of persueing - as Leopold wanted - some gainful employment as a court musician!! And then, once Mozart is in Vienna and has a position, he quarrels with his boss, gets booted out (quite literally) and tries to make it solo, which was quite a new thing! Which must've worried poor Leopold no end. And THEN he finds out that he has found lodgings with the widow Weber, and while Aloysia is married, she still has two unmarried daughters in the house.. and Leopold hears the gossip that his son is 'walking out' with Constanze! So father and son have a falling out. Leopold fearing that his son is making the same mistakes he did when he was younger, accusing widow Weber of being some Madam, renting out her daughters to naive Salzburger boys and Mozart, being a man and deeply in love with Constanze, first trying to placate and then digging his heels in the sand.
Anyhow, Mozart marries Constanze, the marriage is VERY happy, despite losing most of their children, and Constanze is NOT the ditzy nitwit portrayed in the movie. Nor is Mozart some kind of 'Rain Man'. The man was highly educated and knowledgeable about music and composition. So much so that some things became second nature to him, but making difficult things LOOK easy is the mark of a true competence.
The breech with Leopold didn't last and when Leopold later stayed a few weeks with his son and daugher-in-law in Vienna, and heard Haydn's compliments of his son's prowess as an composer, he wrote very happy letters to his daughter, back in Salzburg. And that's all we know. And that is the trouble with these things; we only see a few angry letters from Leopold from a specific period and think these characterize the man. We see a few private letters where Mozart jokes around with family members and friends and think this is what he did all day, every day. We read one letter where Mozart tries to soften Leopold towards his beloved by painting her in a way HE THINKS Leopold might be placated towards her, and we believe that this is what Mozart himself thought important about her. But these things were snapshots. There are anecdotes, but most were written up years after Mozart died, or give a snapshot of a moment, and because we know so little, much is made of these sentences.
As for Salieri.. Salieri was a kind and generous man, happilly married to the love of his live, the father of several daughters and one son (whom he lost as a young man, which grieved his deeply). Braunbehrens wrote an excellent biography about him, as well as the best Mozart biography ever; "Mozart in Vienna'. Highly recommended.
The author is making a guess at the origins of Don Giovanni, and his relationship with Leopold isn't that far off from the movie. And it's a historical fact that somebody hired him anonymously to write a requiem mass. And it's also a fact that Salieri was suspected of doing away with Mozart.
I hadn't seen this movie since I was a child, and I remember liking it even though I couldn't recall any scenes. Watching your reaction, I'm putting it on my watch list with wifey.
This was filmed in Prague. The Opera house in the movie is the actual opera house where Don Giovanni premiered. Milos Forman was from there but defected in the 60s. It was the first time back when making Amadeus.
Shan thank you for a wonderful reaction/analysis to Amadeus, one of my all-time favorite movies. If you would consider another from the 80s, I suggest Gandhi directed by by Sir Richard Attenborough made in 1982. Even though you may already be familiar with it I would very much enjoy your take on it
A couple years ago I went to a screening of this at an auditorium/concert hall in Eugene, Oregon while the entire soundtrack was played in real time by a symphony orchestra. Pretty neat.
1984 is probably my favorite year for films.
Amadeus
Once Upon a Time in America
Paris, Texas
The Terminator
Blood Simple
Gremlins
1984
Ghostbusters
This is a beautiful video. Thank you for making it.
Salieri wasn't as bad as he was portrayed in the Movie, and among others he was the Teacher of Beethoven, Liszt and Schubert
I wouldn't say "as bad". There's little, if any, evidence that he was bad at all. Poor guy's reputation thanks to this gem of a film has suffered.
Salieri wrote some marvellous music. But it was as if he was a top heavyweight boxer unlucky enough to be around when Muhammad Ali burst on the scene.
he taught Mozart's son Franz Xaver Mozart as well
@@russianpaul77 Very true
Salieri and Mozart were peers and friends.
Because of this movie, I learned of "The Marriage of Figaro" and "The Magic Flute".
A book on video game programming I was reading not much later actually referenced The Magic Flute.
From there, I researched "Entrance of the Queen of the Night" and discovered Diana Damrau.
I still cannot listen to her without whistling along with it.
Perhaps my favorite piece of music is the "Contessa Perdono" from Marriage of Figaro.
And of course most everyone is familiar with the Sull'aria of Marriage of Figaro, from "The Shawshank Redemption".
I still have the soundtrack on CD.
I remember seeing this in the theater when I was 9. I fell in love with classical music and later took up the cello ( briefly...I regret not continuing.) One of my favorite movies.
Excellent movie and review! Another great period piece is Kunrick's Barry Lyndon (1975) - amazing cinema!
I believe the section between Salieri and Mozart's wife and her late night visit was not in the original cut, though it does show her bringing Mozart's work to Salieri. The plot line where Salieri sets up Mozart as some sort of predator of young ladies was also not part of the original cut. I think I saw this 4 times in the theater when it first was released. Great movie! Thanks for reviewing it!
One of my favorite movies, thanks so much for getting to it. Spectacular reaction and commentary. Very insightful and appreciative. Enjoyed it so much.
Apparently You Tube doesn't like when someone puts links in comments because mine is gone. Aside from expressing my long-time love of this film I noted that "The Magic Flute" will be by the Metropolitan Opera on Dec. 11 this year and broadcast to select movie theaters. Fathom Events lists the places and will sell tickets eventually (not yet). Don't worry if you don't speak German, the translation is projected above or below the performance. Opera is not inaccessible. I plan on going since I've only seen Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" in a live performance.
This film made me a fan of classical music and I've been to a couple dozen operas since then. I still need to see some Wagner though, wish I'd gone to "Tristan und Isolde" last year but my car was dead.
Post the link in a reply to your comment. It will stay.
I LOVE this movie and truly enjoyed your reaction today. You have a great catalogue. I’ve been binge watching everything for days now. Just thought I’d let you know that this 51 year old from Seattle really appreciates your thoughtful observations and detailed reactions. Looking forward to more! 💞
Excellent analysis! After only one viewing, you perceived what it took me a dozen viewings to understand.
I remember watching this in high school during a substitute teacher day and no one was paying attention to the movie but I was utterly enthralled and awe struck. It was actually one of the more memorable moments I appreciated from that time of my life.
Shout out to Sir Neville Marriner (RIP) and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, for the great music performances in the movie.
One of my all time favorite movies. So glad you enjoyed it.
Bravo! Fantastic review of such a masterpiece, Shan! F. Murray Abraham won the Oscar for Best Actor for Amadeus, and he deserved it 100 percent. Amadeus took home 8 Academy Awards that year, two of which were Best Picture and Best Director. Deservedly earned! So happy to see you reviewing this! 👍😎
4:36 - F. Murray Abraham won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. In my opinion, he's really the main "star" of the story, I watch it for him. Yeah, and for Tom Hulce too, who is a very charming and funny actor in this performance for sure. But for brilliance, it's Abraham all the way!
It's been a while since I've seen both versions side-by-side, but from what I remember, the biggest differences are: The scene where he's performing for the family with the barking dogs was cut all together. When his wife goes to Salieri for the teaching post, she he doesn't proposition her and she doesn't return later to get frisky with him. Instead, when she picks up the music that's on the floor, she says "is it not good?" he says "it is miraculous", she says "so you'll help us, then?" and he just stares at her, doesn't respond, and walks out, stepping on his music. I think there are also a couple of tiny insert scenes of Salieri "talking to God" that were either trimmed down or cut. In the end, the "theatrical" version is 2h 40m, which is the version I personally prefer. If you like the pacing of this version, imagine it being even more taut and lean.
Mozart did not, in fact, complete his Requiem Mass, which is what he was dictating at the end, and is the music playing in the background during his funeral. Mozart was buried in a commoner's unmarked grave.
Like you said, it's a shame major studios don't make more period art pieces like this anymore. Although, the closest one lately I think would have to be The Last Duel. Are you planning on seeing that one, Shan? Ridley Scott, looks promising...
Masterfull reaction. I watch a lot of reactors. You give a very detailed refined analysis. Always enjoyable. Other reactors are also enjoyable to see their joy excitement etc but they can't match your analysis. Cheers
22:15 - IIRC, it was only nine performances in *Vienna* (i.e. in Vienna's royal opera house). But more performances elsewhere in Europe.
One of my all time favorite films. It seems sort of forgotten today, I’m so glad you discovered it.
Yesssssssss it makes me so happy that you finally watched this, it's my favorite film of all time ❤️
Very good comment - "How do you express admiration and disgust at the same moment, That's what FMA does here..."
Seeing the notification for this reaction made me super happy. Thank you
33:15 The play has Salieri breaking the fourth wall to talk directly to the audience. I saw the 1982 Sydney production and was blown away. The original 1980 Broadway cast starred Ian McKellen as Salieri, Tim Curry as Mozart and Jane Seymour as Constanze. One of the replacement actors for Mozart was Mark Hamill! Maybe that’s where he developed his Joker laugh?
Wow! I never knew this about the original Broadway cast. McKellen and Curry!! Damn!
(Btw, I love that you’re intelligent & knowledgable of history. It’s refreshing & I could listen to u speak til the end of time. Your voice is soothing, m’friend.🖖)
One of the finest films made in the history of the medium. Great choice, Shan.
The historical Mozart did have a high pitched laugh and a sometimes vulgar sense of humor. He body was laid to rest in an unmarked massgrave as depicted in the film. The Salieri-Mozart plot of the film is fiction. The real Salieri was a true friend of Mozart and tried to help and advance his colleague in life. Salieri had the disciplin that Mozart lacked in life and it is kind of alluded to in the fictional plot, that had Salieri been able to constrain his jealousy, he could have been a tremendous positive influence on Mozarts life and career.
Salieri ‘s music still is available on YT.
The exteriors (and most of the interiors) were not "sets". These shots were filmed on location in Prague, Olomouc, etc.
Amazing movie, always loved this movie. A another historical movie you need to watch is Lawrence of Arabia. Lawrence of Arabia is 90% accurate as it was a autobiography and well documented. The cinematography is stunning! A must watch!
The suggestion for Kubricks " Barry Lyndon " is an excellent idea. View it for your own satisfaction if nothing else.
Thanks for this, I have never seen the director's cut and now I'm going to find it. Wonderful review.
Thank you for this reaction. It is a stunning film.
Glad you enjoyed this movie, it's one of my favourites!
It's historically accurate that Mozart had a scatological sense of humour. Salieri disliking Mozart and most of the story coming from that is a fabrication.
W.A. Mozart: Leck mich im Arsch (Lick my ass) - Canon for 6 part chorus in B-flat Major: ruclips.net/video/k9w-04Hugbk/видео.html
@@andrewbrumana3226 - thanks. I was dreading having to do a search on Google for this. Who knows where the search might have landed me? 😉😁😂🤣
I’ve seen this at the movie theatre, on beta, vhs, dvd, broadcast tv and streaming service. I never tire of this film!
The original theatrical version is the best story.
So happy that you loved this film, so do I. I will reccomend Dangerous Liaisons. It stars Glen Close,John Malkovich& Michelle Pfeiffer. I think you will enjoy it. Excellent movie.
Omg I just went to see Don Giovanni on Sunday.😄My aunt took me to a showing at Grand Rapids. I’m glad you saw this movie and love seeing your thoughts on Mozart and his music.
One of my FAVOURITE movies since i was a little kid in the 80s but I've NEVER seen the directors cut before.
The marriage of Figaro is a masterpiece. I saw it performed in Los Angeles about 13 years ago and it was a wonderful experience. I've also seen the reqium mass performed and countless other pieces written by Mozart. Coming from an original punk rocker people are shocked that I love his music soo much.
Excellent film F Murray Abraham is so so great thanks Shan and whatever happened to Tom Hulce besides this and Animal House I never saw him again and he’s such a good actor, thanks again
Talking of perfect period pieces, you should watch Barry Lyndon, directed by Stanley Kubrick. No one else reacts to it because it is rather slow, but it is a visual masterpiece and I regard it as Kubrick's technically best film (although my personal favorite is still the Shining.) You have the nuanced understanding of film to appreciate it in a way many other reactors might not.
Absolutely "Barry Lyndon". The very definition of "moving paintings". I'm sure Shan will do it one day. I have a feeling all the Kubrick reactors will eventually get to it.
Agree 100%!
Didn’t expect this reaction! One of my favorite movies.
Exceptional and entertaining! Enjoyed your reaction! You deserve many more subscribers.
Thank you for appreciating this. It’s been one of my favorites since I was a small child.
Another amazing aspect of this film was that Forman had the soundtrack recorded before the filming began and composed the scenes around Mozart's music.
Those aren’t sets- the scenes were filmed mostly in Prague which is more or less preserved as it was in those days
you summarized this perfectly in one of your first comments: solieri was also a composer i believe, but i havent heard his music
So glad you reviewed this great film. "Gandhi" from 1982 is one you might put on your watchlist.
Salieri actually was a teacher of Beethoven, who held him in high regard.
Mozart on the other hand at his lifetime was not the most beloved composer in Vienna.
But his widow understood how to promote his work and kept his name alive.
Ignaz Pleyl fe. was more successful and also favored by the public, but is almost forgotten today (even though some believe that he wrote the music for the Marseillaise).
Fun fact: Tom Hulce originated the role played by Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men in its original form as a play when on Broadway. Thanks for the great reaction to a masterpiece of a film.
I dont know, if anyone said it, but a nice FUNFACT:
The scene, when Mozart and Salieri started working on the requiem, Mozart looks at him and repeats "A minor .... A minor .... A minor" And Salierei asked "A minor ....Confutates maledicti?" It fits and looks like Mozart is to weak to concentrate. However, the truth is, to keep both actors true to the piece and its beat, both had earplugs, but Tom Hulces didnt work, he kept repeating until he could hear the music again. It fits perfectly so the kept it
thank you for this, it's a masterpierce. Nobody tries excellent movies without vote and... evreyone do the same video... It's sad... but you really discovers the art of cinema, try dead ringers, butterfly effect, midnight express, the perfume, films we don't see with other youtuber! I like that!
Tom Hulce (Mozart) gave an excellent performance in a movie with Ray LIotta and Jamie Lee Curtis, "Dominic and Eugene".
He also was in the movie "Animal House".
This is one of my all time favorites. I've probably watched it about 20 or more times. Brilliant acting and the score....sublime!
The whole situation of Salieri sexually harassing Mozart's wife is not on the theatrical version. And I think it was a good decision.
Why, because it shatters the fragile contemporary american psyche?
@@CzechMirco Lol. Wut?
@@wertor666 "Lol", nothing.
@@CzechMirco No, it ruins the pace of the film. I guess the Czech psyche has no aesthetic.
@@catherinelw9365 Well, hopefully you don't rely on your "guesses" in your livelihood.
As a bonus you can "guess" the nationality of the director of the movie.
nice, popped up in my feeds, one of my favs of all time. I'll press play and see how you do on it.
As others have pointed out, the scene where Stanzi returns to sleep with Salieri in order to secure a post for Mozart wasn't in the theatrical cut. Keeping it explains why she was upset to see Salieri in their home at the end. HOWEVER, without this scene, in the theatrical version, there's a direct cut from Salieri reading Mozart's original drafts to him declaring God as his enemy and burning the cross. This was one of my favorite moments in the movie and it's still there, just not as impactful. Otherwise I could happily watch a 4 hour cut of this movie.
This was my first time seeing that scene, and I've seen the movie many times. I had no idea there was a director's cut. I have to watch it in it's entirety now.
I couldn't agree with you more. These Directors Cuts need to stop. In the theatrical version it still made sense why she wanted Salieri out, music was killing him and contributing to his irresponsibility.
Oooh, a modern classic! This was the first 'serious' movie Ioved as a kid, partly because of the Falco song, "Rock Me, Amadeus" and partly because I loved Tom Hulce's earlier portrayal in "Dominick & Eugene."
Hey Shan, it's not this extended director's cut version that won all those awards. It was the original theatrical release (OTR) that did. Not sure why some reactors do these "extended versions", "director's cut" of movies which are nothing more than a way for movie holders to have sold more tapes and DVDs to an unsuspecting public, after the OTRs come out. Frankly I find all these extended versions drag movies out much longer and, more often than not, diminish the quality and initial impact of OTRs. I suggest doing movie OTRs that won the awards or impacted audiences enough to suggest movies to you newbies. I have purchased and watched several extended or director's cut versions and was disappointed in all of them. Watch them AFTER doing an OTR if you like, but experience the OTRs that made these movies legendary in the first place, and do the extended-director's versions afterwards to compare if you wish. One thing I learned doing movies that way is one understands and appreciates the artistry of editing, the "Best Film Editing" and "Best Picture" awards and why many scenes are not used, best edited out and left on the cutting room floor. I would like to watch this with you, but since I haven't seen the director's cut I can't watch this because I watch only reaction videos of movies I have seen. Sorry. Perhaps you can do OTR reactions on all the extended versions you've done just to compare the editing, and see for yourself because in a sense you haven't seen a given OTR so it would be like watching it for the first time. ✌️😎
Yes, this was an ill-advised cut.
Unfortunately, the theatrical release is almost impossible to find.
@@catherinelw9365 Wow, didn't know that. I'm glad I've got mine. On DVD. Maybe Shan couldn't get the OTR online.
I love this movie so much, but i've never seen the extended version. I gotta see it now!. I was always a fan of Beethoven first, and Mozart 2nd, but this film was so amazing (IMMORTAL BELOVED is amazing too, but this one is another level). Thanks for reviewing this (BTW the song you hear in the end credits {Piano concerto in D minor}....ONE OF THE BEST PIECES OF MUSIC EVER MADE!! I remember hearing it on a cassette tape of greatest classical music from various composers when I was a kid, and it was easily the best piece of music on the entire cassette) thanks and keep smiling 🤘😃
Geniuses of the type exemplified in Mozart (who literally got the last laugh, you notice) are very rare. Newton is another example. And they don't tend to last long before either burning out dying. Because they experience the world *so* differently, they can't relate to others and the lack of understanding and connection can wind up simply killing them.
Such an excellent movie. I remember in the mid 80s renting this as a VHS and since then I've seen it multiple times but I have not seen this extended version yet. great review/reaction. Another fantastic movie is 'Immortal Beloved' with Gary oldman as Beethoven. Go forth and react my friend, react!
I'm glad you doing this...clips been showing up in my feed, and I planned on rewatching it. Hope you enjoy it! 💯
Great review to a great film. If I may Shan, might I recommend you check out the films of British director David Lean? In particular "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago" are unquestionable classics I'd really be interested to hear your take on.