Amadeus

Our presentation is the 2001 remastered Director's Cut. This version contains 20 minutes of footage that did not appear in the original theatrical release.

This very intersting "unknown facts" documentary shares many interesting items: That Mark Hamill thought he would have been a shoo-in for the Mozart role (having played the role on Broadway for 128 performances); that only live flames were used to light the opera scenes shot in the Estates Theatre in Prague in 1787 (an all-wooden venue for the premiere of Don Giovanni); that Tom Hulce actually played the piano scenes.

In preparation for the role of Mozart in Milos Forman's film, actor Tom Hulce learned to play the piano (he was a guitarist). He practiced for 6 months, 6 hours a day. He even learned to play lying on his back with his arms crossed over -- a skill used in the Magic Flute after party scene. He learned so well that music professors who have studied the film frame-by-frame cannot find a misplayed fingering or note.

A very favorite scene. Mozart in his sickbed, Salieri notating the "Confutatis" of the "Requiem Mass". A fast-paced scene intended to invoke shock and awe at the overwhelming genius of Mozart. Mission accomplished.

Concert pianist and music professor Ben Laude presents an intellectual music theory analysis of the key scene of the film -- Mozart's introduction to Emperor Joseph II.