F. Murray Abraham, right, in a scene from Amadeus (1984).

“If He didn’t want me to praise Him with music, why implant the desire, like a lust in my body, and then deny me the talent?” – Antonio Salieri

Peter Shaffer and Milos Forman worked tirelessly to bring Shaffer’s Tony Award-winning stage play Amadeus to the big screen.  Loosely based on the relationship between 18th century composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, Amadeus stars Tom Hulce and F. Murray Abraham in the lead roles.  Both actors were relative unknowns when they were cast, but Hulce went on to earn an Academy Award® nomination for his performance and Abraham took home the award for Best Actor.  The film garnered a total of 11 nominations and won eight Oscars®, including Best Picture. 

Amadeus was shot by Miroslav Ondricek on location in Prague, with sets by Patrizia von Brandenstein and Karel Cerny, costumes by Theodor Pistek, and a supporting cast that included Elizabeth Berridge, Simon Callow, Vincent Schiavelli and Christine Ebersole.  A gripping drama that celebrates Mozart’s timeless music, Amadeus is also an exploration of such universal themes as envy, the nature of genius, and man’s relationship with God. 

This screening of Amadeus will be followed by an onstage discussion with director Milos Forman, actors F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce and Christine Ebersole, and production designer Patrizia Von Brandenstein.  Saul Zaentz Company; Orion.  1984.  35mm.  158 minutes.  Print from the collection of the Academy Film Archive, screened courtesy of Warner Bros.

Academy Award winner: Actor in a Leading Role (F. Murray Abraham), Art Direction (Patrizia Von Brandenstein; Set Decoration: Karel Cerny), Costume Design (Theodor Pistek), Directing (Milos Forman), Makeup (Paul LeBlanc, Dick Smith), Best Picture (Saul Zaentz, producer), Sound (Mark Berger, Tom Scott, Todd Boekelheide, Chris Newman), Writing – Screenplay based on material from another medium (Peter Shaffer).

Academy Award nominee: Actor in a Leading Role (Tom Hulce), Cinematography (Miroslav Ondricek), Film Editing (Nena Danevic, Michael Chandler).