Milos Forman's sumptuous 1984 Oscar-winning drama Amadeus will be screened as part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' "Monday Nights with Oscar" series on July 16, at 7 p.m. at the Academy Theater in New York City. Following the screening, Forman, actors F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce and Christine Ebersole, and production designer Patrizia von Brandenstein will take part in an onstage discussion.
Shot on location in Prague, Amadeus revolves around a highly fictionalized version of the relationship between 18th-century composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. Forman's film adaptation from Peter Shaffer's Tony Award-winning play is a feast for the eye, and even though I wouldn't say it fully succeeds as an exploration of the divine within, it does offer a handful of excellent performances (Abraham, Elizabeth Berridge, Jeffrey Jones) and some of the drama is quite affecting. Less so, however, is Tom Hulce's childlike Mozart, who displays none of the inner darkness the role required.
In addition to the Best Picture Oscar (Saul Zaentz, producer), Amadeus won seven other Academy Awards: Actor in a Leading Role (Abraham), Art Direction (von Brandenstein; Set Decoration: Karel Cerny), Costume Design (Theodor Pistek), Directing (Forman), Makeup (Paul LeBlanc, Dick Smith), Sound (Mark Berger, Tom Scott, Todd Boekelheide, Chris Newman) and Writing — Screenplay based on material from another medium (Shaffer).
The film also received nominations for Actor in a Leading Role (Hulce), Cinematography (Miroslav Ondricek) and Film Editing (Nena Danevic, Michael Chandler).
"Monday Nights with Oscar" is a monthly series showcasing high-quality prints of films that have been nominated for or won Academy Awards. This screening will feature a newly struck print from the Academy Film Archive.
The Academy Theater is located at 111 East 59th Street in New York City. Tickets for the screening are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Tickets may be reserved by calling 1-888-778-7575. Depending on availability, tickets may be purchased on the night of the screening. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. All seating is unreserved.
Photo: © A.M.P.A.S.
Amadeus: The best film. Milos Forman: The best director. Hulce & Murray Abraham, incredible.
I've always loved this film. An exquisite film with lush production values. Mozart's such a long ago figure, it's probably impossible to ever completely know or understand the man behind the sublime music. No first hand eyewitnesses are left to accurately describe him. So much of this is conjecture. Taking whatever existing evidence is left and trying to form a picture of the man. Because he lived before the days of photography, even paintings are misleading. Some paintings I've seen of Mozart depict a rather attractive young man. Others depict a short, stocky, rat-like figure. Although, indeed where history begins and movie poetic license begins is questionable.
At any rate a fine film and F Murray Abraham is the standout. And if you're a fan of classical music/opera the film is simply scattered with familiar and sublime musical gems. You could simply enjoy and appreciate the film for that alone.