Amadeus [1985]

Note: this region two DVD is a "flipper" with a break between sides A and B.

Amazon.co.uk Review
A note-perfect cinematic event whose immortality was assured from its opening night, Amadeus is an unlikely candidate for the Director's Cut treatment. Like one of Mozart's operas, the multiple Oscar-winning theatrical version seemed perfectly formed from the outset--ideal casting, costumes, sets, cinematography, lighting, screenplay, music, music, music--so the reinstatement of an extra 20 minutes simply risks adding "too many notes". Yet though this extended cut can hardly be said to improve a picture that needed no improvement, it does at least flesh out a couple of small subplots and shed new light on certain key scenes.

Here we learn why Constanze Mozart bears such ill-will towards Salieri when she discovers him at her husband's deathbed: he has insulted and degraded her after she came to him for help. We also see deeper into the reasons why Mozart has no pupils: not only has Salieri poisoned the Emperor's mind against him, but the only promisingly lucrative teaching job he can find ends disastrously when he realises that the master of the house just wants music to quiet his barking dogs. In a humiliating coda to that episode, a drunk and desperate Wolfgang returns later to beg for money only to be coldly rejected. The structure of the picture is otherwise unaltered.

On the DVD: Amadeus--The Director's Cut finally accords this masterful work the DVD treatment it deserves. The handsome anamorphic widescreen picture is accompanied by a choice of Dolby 5.1 or Dolby stereo sound options, and it's all contained on one side of the disc (the original single-disc DVD release was that crime against the format, a "flipper"). Director Milos Forman and writer Peter Shaffer provide a chatty though sporadic commentary, but they're obviously still too mesmerised by the movie to do much more than offer the odd anecdote. Disc 2 contains an excellent new hour-long "making of" documentary, with contributions from Forman, Shaffer, Sir Neville Marriner and all the main actors, taking in the scriptwriting, choice of music, casting and problems involved in filming in Communist Czechoslovakia with half the crew and extras working for the Secret Police. --Mark Walker

Many special editions and director's cut offerings are little more than the addition of scenes that were dumped prior to the film's original release, and rarely have any fundamental impact on the story that is told. Fully one third of all the chapters in this film have new footage, and the changes have a very real impact on the film. Most of the new exposition is about Salieri and it makes him a much darker character, this Salieri is much more than a jealous admirer of Mozart. This man makes demands of persons and actively intervenes much more in the professional destruction of Mozart in Vienna.

One of the film's mysteries for me was why Mozart's wife held such hatred for Salieri at the close of the film. This question is answered, and it again makes for a major change in how you will view Constanze. And of course more insight is given to Mozart as well. If you are a devotee of the original film you may have trouble warming to this version, you may even be well advised to avoid it. For once you see this film you will never be able to watch the shorter version and confine your thoughts to what they were prior to seeing the additional 20 minutes of film.

There is a second disc that includes extended interviews with Milos Forman, Peter Shaffer, and many of the main characters. An interesting aspect that is shared is that this entire film was shot behind the Iron Curtain of the USSR when it was still the nemesis of The United States. The difficulties in filming in Prague were countless, and even fascinating, as the director, Milos Forman was returning to his homeland as a self-described traitor who had previously left.

I have always felt, "Amadeus", is one of the finest films ever produced, and at first I did not care for some of the additional expository material. Now that I have seen it and thought about it a bit, this version really is the complete film, and even if I were to watch the original, I believe I would enjoy it as much, or possibly even more.


A Worthwhile Re-release   March 10, 2003
E. A. Redfearn (Middlesbrough)
23 out of 26 found this review helpful

Its not surprising that this film achieved so many oscars a few years back. Its wonderful. I welcome this new version however, because it does tighten up some "loose ends" which although may not have been noticeable in the original version, does enlighten the viewer on Constanze' attitude to Salieri at the end of the film. Not historically accurate, films like this seldom are, Mozart is portrayed as a musical genius which indeed he was; and a buffoon, which is highly unlikely. Moreover, the final sequence of Salieri completing Mozert's Requiem did not happen, it was in fact completed by Mozart's pupil Franz Sussmeyer who simply reprised the first movement. Still, its an amazing achievement in the history of the cinema and should be seen by all those who enjoy Mozart's music even though from time to time the music sounds as though "it has too many notes!" The extras are very interesting and reveal some of the problems of filming behind the Iron Curtain which of course still existed during the filming in 1985. Picture quality and sound, especially if you have a Home Cinema setup are first class. This can be bought for a brilliant price too. Dont miss it!


Stirring symphony reaches the heights of greatness   February 25, 2004
Andy Millward (Broxbourne, Herts, UK)
16 out of 19 found this review helpful

Amadeus is a breathtakingly spectacular film in the old-fashioned sense - size, scale and scope. It has the dramatic intensity and passion you expect, and all performers raise their game to deliver a magnificent production. Prague makes a wonderful substitute for Vienna, every bit as grand as the musical depth.

Told from Salieri's warped perspective, Schaffer leads the viewer down the path into the old maestro's bitter struggle with God, personified through the silly creature manifesting His genius - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

F Murray Abraham deserved his best actor Oscar, as few have done before. In turn devious, cunning, deferential and political, he pursues single-mindedly a desperate struggle furnished by a paranoid imagination, finally believing himself guilty of murdering Mozart. A masterclass in the art of acting.

True, Tom Hulce fails to develop any depth to Mozart's character, nor to ignite the source of his genius other than it being God-given, but this does not detract from the fluency of Salieri's vision.

Above all, the music and visual images are truly majestic. You need a big screen and top class sound to enjoy this DVD at its best. The soundtrack is on a par with anything you've every heard, using Mozart's music to match to the tempo and mood of each scene thanks to sympathetic scoring by Sir Neville Marriner.

Truly, this is a masterpiece to be treasured. I urge everyone to buy.


Even more satisfying than the original   February 24, 2006
ChezzyD (Swindon, UK)
16 out of 18 found this review helpful

The original cut of Amadeus I have seen many many times so I watched this cut with trepidation and excitement at what those extra minutes might hold. For the majority the additions are not essential (hence the cut) but returned they do give an extra fullness to parts of the plot, particularly to Mozart's slow downfall which is only touched on in the original version. We see Salieri's devious manipulations of the Emperor and Viennese society work against Mozart who is unable to earn enough money to finance his extravagant lifestyle and is soon desperate enough to beg for loans. His pride prevents him from taking some work, such as in the very funny musical dogs scene but he returns there as a last resort only to be turned away. There is extra material about the relationship between Mozart, Madame Caballeri and Salieri but this does not offer any greater insight. But perhaps the most important addition is that which explains the animosity between Constanze and Salieri. In the original cut this is not explained and you are left wondering why she is so adamant he leave Mozart's side. But in the Director's Cut this is made abundantly clear... Constanze, desperate to help her husband agrees to sleep with Salieri, but when she is at her most vulnerable he humiliates her and turns her away leaving her to return home full of shame and sorrow. These scenes offer a greater insight into Constanze's character and what she is prepared to do for money, not to mention her genuine love for her husband but also re-inforces Salieri's own struggle between his sexual desires, his desire to harm Mozart and his promise to God. It is painful and powerful and truly enhances the arc of the story. I feel very attached the original cut, which is still the more familiar - however I am pleased to have made this addition to my collection and especially pleased with all the extras included which give a real insight into the casting and preparation of the film, not to mention the fact that Prague at the time was still behind the Iron Curtain. I really think this is an essential and captivating film - and everyone I have recommended this film to has become a fellow worshipper. I assure you, if you buy watch this film you will not regret it.


This film will make you cry !   July 11, 2003
Robert Snedden (Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom)
15 out of 16 found this review helpful

A totally different film from the original.

Look out for the scene between Constance and Salieri when Mozart's wife is compromised. This relationship is central to the film's end.

The documentary on the bonus disc is probably the best of its kind. When Milos Foreman recalls visiting the Opera House, where the World Premiere of "Don Giovanni" took place, I cried. Peter Shaffer is obviously passionate about Mozart.

This CD is an essential part of World Cinema. Go out and buy it. Do it, don't even think about it.