Discover How This One Movie Rocked an Entire Generation

🎬 Join me on a nostalgic journey as I dive into the timeless masterpiece, "Amadeus." 🌟 Discover how this 1984 film captivated audiences, swept the Oscars, and became a cultural touchstone for Generation X. 🎻 Whether you’re a classical music enthusiast or a movie buff, this video explores the profound impact of "Amadeus" on music appreciation and its enduring legacy. 🎹 Tune in for a deep dive into its themes, soundtrack, and the passion it ignited in young musicians. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! 🎥✨
🎬 Nostalgia for the Amadeus Generation
🌊 Trigger warning for nostalgia: Clips might evoke strong memories.
🎵 If nostalgic, you might belong to the Amadeus generation.
🎥 First Encounter with a Masterpiece
🍿 First watched "Amadeus" at a mall theater at age 11.
🎟️ Saw it multiple times in theaters, rented, and later owned it in various formats.
🧳 Carried the film's impact throughout life, appreciating its artistry despite historical inaccuracies.
🏆 From Box Office Underdog to Oscar Sweeper
🏅 Unexpected box office success and swept the 1985 Oscars.
🎻 Became a cultural touchstone for classical music enthusiasts and Generation X.
🎹 For many, it turned a hobby into a lifelong passion for classical music.
📅 Generation X and the Spirit of Rebellion
🎞️ Despite not being on top Gen X movie lists, it resonated with themes of rebellion and authority defiance.
🎭 Tom Hulce's portrayal of Mozart mirrors Gen X's rejection of formality.
🎬 Film’s dark themes align with the Gen X penchant for more serious, introspective content.
🎶 The Power of Mozart’s Music
🎧 Curated a masterful soundtrack that uses Mozart's minor mode compositions to evoke deep emotions.
🎵 Specific pieces like "Requiem" and "Don Giovanni" chords are highlighted for their narrative importance.
🎟️ Amadeus: Gateway to Classical Music
🎼 The movie's release spurred interest in Mozart and classical music among young Gen Xers.
🎻 Increased attendance at classical music events and performances of Mozart’s works.
🎹 Became a gateway to exploring other classical composers.
📝 Salieri’s Musical Insights
🎶 The film taught viewers to appreciate and analyze music deeply.
🎻 Salieri’s descriptions of Mozart’s music provided a non-academic, emotional understanding.
🎼 Mozart’s plea for "The Marriage of Figaro" highlighted music’s complexity and harmony.
🔍 An Introduction to Score Analysis
🎹 Dictation scene between Mozart and Salieri served as an introduction to score analysis.
📝 Opened young musicians’ eyes to the structure and composition of music.
📽️ Rediscovering Amadeus
🎥 Encouragement to rewatch "Amadeus" and reflect on its enduring impact.
🍿 Suggests making an evening of it for new viewers.
2002 Director's Cut Added Scenes: www.movie-censorship.com/repo...
Streaming Links: www.warnerbros.com/movies/ama...
Chapters
00:00-00:53 - Intro
00:54-06:07 - A Gen X Movie Like No Other
06:08-08:54 - A Superbly Curated Soundtrack
08:55-10:25 - Classical Music Gateway Drug
10:26-12:11 - The Language of Musical Ectasy
12:12-13:11 - Your First Glimpse At Score Analysis
13:12-13:40 - Closer
🎬 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more classical amateur talk and music!
#AmadeusMovie #ClassicalMusic #GenX #Mozart #Nostalgia #FilmAnalysis #MovieReview #1980sCinema #OscarWinners #Soundtrack #MusicLovers #CinematicMasterpiece #MusicEducation #MovieRecommendations #Throwback #CultClassic #MusicHistory #Cinephile #FilmBuff #MustWatch

[@johnowen2880]

This movie remains one of my favorites because in Salieri, I connected with the feelings of envy I had as a musician and the deeper psychological and theological questions the movie/play asks about talent, giftedness, and responsibility. The play is after all not called “Mozart” or “Wolfgang” but “Amadeus”, the love of God. It’s not a biopic, it’s more a psychological study. It’s Salieri (and us) wrestling with the question of “why that jerk and not me?” Same question we all asked in the band room or the piano recital or just walking through the halls of high school. And so I say to you all, “Mediocrities everywhere . . . I absolve you.”

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Yes! The brilliance of the Salieri character--thanks be to Pushkin--is its relatability.

[@danoconnell1833]

“Amadeus”, the love of God -- Can't believe I never made this connection. Thank you!

[@brothajohn]

@@johnowen2880 NAILED IT. that first scene when Salieri says “No, that is Mozart.” to the priest. What a flawless introduction. F. Murray Abraham was perfect in that film. I cannot imagine anyone else playing that part better than him.

[@user-gi8pk9uc7q]

I had no idea that Amadeus meant "the love of god'!

[@Xcalator35]

Spot on analysis John!!!

[@keiththorpe9571]

One of my favorite editing moments of the movie is when Salieri is flipping through the folio containing Mozart's compositions, with the music transitioning as he's reading the sheet music and hearing them in his head. That was such a deft use of the soundtrack, and really something which had never been done before that I can recall.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Agree... that montage sequence is singular and one of the films finest moments. The variety and quality of the clips used, their sequence, the pacing, the voiceover, were all just expertly done.

[@AmanCreatesArt]

How his landlady turns into the Queen of the Night has never left me! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@Gandalf47]

I'm 76, and watched it in the theater with my kids, both serious rock musicians. We all loved it. "Rock me, Amadeus" is on a playlist that I listen to when I am out driving and shopping, I just listened to it a few hours ago. I'm not Gen X, but I like the movie.

[@Serai3]

The Confutatis scene is hands-down the best film scene _about_ music ever made. Watching those two master musicians building that beautiful piece layer by layer, and then the final spine-chilling reveal still fills my soul every time I watch it. And the most incredible thing about it for me took me years to realize: that _there is no music playing in that room._ The room itself is silent; the music is all happening _in their heads._ That was ground-breaking for me. It throws into undeniable relief that Mozart's music is the third character in the love/hate triangle that frames the film: Mozart, Salieri, and the soundtrack. It's a palpable player in the drama, constantly speaking to and directing the emotional action of the film. I cannot think of a film that makes better use of its soundtrack.

[@dominomasked]

F. Murray Abraham saying “And then… an oboe!” is an integral part of that song my whole life.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

💯 and reading this comment made my day

[@jonathangat4765]

THIS

[@juniorjames7076]

Mr. F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus and Scarface are my favorite performances of the '80s!

[@billcook4768]

Unfortunately, after seeing the scene homaged in How I Met Your Mother I now think “And then… a pickle.”

[@thetrison]

I'm Gen Z. My parents are Gen X. This movie is so good, I can recite the entire ending after just a single watch.

[@Ravenelvenlady]

Gen Xer here ( 1966), and classical musician. 😉 Not only have I seen this film several times, sitting through it twice in the same theater (with the manager's permission), I also saw the play on Broadway, on which the film was based. It's a masterpiece! 💖🎶

[@carriehazel77]

I was born in 77 and I'm still obsessed with this movie - bought the soundtrack and played it to death!

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Amazing to hear from so many people who love this movie as much as I do... thanks for watching and commenting!

[@AmiliaSmith]

I'm at the tail end of Gen X, and was all of 6 when it came out. However, my dad was a band teacher, so I got to go see this in the theater with my folks. I felt very grown up as none of my yourger siblings got to come.

[@TimothyCHenderson]

Check out some of Salieri's operas: Les Danaïdes, La grotta di Trofonio, Falstaff, Europa riconosciuta, Armida and a few others which have recordings. He was a master of the stage and a gifted melodist in his own right. Mozart and the other big names in classical music are often the gateway, but in the garden beyond grows many a delightful little flower.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

For sure, it's really good (and could absolutely be a subject for a future video). I'm interested in B-tier composers... the canon is just the very tip of the iceberg, there's a huge volume of great music written by folks who often just barely didn't make the cut.

[@MsSunnyDenise]

I make it a point to watch Amadeus on a regular basis, but not so often as to make it feel like a chore. I cannot express how much I love this movie.

[@rebelpunx88]

I'm a Millenial and this is my favorite movie of all time

[@ShinyGolduck5]

Mozart's cackle was the best part of the movie for me, we watched it in music class in school and every time he would laugh we would laugh as well.

[@msaccomandi]

I'm from 1974 and I've followed most of your "Amadeusians" stets. Still enjoy watching if every now and again. A true masterpiece of a movie on so many lavels.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Absolutely, it's great to see so many validating comments from fellow Gen-Xers. For me it was a hugely important movie.

[@jenniferlamont7460]

I was born in 2000, and my parents are solidly baby boomers. Amadeus has been a comfort film for my entire life. I’m now a classical musician, and while Mozart isn’t my favorite composer, his music is held in the canon for a reason.

[@ChadZaugg]

I only vaguely remember watching this in theaters, but I remember loving it. I also incorrectly remember it staring RDJr.

[@MrRezRising]

Born in '70. I was so in love with movies back then, this movie became a constant background movie to run at home, along with the Broadway soundtrack to _Sweeney Todd_ , and _Goodfellas_ . It sent me down the historical movie rabbit hole, where _Dangerous Liasons_ and _The Madness of King George_ awaited. Original version for me, AND I just showed it to my 15 year old who loved it too.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

It must've been Gen Xers who first started doing that... running epic movies in the background at home. We did it all the time... Amadeus, Willow, among others, and later it was Princess Bride that became a constant Sunday afternoon feature. Such a great time.

[@MrRezRising]

@@TheAmateurPiano Birth of the vcr did it. Got one in '79, got HBO in '78 (it came on at 5pm and went off the air at about 1am!) and it was all over for me. Spending allowences on blank tapes, my sacred #8 tape with Blues Brothers, Animal House, Caddyshack and Stripes... Man, I'd like to see that tape again someday.

[@Re_Mindemic_Virus]

I first saw Amadeus on Broadway and amazing opening with Salieri monologue. The old man hunched over in his last days in voice and manner, he throws off a blanket to stand up as the young Salieri. No makeup needed and the transformation perfect and unforgettable. The actor? Same as in the film.

[@True-Faux]

For me, this film was a beautiful gateway into the world of classical music and the work of director Miloš Forman... and so, holds a great place in my heart. Superb essay, bravo!

[@tolminec]

I was born in 1996, Amadeus is one of my favourite movies. It definitely coincided with my falling in love with classical music.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Amazing to hear it has cross-generational impact... another commenter was bemoaning her kids not taking to it! Thanks for sharing.

[@flyteoffancy]

Older Gen X: saw this in the theatre, and it’s still in my top 3 favourite films. Now watch the Director's Cut regularly, and love it - more is more for me! Thank you for such a great dissertation on this superlative, and eminently quotable classic.

[@sandyama77]

Loved Amadeus❣️ Martern aller Arten was a revelation to my 15yr old ears in the theatre. A decade later, while listening to a Sutherland recording it walloped me again during a workout; I hadn’t realized it was in the playlist. Thank you for this video!

[@red-stapler574]

I saw this movie when it came on HBO at 12 yo and was blown away. I saw all the typical movies of the time but I never really noticed great acting until this movie.

[@ijsman1494]

Great job! I to saw Amadeus in the theater and loved it. I to am a music nerd. Great job in explaining and exploring the film. I would love to see this film turned into a Criterion Collection.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Thank you, and totally agreed on the Criterion Collection!

[@timothysmith7888]

And, by “theater”, I’m guessing that you do NOT mean LIVE theatre, where AMADEUS had its World Premiere in Nov, 1979, at the Royal National Theatre, directed by Sir Peter Hall. Reportedly, Amadeus playwright, Peter Shaffer, based his book on an 1830 play by Alexander Pushkin. Amadeus had its Broadway premiere in late 1980, winning the Tony Award for Best Play in 1981. Five years after its world premiere, the feature film, Amadeus hit the cinema screens.

[@zathrasnotzathras9435]

It’s an absolute masterpiece of a movie. My favorite scene is when he is describing that third section of the Gran Partita. Which also just happens to be one of my favorite pieces of classical music. It’s one of those movies I will rewatch periodically. And there aren’t too many of those.

[@shawnweaver7797]

the winter of 1984 was cold, i lied to my mother and walked to the Movie Theater. I just finished reading the play and so wanted to see the film, i would of been the only person there if it was a mother daughter team sitting in the back row. The film lifted me creatively and the walk home was filled with warmth, When i got home my mother knew i liked and i remember the day she saw the film. on TV and saw the cross thrown into the fire place, she was OH NO! this film isnt for me. i was in my first year of Art school learning the basics and this film was good fuel. I never seen a better film since

[@TheAmateurPiano]

I love this so much. My mother loved the movie, but pretended not to see the Salieri-talks-to-God scenes. Thanks for watching and for sharing your story with me.

[@annadalassena5460]

To me the score analyses section was the best...... it gave me a window into how music 'works' and I became ever more obessed with classical music

[@Xcalator35]

Yep! You got me! I was 12 at the time and I became obsessed. But I was never a classical music nerd though, at least not specifically 'classical'...I became a music afficionado but more at the 'rock/punk/post-punk' side of the spectrum. Music still plays an incredible part in my life: I play classical guitar (can play a little Bach, developed my own 'arrangement' of Mahler's adagietto!) and 'rock on' with my electrical one too. You know, I have very fond memories of watching this movie at my folks' place in VHS with my friends with the sound blasting really high from the tv set! Wow!! You made me nostalgic...

[@OtisLePoOtis]

I was born 2004 and this movie changed so much within me

[@elizabethschurman2578]

Yep, Gen X, my parents had this movie on tape, and my sisters and I watched it over and over. Everything I learned about being an artist I learned from this movie, and it eventually sent me to Mozart operas at the Met, and to hear Requiem at Lincoln Center as well. So grateful for its beauty.

[@auralepiphanies4055]

I was also 11 when this movie came out and was already quite schooled as a pianist. I super loved this movie and pretty sure this is why i started composing my own music at around this time.

[@dannyrosario3003]

Born 1985(elder millennial). One of my favs of all time. Any time I can recommend or talk about this movie, I do.

[@scottlowell493]

I really appreciated the directors cut. Much better than the comparatively dark and blurry VHS with it's weak sound.

[@meissoun]

I was 16 in 1985 and I can tell you that this movie definitely influenced my sense of fashion. I bought a shiny jacket at a thrift shop and tied my permed hair into a low ponytail… Voilà, Amadeus! Seems like Mozart and Madonna were my fashion icons in the mid 1980s

[@TheAmateurPiano]

So glam, love it!

[@nellgwenn]

I think the most relatable moment in the film is when Salieri says to the priest, "All I wanted was to sing to God. He gave me that longing... and then made me mute. Why? Tell me that. 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?" Everyone no matter what they do or want to be can relate to that. For me Amadeus is about two things the first one being the grass is always greener on the other side. Salieri wanted the talent Mozart had. Mozart wanted the respect and position Salieri had. Secondly I believe this movie is about The Spirit of the Age. That was the point. Mozart and Salieri were picked so to speak to demonstrate that. There is such a stark contrast. Salieri's work was good but labored over, academic maybe. Mozart's took a form like opera and forged new ground with it. Whether he wanted to or not. And Mozart did have his detractors, and people plotting against him, stealing from him, One of the most important lines in the movie is "Composition doesn't pay". Why? Why didn't composition pay? Maybe because there weren't any copyright laws. If there had been Mozart would have died a millionaire. Because there weren't copyright laws, anybody going public with their work is open to thievery. There were no royalty fees either. I love the humor in the movie as well. The little touches throughout the film that also make it relatable. I do want to give a shoutout to the actor that played the priest. You have to believe the priest was put through the emotional wringer with the confession of a lifetime. And at the end of the movie you do. He couldn't take a minute more of Salieri's story. But he's now stuck with a bitter resentful guy. God killed Mozart and left Salieri alive to torture. Salieri seeing Mozart's music grow in popularity and his remaining in the past. The play and the movie is an ingenious way of addressing musicians. Or famous people in general.

[@vbhy]

Great video D - brings back so much memories! (The part about score analysis was so on point - but this led to a slightly different world of soundtracker / sequencer 😂)

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Nice, hadn't thought about that direction of travel, but yes totally. Thanks for the comment!

[@justdiane5]

The Making of Amadeus is available on YT for free and it's wonderful to hear the major players behind this masterpiece tell their stories. I think this film is my favorite. It's definitely one I have obsessed over and never fail to appreciate. Great video 👍

[@TheAmateurPiano]

The Making of is indeed a worthwhile watch. Thanks so much!

[@radic888]

I watched it as a boomer, but I gained from it all the things you did.

[@beansblue6946]

I liked this video. I’m not a Gen Xer and I only listen to Midwest emo but I’ll totally watch this once I figure out how to spell the name of the movie. You remind me a bit of my American history teacher, what a great guy!

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Terrific, in exchange I've put Midwest Emo on my list of music to explore... completely new to me!

[@MrRezRising]

@@beansblue6946 lol!

[@justdiane5]

What a great snobby indie attitude that you only listen to Midwest Emo 😁 So totally relate

[@LukeSilverstar1000]

Was introduced to Amadeus by watching it in my middle school music class. I am not a musician and have zero musical ability, but I know what I like. Looney Tunes and Amadeus helped introduce me to classical music and gave me a lifelong love of the genre. I may not know all the technical details, but Mozart is one artist that I can listen to and have no doubt that I am hearing the work of a true genius. Plus, Amadeus is just a really great film. 😊

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Lots of commenters raising the Looney Tunes connection, one that I certainly share... seems like it could be a good topic for another video!

[@yahoovonshnitzel-plucks835]

I found a picture you drew in 6th grade a couple days ago. It's genei, btw..... I want to send you a pic of it! Love you! Also, this movie is one of my all time favs. I can recite it by memory.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Oh my goodness, which picture?? Such a great movie... maybe we watched it together? Given we were joined at the hip for like 10 years it wouldn't surprise me!! Love you too!!!

[@PurpleRobe8]

Amadeus is on my annual watch list. I, too, prefer the original theatrical version, although the scene with Constanze offering herself to Salieri does explain the attitude with which she greets him during the Requiem scene. Brilliant from start to finish, not a line out of place. Perfectly cast. Amazing.

[@iconoclastic-fantastic]

YES. Yes to EVERYTHING in this video. Amadeus was my first exposure to classical music when I was a little kid. Started on violin, went to school for voice. This movie is crucial to my identity and love of music. And it's as delightfully silly as it is dark. I personally love Tom Hulce's Mozart. A perfect film. It's so so so special to me

[@FilmotronCity]

Millennial here. I love Amadeus. It is one of my top 100.

[@miketan5603]

Same here 💜

[@alinatahir8326]

As someone from Gen Z, I finally watched the movie on Netflix, with a vague (possibly made up memory) of watching some of this movie as a child. I absolutely loved it, and totally related to it as a current music student. That feeling of frustration at seeing people succeed and having immense talent was so resonant. Such a masterful film, especially the Confutatis scene!! I recommend everyone to watch it!

[@TommyIdaho]

Love the section on the language of musical ecstasy. Brilliant!

[@lorijones9579]

Not Gen-X but I love this movie. Also I was friends with the man who played the Archbishop (may he rest in peace). I watched it with my husband, who looked at my face during the scene where the dying Mozart was dictating notes, keys, etc. to Salieri, my favorite scene, and he said "You know what they are talking about!" Yup.

[@rossrichey55]

Great video. I am not particularly musical, but you do make some excellent points about how many of my opinions on how music works were informed by this movie. As, perhaps, one example: I have long imagined that if I can consume or own certain things that it would make up for the appalling gaps in my rural Utah education. This mostly took the form of books that were considered classics, but music was in there as well. While we were in the Netherlands, Phillips was in the process of releasing the complete works of Mozart (a collection of 170 CDs which you can now buy for the low, low price of only $250. I may have to pick it up) and I dreamed of some day owning the collection as a mark of status. I may have to take you up on the suggestion to rewatch the movie... Two other thoughts: 1- My favorite apocryphal Mozart story: A young man came to Mozart and asked him how to write a symphony. Mozart replied, “You are too young to write a symphony. You should start with quartets.” The man replied, “But Herr Mozart, you were writing symphonies when you were ten, and I am twenty-one.” Mozart said, “Ah yes, but I didn't have to ask anyone how.” 2- Speaking of movies have you managed to watch Toy Story yet?

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Must've been 1997-98 ish that I received a lovely box set of the Complete Mozart from a dear friend for my birthday, which I proudly displayed for years... back in the days of CD racks and shelves for physical media were things one simply had to have. Setting status aside, I fondly remember the days when you could quietly learn a lot about whomever you were visiting by simply perusing their book/CD/DVD shelves. For us, only the physical books remain... everything else is vaulted on hard drives or lives in the cloud. I did finally watch Toy Story and found the little green toy soldiers adorable.

[@aaronjclarke1973]

Loved this movie. I first saw it on VHS. Thanks 🙏 for sharing. ❤❤❤

[@TheAmateurPiano]

You're welcome, thanks for watching !

[@meursault-ey7wq]

Born in 1979 and saw it for the first time in ‘88. I consider it a transitional moment in my childhood and it still holds up as one of my favorites.

[@ilikeyourjacket]

Born '82. When i was young I would just stare at the box art in the rental store. In my teens I finally watched it and it's been one of my favorites from then on.

[@BLenz-114]

I don’t think I saw this in the theater, and some years later was a bit surprised to find that it had become my favorite movie. In the lonely days before streaming, whenever I came across it on TV I would think “I’ll watch a couple minutes of it” and then had watched to the end. I loves it.

[@BLenz-114]

Forgot to say I had no idea it was a gen x favorite, and also that I was born in 66, so gen x.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

There you go!

[@Mulberry792]

Guilty. Born in 1967. Loved the film. I compare all period films to this masterpiece.

[@StarlahMutiny]

I loveeeeeeeee this movie! Eta: they showed this movie to all 6th grade classes in my middle school

[@MsSunnyDenise]

I had no idea there were people out there like me who counted this movie as their favorite movie of all time. Every time I’m asked what my favorite movie is, I answer Amadeus. 80% of the time, the person asking had no idea what I’m talking about. I, literally, thought I was the only one!!

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Clearly not... based on the engagement here, we have a LOT of friends :D

[@matthewche]

It feels this movie has become more appreciated lately after a period where it was not getting the proper love. Perhaps the generation shift?

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Coming up on the 40 year anniversary, perhaps generational.

[@craigbenz4835]

The line "Too many notes" is still current in family talk. Also the Emperor's particular "Uh huh."

[@TheAmateurPiano]

That Jeffrey Jones “m hm” is just so iconic I can’t even 😂

[@aaronjclarke1973]

I listened to a lot of James Cook University’s CD music collection. I loved music with emotional resonance.

[@claudiovallese40]

1973 so I'm possibly your very same age I never ever identified myself as "generation X", even if back in those Amadeus days, I also was a Billy Idol fan, and he used to lead a former late '70s/early '80s punk rock outfit named Generation X I made almost the same steps: - Watchin' the movie at my own school theater - Havin' it borrowed by a friend of mine and copying it via vhs home video/recording player - Getting the Director's cut in dvd and then buying the complete soundtrack right away - Getting a selection of same soundtrack in a limited edition MontBlanc stylo pen package - Travelling Salzburg with my brother, a baritone getting there for a lied singing masterclass - Getting there again with my back then fiancée (nowadays, unfortunately, already ex wife) - Watchin' the movie with my only son, studying classical composers in the very same school I attended, back when the movie was out everywhere in theaters hard to choose a moment in the movie probably my favorite piece is the opening symphony #25 G minor Thank you for your remarkable tribute

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Indeed we are at most months apart. The paralells are amazing! I"ve never been to Salzburg, but will get there at some point. Thanks for sharing!

[@claudiovallese40]

@@TheAmateurPiano my pleasure PS Last connection to the movie… my brother studied there being a classically trained baritone… but I’m a (parttime) bass player just like the late Falco (the Forman’s movie inspired “rock me Amadeus”)

[@jeffbebe5085]

Me and my friends were 18-19 years old. Into street R-N-R .. Bruce, Billy, Meatloaf, Waits, etc etc etc and we LOVED Amadeus. We actually bought the 2 CD soundtrack and would play it. We considered Wolfgang a rock star of his time. He was the Bowie of his time. We loved the movie. I can recite it even today.

[@whattowatchrightnow]

I liked the cackle.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

It took time but it grew on me. Now I feel like it's essential to the character, like it couldn't be any other way.

[@franksonador]

Amadamus and Phantom of the paradise were movies that got me into playing piano! Awesome video!

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Thanks, so glad you liked it!

[@PlasmaKong2]

Great presentation to one of the best movies ever made. I saw it at the cinema when I was 8 years old. This film made me love classical music.

[@rgibson7305]

Born in '81, but grew up with this movie, and it absolutely holds up 40 years on. My favorite bit of editing is the fade from Constansia's mother screeching "SELFISH" at him, to the Queen of the Night's aria, a song which my adolescent voice *longed* to be able to do, but never could.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Another AMAZING transition... from "you won't have a pot to piss in!" direct to Queen of the Night, brilliant!

[@VinceLyle2161]

There are three quotes that have stayed with me since I saw the movie in the theatre when it came out. (P.S., the theatre was so crowded, I had to sit separately from my parents.) They convince me over and over that F. Murray Abraham's performance was one of the best ever. They are: "That was Mozart" With extreme weariness. "Wolfgang. Amadeus. Mozart." "Everybody liked me." Then, looking a little embarrassed: "I liked myself." Finally, holding up his hands while intercut with the scene of reading Mozart's original compositions: "I was staring through the cage of those meticulous ink strokes at an absolute...beauty."

[@TheAmateurPiano]

His was an ASTOUDING performance. One line I deeply love but couldn't fit into my video was "And do you know what happened? A MIRACLE!" as his father chokes at lunch, cut to father in coffin with a boys choir singing "amen, amen, amen, A-MEN!" We watched that scene over and over, howling with laughter.

[@Mo-MuttMusic]

Thanks for sharing. I think I first saw it in late '85, maybe early '86, on VHS. I'd seen Gene Siksel and Roger Ebert rave about it roughly a year earlier and I was glad to see it. I remember watching it with some theater students and a faculty member at my college. The instructor easily identified all the operas staged in the film because he said he had worked on them. Favorite scenes: 1) the scene where Salieri's valets are outside his door with food (sugar cakes and cream, maybe?), which makes me hungry thinking about it; and 2) Mozart's musical impressions. Shawn R., Mo-Mutt Music/Sacred & Secular (and GenXer)

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Years later, after becoming sufficiently "worldly", I assumed the edibles in the opening scene were profiteroles served with some sort of delicious creme fraiche topping... but you are so so right. Just thinking about it makes me crave whatever it was. The globule of it on Sancho Panza's nose was also, I hoped, a happy accident that Forman just decided to keep!

[@Ravuun]

I was 8 when this came out. I saw it in the theater and I was OBSESSED. I was too young to be in the school music program, but I started playing violin as soon as I was able, and continued for the next 4 years, before my family moved to another state where the school had no orchestra. This movie is a great double feature with Immortal Beloved, which is about Beethoven.

[@jrojala]

Amadeus is a lifelong favorite- I was too young for it, but inappropriate adults who like “plucky young girls” allowed me access

[@synthWizkid]

I love 💕 this movie 🍿🎥😊

[@shelly_lee]

gen x'er here. i saw this movie when i was 18. i have seen hundreds of movies since and Amadeus is still my all time favorite movie.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Hard to believe in just a few months, Amadeus will be 40 years old. Couldn't agree more.

[@timberwoof]

Harrumpf! Even though I was born too early to be GenX, I loved this movie! I know I'n not the only one. KVOD in Denver played a lot of Salieri in the late '80s. If you liked the costumes, then watch the Sci Fi Channel's Dune. Theodor Pistek made the costumes for that as well.

[@kalevala29]

It's refreshing to hear an intelligent perspective from another member of Generation X. Thank you. Indeed, I recall that film taking on a life of its own, its influence even permeating pop music. I graduated from high school in 1985.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

From the class of '91, you're most welcome, glad you enjoyed it!

[@kalevala29]

@@TheAmateurPiano Ohh dear. That means I'm an Elder Gen X'er. Like an Elder Goth 😂 I bought my first house in 1991; Denver, CO $67,000. I dare say it's worth half a million now.

[@kalevala29]

@@TheAmateurPiano So I subscribed to your channel. I take it your classically trained in piano. and you freelance and you teach Is that correct?

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Yes I'm a classically trained pianist and doublebassist, but I no longer freelance and never taught. Just an amateur enthusiast with a busy day job these days.

[@kalevala29]

@@TheAmateurPiano Nice to meet you.

[@daniellove162]

Amadeus, the next generation had Sponge Bob.

[@Boperatrix]

If you can't get enough of the current peek rap battles era, you gotta see Amadeus.

[@beatrixwickson8477]

Gen X, saw this just before getting my first payment of study allowance and I immediately rushed out and bought the box set of The Complete Mozart Masterworks on audio cassette. I loved them. The scene where Mozart improvises improvements to Salieri's march was iconic for me, but there are so many great bits. Salieri asking the priest if he recognises any of his pieces for him to only recognise Mozart's, just gold. And as much as I would have loved the nudity as a teen, I did find the extended cut seemed less impactful with the pacing and such. Strangely, though this was a classical gateway for me and many, at the time I was treated like a fake fan but everyone I knew who already liked Mozart. Such weird gatekeeping, I'm glad that wasn't everyone's experience.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

THAT scene, the humiliating-improvement-upon-Salieri scene. There's so much there. Why exactly was what he did better, more interesting, more memorable? Rhetorical question, but it really made us all think about music in a way that perhaps we hadn't before. Yeah I think it's clear--no one likes the directors cut, least of all me--that Constanze scene and everything else they added back in was just tragic.

[@SilentAttackTV]

I remember Vladimir Horowitz doing an impression of the Mozart character from this movie in the documentary The Last Romantic lmao

[@campbellfulton5602]

Gen x er and have the bluray directors cut. Love the movie. Love the music. And just remembered I’ve got the soundtrack cd

[@davidstone9624]

I was born in '74.... Adore this movie....not a classical kid .....but the role of Salieri is haunting. An empathetic villain. He is the reason, for me.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Empathetic, complex, relatable. The Salieri Combo. Thanks for watching!

[@moritod]

When I was growing up, my father sat me down to watch Casablanca. He told me he didn't care if I liked black and white. It didn't matter. The movie is timeless. He was right. Amadeus may be old. Doesn't matter. It's why movies are made. Watch it. Edit: extra credit if you can find a wine cooler to drink while you're watching.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Love this comment... wine coolers!

[@gumbycat5226]

How do you turn a masterpiece into smut - once, many decades ago, I found a DVD of the original cut and immediately threw away my director's cut. As inferior as the sound and image may be, my DVD of the original cut is the only one I would ever watch. I regard the scene where Constanza meets Salieri as the greatest illustration in any medium of genius, and it is utterly ruined in the director's cut. To me this movie is literally the finest example of the power of editing. I was born in 57 and do not see this movie as a generational thing, it is immortal.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Excellent point on the power of editing… you are so right. It’s a case study.

[@ErroneousTheory]

It was the double hit of this and Purple Rain that drove me to passionately pursue music

[@pamelaelrod4875]

Not a Gen Xer but adore this film!

[@timothysmith7888]

How you spoke about the lack of scholarship in the film of AMADEUS, without a single reference to the origins of what became the film, is remarkable!!! AMADEUS - the smash hit play, by Peter Shaffer, from which the film was adapted by the playwright himself - had its World Premiere on Nov. 2, 1979, at the Royal National Theatre (UK), directed by Sir Peter Hall. Sounds like you may have been five or six years old, at the time! You can hardly be expected, even at eleven, to be aware of the origins of the film. But, I’m curious how you overlooked its history as an adult. Reportedly, Amadeus playwright, Peter Shaffer, based his book on an 1830 play by Alexander Pushkin. AMADEUS had its Broadway premiere in late 1980, winning 5 Tony Awards (including. Best Play, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor) in 1981. I saw the Broadway production in 1983, about a month before the show closed. Five-years after its World Premiere, the feature film of AMADEUS hit the cinema screens. AMADEUS, the play, has enjoyed productions all over the world and continues to be revived in live theatres. Tom Hulce’s Mozart is following in the footsteps of Simon Callow, Tim Curry, Dennis Boutsikaris, Peter Crook, Peter Firth, Mark Hamill, John Pankow, John Thomas Waite, and understudies, Mark Nelson, David Bryan and Peter Kingsley (this list does not include successive Actors who portrayed Mozart in the RNT World Premiere production. (Pretty sure that Mozart’s shrill laugh, is scripted!)

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Thanks for adding this detail, really informative. I certainly wasn't aware of anything that led up to the movie as a kid, but am decently informed now. One new thing I discovered while preparing this video was Rimsky-Korsakov's opera "Mozart & Salieri" based on the original Pushkin play: kzbin.info/www/bejne/foiuq4iwebWtsKs The purpose of this video was not to be an historical overview. It was merely to share my own experience and some observations on the movie. I was not impacted by the play, nor the stage productions, so have nothing to say about them.

[@michaelhall2709]

Please, Lord, release a remastered Blu-Ray of the theatrical version, so I may pitch that bloated Director’s Cut. And no, AMADEUS didn’t make a classical music aficionado out of me. A girlfriend who was an opera fan once took me to a local production of “Tosca,” which is as close as I got to entering that world. Still mostly into post-bebop jazz, blues, and classic rock. But I tend to love the music in the films I love, and AMADEUS is no exception.

[@PamArtsValentine]

I LOVE this movie! I remember how my family was blown away when it won best picture because usually their favorites never did!

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Totally... we were convinced either The Killing Fields or A Passage to India would win, couldn't have been more shocked when it just kept winning and winning that night!

[@PamArtsValentine]

@@TheAmateurPiano Same here! And, I think BOTH actors ahould have won the Best Actor award!🥰

[@parttimehero8640]

Man I love this movie since I was a child. I'm a millenial and watched it first in 2002

[@hihaichannel]

I like

[@northprime_unlimited]

I was 11 when this came out so I was into GIJoe and Transformers but when this hit me it froze me in my tracks. It definitely was the gateway to classical music for me. A MASTERPIECE‼️ I was a little disappointed to find out it wasn’t his life story but a play but, I still love the movie nonetheless. “These…are originals?” I love that line from Salieri😂

[@markbarrera6807]

I saw it several times- including one in Michigan with Tom's personal appearance. Born in '62.

[@theunwantedcritic]

I am definitely generation X, but I am not a huge classical music nerd. But I realize that our generation was the last generation that really valued music universally. When I was a baby, the biggest fan in the world was the Beatles and when I was 20 years old, the biggest recording artist was Michael Jackson. When I saw the movie, I had never taken a class in anything musical. I didn’t know how it works and the movie kind of repeats the idea that it’s something that you are born with. And we’ve all seen what happens when somebody thinks that they are a genius and they’re not. Kanye West comes to mind. Mozart was a genius and I’m sorry to say he’s the only classical musician, that I kinda know his life story. As a creative person, I’m supposed to be a genius visual artist, but what I found out is that you still need to training the people that you see gaining success? A very young age are either constantly in training or they have been training five or 10 years before you became aware of them. The problem is now that the music industry is hostile to even the most talented, good-looking and socially/emotionally artists. This all comes back to John Lennon. The last megastar to take an anti-ruling class political stance. Nobody does that anymore not even the rappers. Especially the rappers who all seem to be capitalist. So this movie is cautionary.

[@jonathanfeldheim6554]

'79 here. it's ALSO worth seeing to get all the jokes in Last Action Hero

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Haha yes ALSO

[@kennethgustavison1812]

The only time Mozart used the word Amadeus for his middle name was in jest in letters, signing at least one Wolfgangus Amadeus Mozarty. He usually spelled it Amade'. The one thing that I find very interesting about Mozart's struggle finding gainful employment was commented on by him in his letters - Mozart said (whether truly in humility or not we don't know) that he felt his talent was a gift from God, and his rejection and mistreatment by the aristocracy was their rejection of God's gift of that music. If one reads enough TRUE stories about Mozart, the man was looking for stable employment where he felt the music would be appreciated the way Haydn's was by the Esterhazy family. For some reason that position never materialized for Mozart, and the freelance artist didn't exist yet. There seems to be a myth that after Mozart left Salzburg he became a freelance composer.

[@gurgamous]

recently watched the directors cut on netflix. i had seen chunnks of this movie throughout my youth but had my interest renewed in it when the yt algo presented me with an in-depth analysis of the film. In a multipart vid series (i forget the name of the yt channel), it invigorated a sense of interest in the film. I enjoyed it quite a bit (both the film and the yt series done on it). It's a tragic film, and a very good film. A must see of classical music and cinema lovers alike.

[@camillechapman3108]

I watched this movie again recently. Fabulous!! I was raised on classical music and to see how real the lives were of these people (even tho it is heavily fictionalized.

[@brothajohn]

I just watched this again a week ago. Gen X. I love this movie.

[@dave928]

great movie, though not my intro to classical music, that goes to our local ice skating rink which played a lot of classical, i just didn't know what it was at the time. would like to see you review Immortal Beloved.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

First I will have to watch Immortal Beloved... I remembered hearing it was a disaster and was, I guess, 'loyal' to Amadeus (lol) so didn't watch it. Will have a watch and ponder doing a review.

[@livingbeings]

Hello fellow (80s) kids!

[@TheAmateurPiano]

✋😁

[@Scotty_Russell_Music]

Didn't the rental VHS cassettes have "macro protection". I also used to compile copies of rental tapes until the dreaded macro protection appeared. It caused constant interference on the recording VHS, you just couldn't get it to give you a clean picture or ungarbled audio. Touche whomever invented that.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Been waiting for this topic to surface :D Yes indeed that was a problem, but there were gaps in copy protection. It wasn't consistently applied, so you could get lucky, but the real coup de grace for us was having two Betamax machines! Was easy to pick an extra up on the cheap, since Beta was already in its death spiral by say 1987, and the rental copy of Amadeus we got wasn't copy protected.

[@Scotty_Russell_Music]

@@TheAmateurPiano I didn't know it wasn't a constant thing. I'm in the UK so there may be variations in format? I'm sure i tried several points to try and copy rental tapes but got constant interference. I also had 2 Betamax's at one point. The last one RIP'd in 93 after a very very drunk friend who was prone to "sleep walking/pissing" had woken in a stupor and attempted to find a toilet but had located the tv/video I'd loaned him and done his business and then collapsed on the crime scene. We cleaned it up and tried to power it up but it's display read "dew" which in the manual says "the machine may have liquid intake" . Lol, good times.

[@TheAmateurPiano]

Dew! DEW! That's an amazing story, we are all richer for it. I well remember frustration with PAL vs NTSC incompatibilities... I lived in the Netherlands between 1991-93, which made shipping of video cassettes to or from the continent pointless. As for copy protection, in the US it was only after say 1991 that the vast majority of tapes had it.

[@Scotty_Russell_Music]

@@TheAmateurPiano Aye I think it was about 91 that all the tapes became tough to copy. Glad you liked my "Big Billy" story ;-)

[@BenGeorge77]

Love this line: "The hobo bindle of my life..." 🛒

[@TheAmateurPiano]

🙏 was pretty proud of that line if I do say so myself 😁