My wife and I watched last night's HDNet "Director's Cut" premiere (in Canada, at least) of Amadeus.

The movie was shown in its OAR.

The picture quality was excellent, so we were able to drag the sofa a bit closer for a more immersive experience. The visible detail and color in the costumes and sets was astounding and I thought the audio was excellent (although I did not specifically confirm audio from all channels).

I saw several scenes that I had never seen before - the most important of which to me was when Salieri propositions Constanze, and she later returns to fulfill her end of the bargain (but Salieri in the end can not). To me, this cleared up some confusion I've always had at the end of the movie when Constanze returns to Vienna to find Salieri in her bedroom with her sick husband. Even though Salieri has helped Mozart, she's inexplicably upset that he's there. Seeing the proposition scene immediately solved that eternal riddle for me, as well as instilling in me a greater respect for Constanze as a wife willing to do anything for her husband.

I hadn't seen the movie in a few years and I also now more appreciate the significance of "mediocrity" in life, and, for that matter, whether greatness exists at all - at least, by itself, unsupported or nutured.

Since seeing it last night, I've thought or dreamt about Amadeus almost constantly.

Kudos to HDNet for thier fantastic 3-hour premiere of Amadeus.

u have problems
what time did it come on

Yes this was on HDNET a few years ago. It is the directors cut and has terrific PQ and SQ. A wonderful movie.

u have problems


Maybe you prefer the TV Guide description of the plot/story??

"Somewhat talented music composer gets ill and dies at a young age."

:rolleyes:

Maybe you prefer the TV Guide description of the plot/story??

"Somewhat talented music composer gets ill and dies at a young age."

Don't forget "has daddy issues..." ;)

My wife and I watched last night's HDNet "Director's Cut" premiere (in Canada, at least) of Amadeus.

The movie was shown in its OAR.

The picture quality was excellent, so we were able to drag the sofa a bit closer for a more immersive experience. The visible detail and color in the costumes and sets was astounding and I thought the audio was excellent (although I did not specifically confirm audio from all channels).

I saw several scenes that I had never seen before - the most important of which to me was when Salieri propositions Constanze, and she later returns to fulfill her end of the bargain (but Salieri in the end can not). To me, this cleared up some confusion I've always had at the end of the movie when Constanze returns to Vienna to find Salieri in her bedroom with her sick husband. Even though Salieri has helped Mozart, she's inexplicably upset that he's there. Seeing the proposition scene immediately solved that eternal riddle for me, as well as instilling in me a greater respect for Constanze as a wife willing to do anything for her husband.

I hadn't seen the movie in a few years and I also now more appreciate the significance of "mediocrity" in life, and, for that matter, whether greatness exists at all - at least, by itself, unsupported or nutured.

Since seeing it last night, I've thought or dreamt about Amadeus almost constantly.

Kudos to HDNet for thier fantastic 3-hour premiere of Amadeus.

Agreed. That earlier scene with Stanzi was like the missing piece to a puzzle that made the final one in the apartment make sense. I've had the original theatrical release for a long time and that was the first time I saw the director's cut.

My wife and I watched last night's
I saw several scenes that I had never seen before - the most important of which to me was when Salieri propositions Constanze, and she later returns to fulfill her end of the bargain (but Salieri in the end can not). To me, this cleared up some confusion I've always had at the end of the movie when Constanze returns to Vienna to find Salieri in her bedroom with her sick husband. Even though Salieri has helped Mozart, she's inexplicably upset that he's there. Seeing the proposition scene immediately solved that eternal riddle for me, as well as instilling in me a greater respect for Constanze as a wife willing to do anything for her husband.

Interesting that you should see her that way. To me in the movie she seemed portrayed (accurately or not I don't know) as rather self centered and self interested and a bit of an air-head. She seemed more interested in helping Mozart's success in order to better her own position rather than being concerned with his happiness. When I saw that scene in the director's cut I went the opposite direction from you and was amazed at just how far she was willing to go to elevate her own status in the world by assuring Mozart's success. Arthur Schurig, who wrote the only biography that was dedicated to Constanze and not Mozart, wrote that she was "petty, narrow-minded, vain, greedy, superstitious, and gossipy."

Let's face it - this movie portrayal was for the most part someone's fantasy. But, taking that into account ............


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She seemed more interested in helping Mozart's success in order to better her own position rather than being concerned with his happiness.
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Again, after watching the movie, with respect to how he treated his wife, I think one might conclude the very same thing about Mozart. For example, the director's cut makes it crystal clear that he was shagging the soprano while courting his future wife.

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Arthur Schurig, who wrote the only biography that was dedicated to Constanze and not Mozart, wrote that she was "petty, narrow-minded, vain, greedy, superstitious, and gossipy."
Those words would apply to most of the human race - me included.:)

I found the movie very entertaining in every respect, but I really doubt that it comes close to historical reality. For example, look at how Salieri was portrayed in this movie. Is anyone "buying" the theory that the real historical figure was trying to put Mozart into an early grave?

Actually, Salieri was a well known and respected court composer at the time. Though he was quite accomplished, he wasn't the genius Mozart was....but then again, few composers were.

Historians and modern physicians have concluded that Mozart died from a sudden attack of rheumatic fever which he often suffered as a child.

Historical accuracies aside, Amadeus remains a highly entertaining film with Mozart's music used as a "character".

Actually, Salieri was a well known and respected court composer at the time. Though he was quite accomplished, he wasn't the genius Mozart was....but then again, few composers were.

Historians and modern physicians have concluded that Mozart died from a sudden attack of rheumatic fever which he often suffered as a child.

Historical accuracies aside, Amadeus remains a highly entertaining film with Mozart's music used as a "character".

I've read a number of things about the cordial relationship of Mozart & Salieri that indicate that the movie Amadeus is a lie...but it's a brilliant one. If I had known more about Mozart's life when I first saw the movie over 20 years ago in the theater, I'd have actually enjoyed the movie less. As it is, the conceit of telling the story from Salieri's viewpoint instead of Mozart's makes this movie stand head & shoulders above other superficially similar movies, like Immortal Beloved (a quickly forgotten Beethoven biopic with Gary Oldman). Who among us hasn't advanced far enough in our careers or life to meet that man or woman who makes us feel like Salieri felt in Mozart's presence?

"Mediocrities everywhere, I absolve you...I absolve you."

I've read a number of things about the cordial relationship of Mozart & Salieri that indicate that the movie Amadeus is a lie...but it's a brilliant one. If I had known more about Mozart's life when I first saw the movie over 20 years ago in the theater, I'd have actually enjoyed the movie less. As it is, the conceit of telling the story from Salieri's viewpoint instead of Mozart's makes this movie stand head & shoulders above other superficially similar movies, like Immortal Beloved (a quickly forgotten Beethoven biopic with Gary Oldman). Who among us hasn't advanced far enough in our careers or life to meet that man or woman who makes us feel like Salieri felt in Mozart's presence?

"Mediocrities everywhere, I absolve you...I absolve you."

Most likely. Then again, who doesn't like a good conspiracy theory. Could you imagine what would have happened if Oliver Stone had gotten involved with Amadeus? :D

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As it is, the conceit of telling the story from Salieri's viewpoint instead of Mozart's makes this movie stand head & shoulders above other superficially similar movies, like Immortal Beloved (a quickly forgotten Beethoven biopic with Gary Oldman).
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Altough I wholeheartedly agree with everything else you said, I just had to disagree with you about Immortal Beloved. I consider it one of the greatest movies of its type, even though the movie-maker's choice of who really was Beethoven's "immortal beloved" is likely not accurate.

In particular, I think the scene near the end of the movie in which Schindler leaves Beethoven's letter in Johanna Reiss's hands is very touching. The orchestra begins the second movement of the 5th piano concerto as Schindler walks away from the upholstery shop. Schindler stops walking to dry his tears as, behind him, Reiss can be seen through a window starting to read the letter. As the first note from the piano is played, Oldman begins to narrate Beethoven's letter and Reiss bursts into joyous tears as she reads the same first words.

If anyone can watch that scene without being moved, they truly are "hard of heart".

The scene in which Reiss visits Beethoven on his death bed I also found very touching, even though Beethoven had treated her and her son very badly for many years.

A production with a more serious treatment would I think have to be more or less a documentary. (There was a much-longer, semi-dramatised series about Beethoven's life that I saw a few years ago. It was narrated by a pianist, I think, and it generally supported most of the events and themes that were depicted in the movie. I found it much less enjoyable than the movie, but, admittedly, more educational.)

I thought Oldman gave a remarkable, believable portrayal of Beethoven. As far as I can tell, he even looked quite a bit like Beethoven.

Being an amateur pianist myself, I can say that his keyboard fakery looked about as good as it gets and, to me, a good deal better than Hulce's (at least when Hulce plays the last improvised variations of Salieri's "welcoming" composition).

After having seen both movies many times over the years, every time I see Oldman in any other role, I still think of him as Beethoven, and, although I still thoroughly enjoy Amadeus, I've never thought Hulce was the right choice for the role of Mozart. (But perhaps Hulce acted precisely as he was told to act and, in that case, I think it is unlikely that Mozart actually behaved in the way that he was portrayed.)

I look forward to HDNet's potential showing of Immortal Beloved. I'll be glued to the sofa.