Amadeus
Movie, 1984, Named by fans, Set in First in the trilogy
Amadeus is #14 of 48 in release order and #40 of 48 in chronological order in the Spiritual Trilogies.
The story
Disciplined Italian composer Antonio Salieri becomes consumed by jealousy and resentment towards the hedonistic and remarkably talented young Salzburger composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Amadeus recap
In 1823 Antonio Salieri, once court composer in Vienna, cuts his throat and is taken to an asylum, where he tells a young priest his story. As a young man he promised God his chastity in return for musical fame. Then Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart arrives at the court of Emperor Joseph II, crude and childish but able to write perfect music without effort. Salieri decides God is mocking him through Mozart and turns against him, blocking his chances while secretly worshipping his scores. Mozart marries Constanze, spends beyond his means, and struggles after the death of his father Leopold, whose stern image appears in his opera Don Giovanni. Disguised in a mask like the one Leopold wore at a party, Salieri commissions a Requiem from Mozart, planning to have him die writing it and to pass the work off as his own at Mozart's funeral. It begins the Obsessed Artist Trilogy, a fan grouping of films about the price of chasing greatness.
Amadeus ending explained
Mozart dies while dictating the Requiem to Salieri, and is buried in a pauper's grave. Sick and exhausted, Mozart collapses during a performance of The Magic Flute. Salieri takes him home and writes down the Requiem as he dictates. Constanze returns, locks the score away and sends Salieri off; Mozart is dead by morning, and his body goes into a common grave. Back in 1823, Salieri tells the priest God destroyed Mozart rather than let Salieri share his glory, and as he is wheeled through the asylum he absolves the mediocre people around him.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Amadeus
Amadeus isn't on a US streaming service right now. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.4/10, Rotten Tomatoes 90%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Thing, before Prince of Darkness.
- Chronological order: after No Country for Old Men, before Black Swan.
Cast
- F. Murray Abraham as Antonio Salieri
- Tom Hulce as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Elizabeth Berridge as Constanze Mozart
- Simon Callow as Emanuel Schikaneder
- Roy Dotrice as Leopold Mozart
- Christine Ebersole as Katerina Cavalieri
- Jeffrey Jones as Emperor Joseph II
- Charles Kay as Count Orsini-Rosenberg
- Kenny Baker as Parody Commendatore
- Lisbeth Bartlett as Papagena
- Barbara Bryne as Frau Weber
- Martin Cavani as Young Salieri
Directed by Miloš Forman.