10 Things to Know About 'Amadeus' (1984)

10 Things to Know About Amadeus

10 Milos Forman Knew Nothing About Classical Music Before Making Amadeus

Speaking to reporter Terry Lawson before the midwest premiere of Amadeus, Milos Forman admitted that he knew nothing about classical music before making the movie. He’d heard and vaguely appreciated the music over the years but had no idea about the rich history.

“But the truth is, that I knew nothing about classical music or Mozart before I decided to do this film. I mean I liked it - I like all music - but I know nothing about it.”

He continued

“When I first saw Peter’s (Shaffer) play, what intrigued me was the idea – I saw a movie I could make.”

9 They Argued Over Every Word

It sounds like it would make for a terrible experience but it turns out, Peter Schaffer and Milos Forman spending months locked away at Forman’s farm, arguing over every word of what would become the screenplay of Amadeus, actually brought the two creative visionaries closer together. Forman described Schaffer’s experience as having to give birth twice.

8 Forman Sought Special Permission to Film in Prague

Milos Forman was born less than 45 miles from Prague and eventually his family moved there just prior to the outbreak of World War 2, Sadly, at 9 years old, Forman lost his parents who were dragged off by the gestapo after the German invasion of Prague and were never seen again.

He’d left Prague in 1968 to make his first American film and by the time he wanted to return, he was barred from the country which had fallen behind the Iron Curtain. Having since become an American citizen, Forman had to fight for the chance to return to Prague to make Amadeus.

Thankfully, by 1984, Prague had a thriving foreign film market and was eager to welcome big budget foreign films, leading to an emotional return for the director.

7 The Palaces of Prague Led to More Script Changes

7 different palace locations were used in the making of Amadeus, including the astonishing 16th century palace known as the Gryspek. Shooting at the Gryspek required some rewriting to include the location which wasn’t part of the original plans for the film.

6 The Tyl Theater

The most incredible location in all of Amadeus is The Tyl Theater, a theater that actually played host to the real Mozart. The real Mozart staged his Don Giovanni at The Tyl Theater and actor Peter Hulce conducted from the same spot Mozart would have stood and conducted, According to Forman, Hulce was overcome with the emotion of the moment which added to the remarkable scene, arguably the best moment in the film.

5 Choreographer Twyla Tharp Tried to Quit Before a Key Scene Had Been Filmed

Frustrated with the Czech dance troupe employed instead of her own crew of dancers, Twyla Tharp quit before the staging of the massive ballet set piece in Amadeus. According to Milos Forman, Tharp had packed her bags and purchased a plane ticket home before he managed to get her back on board. Rather than being upset with Tharp for nearly derailing the film, Forman claims to have admired her integrity and stated that she’d tried to quit at some point on every production they made together.

4 Temperamental Artist

Further contemporary interviews around the release of Amadeus found director Milos Forman revealing more and more about himself, including the fact that he nearly suffered a nervous breakdown after his American debut film failed to find an audience. He also admitted that he’s also been guilty of believing his own hype and becoming an egomaniac. Forman stated that these sides of himself were expressions of a deep-seated insecurity he carried throughout his life.

Today, you might recognize it as imposter syndrome, the idea that you aren’t who people think you are. It’s also something that seeped into the bones of F. Murray Abraham’s Salieri whose life is consumed by an imposter syndrome that is fully exposed via his proximity to Mozart’s unquestionable genius.

3 Filmed in Prague But Almost Never Shown in Prague

Director Milos Forman admitted during 1984 interviews promoting the film that he was aware that the communist government in Prague had been surveilling him during the making of Amadeus. The production was allowed to film in Prague because the government needed the foreign money but that didn’t mean that they’d allow Amadeus to ever be shown in Prague due to Forman’s status as a Czech filmmaker who became an American citizen.

It would be two years before Amadeus was finally shown in Prague. And by 1989, with the communist government beginning to fall, Amadeus began to rise as a point of pride in Czechoslovakia, a symbol of the country’s artistic spirit.

2 Elizabeth Berridge Was a Last Minute Addition to the Cast

Actress Meg Tilly had been selected for the role of Stanzi, Mozart’s long suffering wife and muse, Unfortunately, two days before filming was set to begin, an accident left Tilly with a broken foot and sent the producers of Amadeus into a whirlwind to find a leading lady. Berridge was tested along with one other actress and won the role that saw her board a plane for Prague the same day for shooting that began just two days later.

1 Tom Hulce Was Elizabeth Berridge’s Neighbor and Landlord

Living in New York City can be a surreal existence and that was certainly the case for Elizabeth Berridge who landed the role of Stanzi, the wife of Mozart a day before shooting began and just happened to pair her with Tom Hulce who was also her New York City neighbor and technically, her landlord as he owned the building they lived in, Berridge was ecstatic to work with Hulce, referring to him as her best friend a man she’d marry if he asked. She was 22 at the time.