A deadly rivalry that never was, a dried-up bachelor who was actually a father of eight, and flops that were hits in reality … even getting Mozart's toilet humour right cannot redeem it Director: Milos Forman Entertainment grade: D History grade: D+ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy who went on to become one of the greatest composers of all time before dying at 35. Rumours persist about his rivalry with fellow composer Antonio Salieri. Illness Salieri (F Murray Abraham) opens the film by cutting his own throat. This is based on a rumour spread by Ludwig van Beethoven's nephew, Karl, but there is no evidence for it – meaning Amadeus gets its first inaccuracy in before the opening credits. Salieri did reportedly sustain a minor knife wound to his neck after being committed to Vienna's general hospital on suffering a... [read full story]
