This is an excellent review of an outstanding film. Even though parts of the film were fictional, Mozart's decline and death were full of mystery.
The movie "Amadeus" inspired a Viennese singer to write and perform the US's only German-speaking #1 song "Rock Me Amadeus" soon after. This added to the mid-80s Mozart mania.
Mozart mania continues to this day, particularly because Mozart's death and popular revival is a common Austrian story: An Austrian star is not recognized for their talents in Austria; they become a huge star worldwide; then they are recognized at home as an "Austrian treasure." The Austrians (IMO) rave more about their star out of guilt for their earlier rejection.
Nowadays in both downtown Vienna and Salzburg (where Mozart was born), you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a tourist stand full of Mozart swag.
Mozart, one of the best composers in Western history, died penniless (possibly from eating bad pork) and was buried in a pauper's grave (about 700 meters from where I'm sitting) NOT in the Vienna Central Friedhof as most people think.
The movie was so great on so many levels that it not being historically correct is just a side note. Oscars well-deserved.
Original "Rock Me Amadeus" video link:
