I hated him later on, but I did feel sorry for him in that scene where he wrote a composition that he thought was good, but then Mozart was like "Eh, it's okay," and made it so much better. I'd feel mediocre too in that position.
The legend of the dog faced woman.
He wasn't very tactful, Mozart. But he was so funny. That giggle!
Salieri was a very troubled man according to the movie. . . .deeply insecure, jealous, and unable to understand that he wasn't the genius that Mozart, but he was still a good composer. I felt sorry for him, but his deception and jealousy carried him to far and so he chose to end his life.
shareHaha yah that part was sad.. Mozart just shreds through the melody
shareAs a note of interest, the March of Welcome that Salieri composed was actually a Mozart composition (an aria from Figaro). In the film, the piece was "deconstructed" into Salieri's March, then improved by Mozart back to the original aria. That piece BTW is featured prominently in the Murphy/Akroyd film Trading Places
shareThanks for that piece of information!
Some folks who may have recognized that march as having been from the aria from Figaro probably smiled and thought, ahhhhhhh, he swiped that from Salieri! Another reason why Salieri grew to hate him more and more! I'm talking about the context of the story in the film.
Very cool info there, thanks. I think this was one of the greatest scenes depicting jealousy and humiliation. You see everyone around Mozart beaming, and Salieri getting torn apart inside but putting on a polite face for decorum. Great acting all around from the cast.
shareI feel sorry for him that movies like this ruin the reputation of a man who had nothing but respect for Mozart. Do you even realize how much affected he was by the rumours that he murdered his colleague?
shareThe thing that made me feel bad for Salieri was that he was the only established musician in the film that recognized and admired Mozart’s genius and Mozart treated him poorly.
shareYes, but the fact that he recognized Mozart's brilliance led him to harm Mozart's career, so IMHO he loses all the sympathy points he gained on that front.
But yeah, you've got to feel a bit of sympathy for the Salieri of the film, or pity. He made a fundamental error of thought, one that's still common today - people still think that if they do X, they Y must necessarily follow, when in fact X and Y have nothing to do with each other. He thought that if he ew as chaste and said his prayers then surely musical genius would result, which is bull, but he couldn't just admit his assumptions were wrong and get on with his life. No, he had to be a dick and feud with Mozart and God almighty, when he could have maybe found a little earthly happiness instead.
I haven't seen this in a few years but remember finding Sallieri sympathetic and agreeing with things he said about Mozart. Mozart as he is depicted in this movie acts like a jerk with no manners. I agreed with Sallieri when he said that. I found Mozart annoying and found myself feeling for Sallieri and thinking he was a better person. He shouldn't have gotten Mozart drunk at the end but I found him more likable than Mozart who acted like a spoiled brat with no manners.
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I felt bad for them both in the end.
First, Salieri hated Mozart for a stupid but understandable reason: Mozart had the talent that Salieri had always desired, yet squandered it by being a boorish child.
What he didn't recognize was the very real opportunity to mentor Mozart as a person, and thereby "partake" of the genius he wanted for himself. Salieri always recognized the beauty of Mozart's music.
Second, I think Mozart himself recognized this possibility on his deathbed, when they were finally working together productively.
Their final scene together was a vision of what could've been.
Also ... Mozart was self-destructive. Salieri didn't "kill" him -- that he thinks he did is actually more a reflection of his own self-importance.
DISCLAIMER: I am of course ONLY speaking about the fictional characters in this movie.
Interestingly, from what I've read, the real Mozart and Salieri did, in fact, have a relationship closer to what I just described. Salieri appreciated Mozart's genius very much and helped his family where he could. They had, at worst, a friendly rivalry.
Besides which, I've been around enough music teachers to know that they often LOVE working with talents beyond their own, ESPECIALLY if they can help it along.
Salieri is dismissed by me (and God) the moment he prays, “… and let me be celebrated too.“
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