1. Mozart Upstages Salieri Amadeus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ciFTP_KRy4 Number one on this list may be a surprise, but it is deserving of the title of funniest impromptu music scene in film. It may not be extravagant, or absurd, or even particularly hilarious, but this scene from Amadeus is both comical and memorable. Starring Tom Hulce as legendary 18th Century composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the 1984 period drama Amadeus follows the adult life of the Austrian maestro up to his death, focusing on his rivalry with Italian composer Antonio Salieri (played by F Murray Abraham). Amadeus won 8 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and is a brilliant depiction of the life of Mozart. Although the film is played fairly straight, the lead character of Mozart is played with a light-hearted, bright and humorous air by American actor Tom Hulce. Hulce portrays Mozart as a bubbly, kind but ultimately intelligent character and one of the best scenes in the film shows off these attributes through a piece of impromptu music. Salieri has devoted a huge amount of effort and time to produce a piece of music for the Emperor to play, but is hugely upstaged by Mozart, who can play the piece note-perfect upon first hearing it. Mozart goes as far as to play the piece with his own special touch, adding sections as he plays, and ends the impromptu performance with his distinctive, high-pitched laugh aimed at the furious Salieri.
Jon Lovatt
Contributor
I like writing about films and hope you like reading about them too. And watching them, of course.
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