i too do not like period dramas and i can take or leave classical music.i saw this at the cinema on its release and was spellbound all the way through.it held my attention from the very start and captivated me till the end.the acting,costumes,script,lighting and music combine to make what is quite simply a cinematic masterpiece.the version i saw at the flix was the standard cinema release,this directors cut with 20 minutes extra only adds more enjoyment to the whole wonderful experience.a treat for the eyes and ears.dont miss it !

Everything about this film is perfect. The performances the direction and especially the music. The additional footage really adds to the wonder and gives more time for Mozarts music.
As for the extras, the making of is an excellent talking head piece which moves along with plenty of anecdotes and behind the scenes footage and to my surprise has a running time of 1 hour not 35 mins as listed on the box.

Milos Forman, who gave us 'One Flew Over Cuckoo's Nest' in 1975, presented this classic picture nine years later. Depicting the life of genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as seen through the lustful eyes of another great composer Antonio Salieri, who ended up in an institution reason being the unreachable levels of Mozart's artistic capabilities!

Very good movie and adaptation with lots of great music, costumes, and all that glittered in that era, together with an exceptional performance by F. Murray Abraham who saw him lifting an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role playing Salieri. Other Oscars included Best Director and Best Film totalling eight Oscars in all.

This Special Director's Cut version includes an additional 20 minutes which were never shown on the big screen, while the second Disc is wonderful to watch illustrating the difficulties encountered in filming in the then Communist Prague.