Forman dominates the track as he recalls many anecdotes about the challenge of working on location in Prague, Czechoslovakia. He also speaks candidly about the casting. F. Murray Abraham originally tried out for a minor role but after reading with the actor, Forman thought that he had a bitterness that was right for the role of Salieri. Shaffer talks primarily about the differences between his play and the film. He also talks about early drafts of the screenplay and how the central character, at one point, was a priest who recounted Salieri’s confession and life story in flashback.

You can really tell that Milos Forman put every ounce of his creative soul into making this film. He talks a lot about the motives of different characters and his comments about how F. Murray Abraham landed the role of Salieri really surprised me. Forman gets especially roused when he discusses his favorite scene of the film (When Salieri is taking down musical composition from a dying Mozart).

Forman and Shaffer are very good together. The best parts are about the differences between the play and the movie, the casting, shooting in Prague during the Cold War, the locations, working with Sir Neville Marriner on the music, making the life of Mozart/Salieri in to a drama, Mozart’s letters and the director’s cut.

This track is funny and interesting. You get great information about Mozart’s life and the research. They make this commentary about nearly three hours listenable. Very good job. 10 out of 10.