Page One: “Amadeus” (1984)

Screenplay by Peter Shaffer, based on his stage play

The movie version of the opening:

I remember seeing screenwriter Billy Ray on some video in which he talked about how brilliant Amadeus was. How its writer Peter Shaffer had supposedly written thirty-one drafts before he felt he had got it right. Billy Ray asked: “What if Shaffer had quit on the thirtieth draft?”

The point: Keep pushing, keep writing, don’t give up. Because the next draft may be the one.

You may download the screenplay here.

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY!

Page One is a daily Go Into The Story series featuring the first page of notable movie scripts from the classic era to contemporary times. Comparing them is an excellent way to study a variety of writing styles and see how professional writers start a story.

For more Page One posts, go here.

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