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The Competition

  • 1980
  • PG
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
Richard Dreyfuss and Amy Irving in The Competition (1980)
Paul Dietrich, at almost 30 years old, is a fading piano prodigy. Heidi Schoonover is a talented young pianist with a promising future. When Paul hears of an upcoming competition that could make his career, he dedicates himself to winning.
Play trailer1:40
1 Video
60 Photos
DramaMusicRomance

Paul Dietrich, at almost 30 years old, is a fading piano prodigy. Heidi Schoonover is a talented young pianist with a promising future. When Paul hears of an upcoming competition that could ... Read allPaul Dietrich, at almost 30 years old, is a fading piano prodigy. Heidi Schoonover is a talented young pianist with a promising future. When Paul hears of an upcoming competition that could make his career, he dedicates himself to winning.Paul Dietrich, at almost 30 years old, is a fading piano prodigy. Heidi Schoonover is a talented young pianist with a promising future. When Paul hears of an upcoming competition that could make his career, he dedicates himself to winning.

  • Director
    • Joel Oliansky
  • Writers
    • Joel Oliansky
    • William Sackheim
  • Stars
    • Richard Dreyfuss
    • Amy Irving
    • Lee Remick
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    3.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Joel Oliansky
    • Writers
      • Joel Oliansky
      • William Sackheim
    • Stars
      • Richard Dreyfuss
      • Amy Irving
      • Lee Remick
    • 46User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:40
    Trailer

    Photos60

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    Top Cast58

    Richard Dreyfuss
    Richard Dreyfuss
    • Paul Dietrich
    Amy Irving
    Amy Irving
    • Heidi Joan Schoonover
    Lee Remick
    Lee Remick
    • Greta Vandemann
    Sam Wanamaker
    Sam Wanamaker
    • Andrew Erskine
    Joseph Cali
    Joseph Cali
    • Jerry DiSalvo
    Ty Henderson
    Ty Henderson
    • Michael Humphries
    Vicki Kriegler
    • Tatjana Baronova
    Adam Stern
    • Mark Landau
    Philip Sterling
    Philip Sterling
    • Mr. Dietrich
    Gloria Stroock
    Gloria Stroock
    • Mrs. Dietrich
    Bea Silvern
    • Madame Gorshev
    James B. Sikking
    James B. Sikking
    • Brudenell
    • (as James Sikking)
    Delia Salvi
    • Mrs. DiSalvo
    Jimmy Sturtevant
    Jimmy Sturtevant
    • Vinnie DiSalvo
    Kathy Talbot
    • Denise DiSalvo
    Elaine Welton Hill
    • Mitzi
    Stephen Corvin
    • KGB Agent
    Jan Ivan Dorin
    • KGB Agent
    • Director
      • Joel Oliansky
    • Writers
      • Joel Oliansky
      • William Sackheim
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews46

    6.63K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'The Competition' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Prince and Apollonia Kotero in Purple Rain (1984)
    Music
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      In addition to coaching the film's six "competitors" in piano technique, Jean Evensen Shaw stayed on throughout the production, providing technical advice. Actress Lee Remick recalled that Shaw's help was "invaluable. Remick explained: "She kept us from making awful mistakes for which a real musician would have hooted us off the screen". One such scene was a verbal sparring match between Lee Remick and Amy Irving over Richard Dreyfuss' intrusion in their well-ordered lives. Both women are sipping wine and as the argument escalates, Remick puts her goblet down on the sounding board of a grand piano and rises to confront her student."No, no." Shaw cried out as if in personal pain: "I don't care how excited you are. You must never put food or drink near such a beautiful instrument. You could damage it forever". The scene was re-staged.
    • Goofs
      Greta, a legendary pianist, mentions the "una corda" pedal, but pronounces it "yoo-na kor-da". This is not the proper way and any musician knows it is "oo-na", not "yoo-na".
    • Quotes
      • Greta Vandemann: [Lighting a cigarette] Ludwig Von Beethoven taught Carl Czerny, who taught Leschetizky, who taught Schnabel, who taught Renaldi, who taught me. And now the sixth pianist in a direct line from Beethoven is standing here staring at me in her Jordan Marsh mix-and-match.
      • Heidi Joan Schoonover: You shouldn't smoke.
    • Alternate versions
      ABC edited 31 minutes from this film for its 1985 network television premiere
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Eyewitness/Tess/The Competition/The Dogs of War (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      Love Theme - The Competition (People Alone)
      Music by Lalo Schifrin

      Lyrics by Will Jennings

      Sung by Randy Crawford

      Produced & Arranged by Ed Freeman (uncredited)

      Courtesy of MCA Records

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    Details

    • Release date
      • December 3, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Movie Channel (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Das große Finale
    • Filming locations
      • California Academy of Sciences, Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Rastar Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • $10,100,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,287,755
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $76,163
      • Dec 7, 1980
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,287,755
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 2h 3m(123 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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