The Competition (1980 film)

The Competition is a 1980 American drama musical film starring Richard Dreyfuss, Amy Irving and Lee Remick, written and directed by Joel Oliansky.^[4]

The Competition
Directed by	Joel Oliansky
Screenplay by	Joel Oliansky
Story by	Joel Oliansky William Sackheim
Produced by	William Sackheim
Starring	Richard Dreyfuss Amy Irving Lee Remick Sam Wanamaker
Cinematography	Richard H. Kline
Edited by	David Blewitt
Music by	Lalo Schifrin
Color process	Metrocolor
Production company	Rastar Films
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	December 3, 1980 (1980-12-03)
Running time	126 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$10.1 million[1]
Box office	$14.3 million[2][3]

Plot

Paul Dietrich, a gifted but disillusioned classical pianist, is nearly 30 years old. He has never won a major piano competition and will soon be past the age limit to compete. Paul has accepted a job as a music teacher at a prep school in his hometown of Chicago, needing to help his mother and ailing father. However, he decides to compete one final time at an international piano competition in San Francisco, even though it could cost him the job.

The competition for a financial grant and two years of concert engagements pits the intense and arrogant Paul against a select group of talented artists. He advances to the final round of six, which includes brash New Yorker Jerry DiSalvo, who can only play one concerto; Michael Humphries; Canadian pianist Mark Landau; and a meek Kazakh girl, Tatiana Baronova.

Another contestant, Heidi Joan Schoonover, is a confident 23-year-old from Massachusetts who was romantically attracted to Paul after meeting him at an earlier music festival. Heidi's esteemed music teacher, Greta Vandemann, advises her to avoid letting personal matters hinder her concentration. Heidi is rebuffed by Paul, who also wants to avoid any distraction.

Before the finals, Tatiana's music teacher defects, causing the emotionally fragile Tatiana to have a nervous breakdown and the competition to be postponed for a week. Meanwhile, Paul's mother wants him to withdraw from the competition and focus on the teaching job, as his father is very ill and should no longer be working to support Paul's musical ambitions. Paul stays in the competition but feels guilty. He lashes out at Heidi during a meeting with the other contestants and the arrogant conductor.

Paul later apologizes to Heidi and they have a coffee date. Afterwards, at his hotel room, he pours his heart out to her about his family situation. Greta worries that Heidi and Paul's relationship may cost Heidi her competitive edge.

The competition is rescheduled. A reception for the contestants unexpectedly turns into a press conference for Tatiana, who is returning to the competition after meeting with her teacher. Paul is infuriated, believing sympathy for Tatiana is making her the favorite to win the competition. He criticizes Heidi for defending Tatiana and accuses her of not taking the competition seriously. Heidi realizes how much winning means to Paul and wants to drop out. Greta angrily chastises Paul, blaming him for exploiting Heidi's guilt over competing against him.

Paul tells Heidi that he loves her and persuades her to stay in the competition. Partway through her performance, Heidi's piano develops a technical problem, forcing her to stop. Rather than folding under pressure, Heidi demands to play a different concerto, requiring an orchestral rearrangement. She performs magnificently and wins the competition; Paul finishes in second place.

Heidi is ecstatic because she and Paul had agreed to form a partnership, combining their talents and resources to help one another, no matter who won. To her dismay, Paul is upset to realize that she is a more proficient player. He tells her he is unable to honor their partnership and leaves. However, Paul finally arrives at the celebration party following the competition, ready to take part in Heidi's victory and to be in her life.

Cast

• Richard Dreyfuss as Paul Dietrich
• Amy Irving as Heidi Joan Schoonover
• Lee Remick as Greta Vandemann
• Sam Wanamaker as Andrew Erskine
• Joseph Cali as Jerry DiSalvo
• Ty Henderson as Michael Humphries
• Vicki Kriegler as Tatiana Baronova
• Adam Stern as Mark Landau
• Bea Silvern as Madame Gorshev
• Gloria Stroock as Mrs. Dietrich
• Philip Sterling as Mr. Dietrich
• Priscilla Pointer as Mrs. Donellan
• James B. Sikking as Brudenell
• Delia Salvi as Mrs. DiSalvo

Music

• The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
  Conducted by Lalo Schifrin
• Alberto Ginastera, Piano Sonata No. 1
  Eduardo Delgado, Pianist
• Johannes Brahms, Piano Concerto No. 1
  Ralph Grierson, Pianist
• Frédéric Chopin, Piano Concerto in E Minor
  Lincoln Mayorga, Pianist
• Sergei Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major
  Daniel Pollack, Pianist
• Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5
  Chester B. Swiatkowski, Pianist
• "People Alone"
  Music by Lalo Schifrin
  Lyrics by Wilbur Jennings
  Sung by Randy Crawford

Awards and nominations

Award	Category	Recipient	Result
Academy Awards[5]	Best Film Editing	David Blewitt	Nominated
	Best Original Song	"People Alone" Music by Lalo Schifrin; Lyrics by Will Jennings	Nominated
Golden Globe Awards[6]	Best Original Score	Lalo Schifrin	Nominated
Golden Raspberry Awards	Worst Actor	Richard Dreyfuss	Nominated
Stinkers Bad Movie Awards	Worst On-Screen Couple	Richard Dreyfuss and Amy Irving	Nominated