The Competition *** (1980, Richard Dreyfuss, Amy Irving, Lee Remick, Sam Wanamaker) – Classic Movie Review 10,980

Writer-director Joel Oliansky’s 1980 romance The Competition stars Richard Dreyfuss and Amy Irving as pianists who take part in a competition.

It was nominated for two Oscars: Best Film Editing (David E Blewitt) and Best Music, Original Song (‘People Alone’, Lalo Schifrin music, Will Jennings lyrics). Lalo Schifrin was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Score – Motion Picture. On the other hand Richard Dreyfuss was nominated for a Razzie Award as Worst Actor and the stars were nominated for a Stinker Award as Worst On-Screen Couple. This is an unfair attack on two decent performances from hard-working appealing actors.

Dreyfuss plays fading piano prodigy, Paul Dietrich, pushing 30, who dedicates himself to his last chance in winning an upcoming competition to make him a success again. He is horrid to the competition – talented young pianist Heidi Schoonover (Amy Irving), who may be a better pianist – before they fall in love.

The Competition is slim material grossly stretched at 123 minutes, but it is fairly attractively played by amiable stars and star support (Lee Remick as Heidi’s teacher Greta, and Sam Wanamaker as Andrew Erskine), with long piano sequences carefully tricked.

ABC apparently thought it was grossly stretched at 123 minutes and edited 31 minutes from this film for its 1985 network TV premiere.

It is the directing début of writer Oliansky, whose loving care and attention to detail show.

Alas, it was one of three so-so films in a row that hastened Dreyfuss’s career collapse at that time.

Also in the cast are Joseph Cali, Ty Henderson, Vicki Kriegler, Adam Stern, Philip Sterling, Gloria Stroock, Bea Silvern and James B Sikking.

Jean Evensen Shaw provided technical advice throughout the production and coached the film’s six competitors in piano technique.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,980

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