The Competition (1980) ***1/2

This film is remarkable not for the story or the acting, but for how it puts classical music front and center. Richard Dreyfuss plays Paul, a classical pianist approaching 30 and struggling to win a major competition before he is too old. His parents, particularly his father, have always supported his playing, but now he is starting to think he needs to just settle down and get a teaching job. He decides to take one more shot at the big time, a piano competition in San Francisco.

In San Fran, Paul runs into Heidi (Amy Irving), a gorgeous pianist he knows from previous competitions. Paul wants to avoid any romantic distractions, and Heidi's teacher (Lee Remick) gives her the same advice, but then a Russian competitor's teacher defects. This delays the final competition for a week, and with all that extra time, Paul and Heidi yield to the inevitable. This, of course, creates complications when the competition resumes.

This is a fine, romantic story, with good chemistry between the leads and an excellent supporting cast, particularly Lee Remick. (It's almost too many brilliant, blue eyes in one movie!) It's also rather predictable. There's never any doubt that Paul and Heidi are going to hook up, and the outcome of the competition isn't particularly surprising, either. The film does get into some interesting themes, however, including the plight of a talented artist like Paul, who hasn't quite broken into the top tier of his profession, and is running out of time to do so. Then there's the role of gender stereotypes. Heidi's teacher advises her that there will always be a talented man in her life whose fragile ego requires her to yield him the spotlight. Her career success will be determined by how she responds to that female voice inside her, telling her to let the man win.

The best thing in the movie, though, is the classical piano music. The cast do a great job making it look as if they are the ones playing. They aren't, of course; the music is played by talented professionals. The actors took lessons for 4 months, however, just to be able to simulate playing these complex pieces, and they do it convincingly, like an action star doing his own stunts.

3.5 stars out of 5