Big Screen in the Sky- Peter Shaffer

I often complain that movies these days are all based on comic books. Whatever happened to the good old days when movies were based on hit stage plays? Sadly, one of the great play/screenwriters from that era has passed. Peter Shaffer wrote both the plays and screenplays for Equus (1977) and Amadeus (1984). Equus was notorious for its psychological examination of a young man who blinds horses, bringing up all sorts of repressed sexuality issues for the late Seventies. Amadeus dared to turn classical music god Mozart into a gifted but spoiled manchild who drank, whored, and made fart sounds while still composing some of the best known music of any era. Both scripts skillfully played against what was expected, and he was Oscar-nominated for both, winning the statuette for Amadeus.

Grazi, Mr. Shaffer.