Shoot the Piano Player (1960)
Tirez sur le pianiste (original title)Reference View | Change View
- Not Rated
- 1h 21min
- Crime, Drama
- 23 Jul 1962 (USA)
- Movie
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Charles Aznavour | ... |
Charlie Koller / Edouard Saroyan
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| Marie Dubois | ... |
Léna
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| Nicole Berger | ... |
Thérèse Saroyan
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| Michèle Mercier | ... |
Clarisse
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| Serge Davri | ... |
Plyne
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| Claude Mansard | ... |
Momo
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| Richard Kanayan | ... |
Fido Saroyan
(as Le jeune Richard Kanayan)
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| Albert Rémy | ... |
Chico Saroyan
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Jean-Jacques Aslanian | ... |
Richard Saroyan
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Daniel Boulanger | ... |
Ernest
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Claude Heymann | ... |
Lars Schmeel
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Alex Joffé | ... |
Passerby
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Boby Lapointe | ... |
Le chanteur
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| Catherine Lutz | ... |
Mammy
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Laure Paillette | ... |
La mère (uncredited)
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| Alice Sapritch | ... |
Concierge (uncredited)
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Directed by
| François Truffaut | ||
Written by
| David Goodis | ... | (novel "Down There") |
| François Truffaut | ... | (adaptation) (as F. Truffaut) and |
| Marcel Moussy | ... | (adaptation) |
| François Truffaut | ... | (dialogue) |
Produced by
| Pierre Braunberger | ... | producer |
Music by
| Georges Delerue | ||
Cinematography by
| Raoul Coutard | ||
Editing by
| Claudine Bouché | ||
| Cécile Decugis | ||
Production Design by
| Jacques Mély | ... | (uncredited) |
Makeup Department
| Jacqueline Pipard | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Serge Komor | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Robert Bober | ... | assistant director |
| Francis Cognany | ... | assistant director |
| Bjorn Johansen | ... | assistant director (as Björn Johansen) |
Sound Department
| Jacques Gallois | ... | sound |
| Jean Philippe | ... | assistant sound (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Claude Beausoleil | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Raymond Cauchetier | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Jean-Louis Malige | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Suzanne Schiffman | ... | script girl |
Additional Crew
| Luce Deuss | ... | production secretary |
| Roger Fleytoux | ... | administrator |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Cocinor (1960) (France) (theatrical)
- Gala Film Distributors (1960) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Neue Filmverleih (NF) (1960) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Artistas Argentinos Asociados (AAA) (1961) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Cineriz (1961) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Royal Films (Belgium) (theatrical)
- Wivefilm (1961) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Astor Pictures Corporation (1962) (United States) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Meridian-Films (1963) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Towa. (1963) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Jerand Film Distributors (1965) (United States) (theatrical) (re-issue)
- Altomedia. Co. Ltd. (2003) (Korea) (DVD)
- AV Channel (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2005) (United States) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
- SBP (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
- SBP (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Fox Lorber (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- MK2 Éditions (2002) (France) (DVD) (special edition)
- Sandrews (1961) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Francinex (1961) (France)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- MGM/CBS Home Video (1981) (United States) (VHS)
- MK2 Productions (France) (remastered)
- Rizzoli Film (1960) (Italy)
- The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
- The Criterion Collection (United States) (VHS) (laserdisc)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
- WinStar Cinema (United States) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Once a successful concert pianist under his birth name Edouard Saroyan, Charlie Koller is now a pianist playing honky-tonk music in a sleazy Paris bar owned and operated by Plyne, and most in Charlie's current life are unaware of his concert-pianist past. This new life, in which he is caring for his youngest brother, minor Fido Saroyan, is to escape the pain associated with his past life, which included a marriage to waitress Thérèse Saroyan. Charlie has always been a shy, reserved man, coming out of that concert pianist life which has made him retreat further into his shell where he only feels comfortable behind the keyboard. Besides Fido, the only person of any meaning in Charlie's life is his prostitute neighbor Clarisse, who looks after Fido when needed and is Charlie's paid bed partner when he needs human connection. Charlie's life becomes more complex with two developments. First, he is attracted to Léna, a waitress at Plyne's--who is also admired by Plyne himself although he doubts that she would ever be attracted to him. Second: Charlie's eldest brother, not-so-adept criminal Chico Saroyan, solicits his help in eluding two criminal associates, Momo and Ernest, whom he and their last brother Richard Saroyan bilked in what was their only job together. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Francois Truffaut, Brilliant Director Who Gave You the Award Winning "The 400 Blows", Now Brings to the Screen a Fascinating New Work That Plays in Many Keys...All of Them Delightful! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | FRF890,063 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Because no funding was available from any of the studios, François Truffaut and his crew shot the film on the fly on the streets of Paris, often making up the script as they went along. The ending was decided on the basis of who was available at the time of shooting. See more » |
| Goofs | When Lena and Charlie walk home after work, the shadow of the camera can be seen on their coats. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Don't Shoot the Composer (1966). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Avanie et Framboise See more » |
| Quotes |
Momo:
My old man used to say: "when you hear someone at your door, think it might be an assassin, this way, if it's a thief, you'll be glad!" See more » |