Tirez sur le pianiste (Shoot the Piano Player) (1960)

95% of critics liked it
(19 reviews)
87% of users liked it
(6,141 ratings)

Francois Truffaut's loving homage to Hollywood gangster films is less a plot-filled film noir than a free-associative meditation on the genre. Charles Aznavour stars as a one-time concert pianist who gained fame as Edouard Saroyan but has since changed his name to Charlie Kohler and plays honky-tonk… More Francois Truffaut's loving homage to Hollywood gangster films is less a plot-filled film noir than a free-associative meditation on the genre. Charles Aznavour stars as a one-time concert pianist who gained fame as Edouard Saroyan but has since changed his name to Charlie Kohler and plays honky-tonk in an out-of-the-way saloon. His self-imposed exile is shattered by the appearance of his mobster brother Richard Saroyan (Jacques Aslanian). Richard and his other brother, Chico (Albert Remy), are on the lam from gangsters they've double-crossed. Charlie helps Richard and Chico get away, but he now finds that his life, along with his younger brother Fido's (Richard Kanayan, has been put into jeopardy, having gotten mixed up with gangsters Momo (Claude Mansard) and Ernest (Daniel Boulanger) who are pursuing Richard and Chico. Momo and Ernest keep an eye on Charlie's apartment and, although they don't get Fido, they manage to kidnap Charlie and Lena (Marie Dubois), a co-worker with whom he has fallen in love. But when Ernest runs a red light and is pulled over, Charlie and Lena escape the gangsters' clutches. They take refuge in Lena's apartment, where Charlie sees a poster for a performance by Edouard Saroyan, causing Charlie to think back upon the circumstances that had led him to this moment in his life. Lena and Charlie make love, and Charlie returns to his apartment, only to discover Fido has been kidnapped. Lena and Charlie then head back to his club, where they plan to quit their jobs and try to find Fido. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: François Truffaut
Written By: David Goodis, François Truffaut
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

On DVD: May 18, 1999

Critic Reviews

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
The determined jollity of Georges Delerue's saloon piano score, which later opens up to encompass a wide world of romanticism, sets the tone for Francois Truffaut's audacious second feature, made in 1960.
J. Hoberman, Village Voice
Truffaut's form of self-reflection is ultimately a way of playing the audience.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
It is a teasing and frequently amusing (or moving) film that M. Truffaut has made, but it simply does not hang together.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
One of those rare movies that you're sorry to see end.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's my favorite Truffaut film, not because it's the best but because it's the most enjoyable.
Melissa Anderson, Time Out New York
Often overlooked, Truffaut's wonderful second film stars Charles Aznavour, master of the chanson, in his only collaboration with the director.
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
A landmark film that took the world three decades to accept
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
An affectionate tribute to the low-budget crime movies that Truffaut so loved, and it's one of my favorite Truffaut films.

Read all 8 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jan Marc M

A second from François Truffaut, Shoot The Piano Player boldly shoots how the past haunts the present and shall continuously pester the future. Crime, drama, romance, and mystery right on target.
Reid V

A heavily noir influenced crime drama about the inability to escape your past. For only his second feature, this film feels bold and mature. While it is much more stylized than his debut, it still retains a lot of the heart that made the 400 Blows so good.
danny d

at this point, this is probably my favorite of truffaut's films. a simple structure, but laid out without the gimmicks normally seen in films like this. well written and well shot, the film simply executes the story with no wasted time. excellent crime drama.
Ken S

My favorite Truffaut hands down. The camera and storytelling here are so playful, it's easy to see Truffaut's love of the Noir genre. The loose hand held style, rhythmic frequent cutting and the free form jazz soundtrack all bring this down and dirty character piece to… More
My favorite Truffaut hands down. The camera and storytelling here are so playful, it's easy to see Truffaut's love of the Noir genre. The loose hand held style, rhythmic frequent cutting and the free form jazz soundtrack all bring this down and dirty character piece to life. Extra kudos for the matricide by way of fibbing gag
Alice S

This film is too French New Wavy to be American film noir. The pacing is off and the gangster story is like a MacGuffin - only there to provide a frame for philosophical meanderings. Charles Aznavour is magnetic though.
Tim S

Cool little film noir by Truffaut. Almost zany at times.
Pierluigi P

Inventive, sensible, witty and comical film-noir homage.
Michael G

A great film. Almost like a French film noir.
a b

The Piano player doesn't get shot, though.
MJS M

I would have thought that I would have seen this a while back what with it being a François Truffaut film from the height of his career. I think the movie?s title is a big part of why it took so long to catch up, it just made the thing sound annoyingly madcap. It turned out not to… More
I would have thought that I would have seen this a while back what with it being a François Truffaut film from the height of his career. I think the movie?s title is a big part of why it took so long to catch up, it just made the thing sound annoyingly madcap. It turned out not to be what I thought it was, but there were reasons to be worried. This feels a lot more in tune with the new wave than a lot of the other Truffaut films I?ve seen, felt more like a Godard movie and not in a way that was of my liking. It lacked a lot of the more conventional depth of The 400 Blows and Jules and Jim. It certainly had charms of its own, but it just wasn?t as much to my liking.
cody f

Great music, great acting, original story at a crazy french pace, classic Truffaut. Very entertaing and at times humorous. Charles Aznavour is fantastic and created a great character.
Emily B

Another one of Traffaut's greats, although sometimes overlooked. A clever and funny film.
Tom S

I haven't seen this movie now for a few months. I'm developing facial ticks.

Read all 13 featured audience ratings

Cast

Charles Aznavour
as Edouard Saroyan/Charlie Kohler
Nicole Berger
as Theresa
Marie Dubois
as Lena

Michele Mercier
as Clarisse
Albert Remy
as Chico Saroyan
Claude Mansard
as Momo

See full cast

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