#315: TRUFFAUT, François: Shoot The Piano Player (1960)

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TRUFFAUT, François (France)
Shoot The Piano Player [1960]
Spine #315
DVD


François Truffaut is drunk on the possibilities of cinema in this, his most playful film. Part thriller, part comedy, part tragedy, Shoot the Piano Player relates the adventures of mid-mannered piano player Charlie (Charles Aznavour, in a triumph of hangdog deadpan) as he stumbles into the criminal underworld and a whirlwind love affair. Loaded with gags, guns, clowns, and thugs, this razor-sharp homage to the American gangster film is pure nouvelle vague.

81 minutes
Black & White
Monaural
in French
2:35:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2005
Director/Writers


From the novel Down There by David Goodis.

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Thirty-two page booklet featuring an essay by Kent Jones; an interview with Truffaut by Hélène Laroche Davis and Truffaut on His Actors.

Commentary

By film scholars Peter Brunette and Annette Insdorf.

Video interviews

With actors Aznavour and Dubois and DP Raoul Coutard.
Interview

With Truffaut collaborator Suzanne Schiffman.
Two documentary excerpts

Featuring Truffaut on the film and the source novel.
The Music of Georges Delerue

An illustrated audio essay.
Dubois’ screen test

Theatrical trailer

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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