Shoot the Piano Player
1960 · Movie · NR · 85 min · ★ 7.2 · 85% critics
A shy bar pianist in Paris tries to keep his past buried, but his quiet life is disrupted when family trouble pulls him into a criminal chase. As a new romance begins, he’s forced to navigate gangsters, loyalty, and the weight of old regrets while danger closes in.
Based on Down There
Also known as Shoot the Pianist
Where to watch
Streaming on HBO Max.
1 hour to watch.
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Details
- Original title
- Tirez sur le pianiste
- Years
- 1960
- Release date
- 1960-11-25
- Language
- French
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 85 min
- Critic score
- 85/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.2/10 (441 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a French New Wave crime tale that mixes melancholy, romance, and offbeat humor, with a noir-tinged vibe like Breathless or Jules and Jim; Not for you if you want a straightforward, consistently serious thriller.
Pros: moody noir tribute; playful tone shifts; strong lead performance | Cons: uneven pacing; jarring humor; story can feel unreal
Themes
- based on novel or book
- jazz
- jazz singer or musician
- jazz club
- organized crime
- black and white
- pianist
- french noir
- neo-noir
Cast & crew
Charles Aznavour
as Charlie Kohler/Edouard Saroyan
Marie Dubois
as Léna
Nicole Berger
as Thérèse Saroyan
Michèle Mercier
as Clarisse
Serge Davri
as Plyne
Claude Mansard
as Momo
Richard Kanayan
as Fido Saroyan
Albert Rémy
as Chico Saroyan
- JA
Jean-Jacques Aslanian
as Richard Saroyan
Daniel Boulanger
as Ernest
Directed by François Truffaut