Shoot the Piano Player



François Truffaut is drunk on the possibilities of cinema in this, his most playful, anarchic film. Part film noir, part comedy, part tragedy, Shoot the Piano Player relates the adventures of the mild-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.

MSRP - $39.95

SPECIAL EDITION DOUBLE-DISC SET FEATURES:
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New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised by director of photography Raoul Coutard
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Audio commentary by film scholars Annette Insdorf and Peter Brunette
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Exclusive new video interviews with actors Charles Aznavour and Marie Dubois
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Video interview with Coutard, conducted in 2003
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Rare interview with François Truffaut collaborator Suzanne Schiffman, from 1986
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Excerpts from a 1965 episode of the French television program Cinéastes de notre temps dedicated to Truffaut
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An excerpt from the French television program Étoiles et toiles in which Truffaut discusses his adaptation of the David Goodis novel
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The Music of George Delerue, an illustrated essay
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Dubois’ screen test for the film
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Theatrical trailer
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New and improved English subtitle translation
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A new essay by film critic Kent Jones
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More!

Gotta love the way Criterion is treating Truffaut!

Yes!!!!! This was one of my Top Five Most Desired Criterions (of those that are realistic possibilities, that is). Total no-brainer for me. Now if Criterion could just get ahold of Godard's "Breathless" and "Weekend" my life would be complete.

Also on Criterion's plate for December is:

Forbidden Games (Rene Clement). It looks to be a one-disc release /w the standard $29.95 MSRP. Here's the page at Image.
http://www.image-entertainment.com/d...roductID=42468

Great news...but once again the cover-art is average.

Pro-B

good disc...can't wait

Just those two for December?

i would imagine two more will follow a few weeks later in the month

Last year December was only two releases, as well, if I recall. Often a lighter month.

That's just as well. The big studios release all their good stuff in November and December - all I need is four additional $30 Criterions to add to my already bloated X-Mas shopping list.

Have you all looked at the details? (Not Anamorphic) This would not be good. This would be the whole reason I would replace my Fox Lorber version.

Coming Soon!
Film Info
1960
81 minutes
Black and white
2.35:1
Dolby Digital Mono 1.0
Not Anamorphic
French

It's already been corrected to "Anamorphic". At this point in their existence, Criterion would never release a 2.35:1 film in a non-anamorphic transfer. You can take that to the bank.

IIRC, up until last year, Criterion hadn't scheduled any releases at all for the month of December, so this is a change in policy. We're lucky to get two.

I was just at their site 10 min ago and it wasn't updated. BUT, YES it is now corrected. Thankfully. I can get excited again. I didn't think Criterion would let us down.

I couldn't ask for better news...well, okay, perhaps if Criterion did a two for one and gave Day for Night the special treatment as well.

I keep waiting for the month they release nothing of interest to me. Doesn't look like it's ever gonna happen .....

Always happy for more Truffaut, but come on, I want to see Two English Girls and The Last Metro ASAP! Forbidden Games is great, definately check it out.