Piano Player Called Saroyan

Famed French film director Francois Truffaut said that he cast French-Armenian entertainer Charles Aznavour in “Don’t Kill the Piano Player” because Aznavour looked so un-French, and since the actor’s parents came from Armenia. The character’s surname was changed from Lynn to Saroyan–an incidental compliment to William Saroyan whose novels Truffaut admired for their “warmth and beauty”. The screenplay was based on David Goodis’ “Down There” novel.

Famed French film director Francois Truffaut said that he cast French-Armenian entertainer Charles Aznavour in “Don’t Kill the Piano Player” because Aznavour looked so un-French, and since the actor’s parents came from Armenia. The character’s surname was changed from Lynn to Saroyan–an incidental compliment to William Saroyan whose novels Truffaut admired for their “warmth and beauty”. The screenplay was based on David Goodis’ “Down There” novel.