Too Shy to Try

1978 1h 28m FR

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 98

RomanceComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Pierre is a hotel cashier in Vichy, so shy that he answers an ad from the Psychology Institute and can't say no to the salesman, Aldo; he spends 6,000 francs on tapes, books, and a punching bag. Soon after, he's smitten by Agnes, a hotel guest with a model's looks and photographers wherever she goes. When she leaves for Nice, he follows, meeting Aldo on the way. Aldo becomes his boldness coach. Pierre gets a job washing dishes where Agnes is staying, but after a week or so, she's off to Deauville, with Aldo and Pierre in pursuit. Using funds they get by selling Aldo's car, this time Pierre poses as a polo-playing jet setter. Will this win the heart of Agnes?

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Pierre Richard
Pierre Renaud
Aldo Maccione
Aldo Ferrari
Jacques François
Mr. Henri
Mimi Coutelier
Agnès Jensen
Catherine Lachens
La camionneuse
Robert Castel
Trinita, le joueur de pétanque
Jacques Fabbri
Le routier
Robert Dalban
Le garagiste

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Pierre Richard
Writers: Pierre Richard, Jean-Jacques Annaud, Alain Godard
Languages: French
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

88 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

48 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Pierre Richard, shot by Claude Agostini. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Vladimir Cosma. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Pierre Gillette shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Pierre Richard and Aldo Maccione and Jacques François carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0077768 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 98 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Pierre Richard directs. Claude Agostini behind the camera. Vladimir Cosma scores. Pierre Gillette cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

188 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
248 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Pierre Richard, shot by Claude Agostini. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Vladimir Cosma. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Pierre Gillette shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Pierre Richard and Aldo Maccione and Jacques François carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0077768 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 98 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.