The Day of the Jackal (1973)

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

Frederick Forsyth (book)
Kenneth Ross (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 heinäkuu 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Jackal spent 71 days,56 minutes thinking a bullet into the brain of de Gaulle

Plot:

A professional assassin codenamed "Jackal" plots to kill Charles de Gaulle, the President of France.

Plot Keywords:

Assassin | French | President | France | Detective

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 10 nominations

Cast

Edward Fox	...	The Jackal
Terence Alexander	...	Lloyd
Michel Auclair	...	Colonel Rolland
Alan Badel	...	The Minister
Tony Britton	...	Inspector Thomas
Denis Carey	...	Casson
Adrien Cayla-Legrand	...	The President
Cyril Cusack	...	The Gunsmith
Maurice Denham	...	General Colbert
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	The Interrogator
Jacques François	...	Pascal (as Jacques Francois)
Olga Georges-Picot	...	Denise
Raymond Gérôme	...	Flavigny (as Raymond Gerome)
Barrie Ingham	...	St. Clair
Derek Jacobi	...	Caron

Also Known As:

Chacal (France)

Runtime:

143 min

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English | Italian | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:16 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Argentina:18 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

150 Rue de Rennes, Paris 6, Paris, France

Company:

Warwick Film Productions

Trivia:

Technical specifications and fold-out diagram for building the actual assassin's rifle are included with the hardcover Franklin Mint special edition of the novel.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: As the Jackal is approaching the border checkpoint, a Ford Escort can be seen driving towards him. The story is set 5 years before this model was introduced.

Quotes:

Minister: How did you know whose telephone to tap?
Lebel: I didn't, so I tapped them all.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Remington Steele: Springtime for Steele (#3.15)" (1985)

Very well-done

Entertaining drama about a killer for hire named the Jackal (Edward Fox) hired to kill Charles DeGaulle in 1962. It follows step by step his preparations for the assassination and the authorities trying to track him down.

Story has a huge cast of mostly unknown character actors which makes it seem more believable (i.e. in the 1997 remake Bruce Willis played the Jackal and you were always aware you were watching Willis). Also Fox is all too believable as a killer. The plot also takes place all over Europe jumping around from country to country. Despite the large cast and multiple story lines I was never confused and thoroughly engrossed. Expert direction by Zimmerman helps also.

I have one small complaint--it goes on a bit too long. I was a little bored by the final half-hour. Still, this is a well-done thriller worth catching.

I give it an 8.