Day Of The Jackal
1973
This suspense thriller about a daring plot to murder Charles De Gaulle is based on Frederick Forsyth's best-seller. The movie's suspenseful pace is tied to the incredibly careful and intricate planning the man code-named "the Jackal" does in preparation for the hit. This classic was watered down and remade in 1997 as The Jackal. Read more
| Starring | Edward Fox, Cyril Cusack, Ronald Pickup, Donald Sinden |
|---|---|
| Director | Fred Zinnemann |
| Genres | Thriller |
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Day Of The Jackal
This suspense thriller about a daring plot to murder Charles De Gaulle is based on Frederick Forsyth's best-seller. The movie's suspenseful pace is tied to the incredibly careful and intricate planning the man code-named "the Jackal" does in preparation for the hit. This classic was watered down and remade in 1997 as The Jackal.
| Starring | Edward Fox, Cyril Cusack, Ronald Pickup, Donald Sinden, Michael Lonsdale, Eric Porter, Timothy West, Tony Britton, Derek Jacobi, Olga Georges-Picot, Jean Sorel |
|---|---|
| Director | Fred Zinnemann |
| Studio | UCA |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 17 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | 100 Top Thrillers |
| Genres | Thriller |
| Language | English |
| Dubbed | French, German, Italian, Spanish |
| Subtitles | Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish |
| Released | DVD: 11 Aug 2003 Production year: 1973 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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A magnificent script from Kenneth Ross and a masterly central performance from Edward Fox form the backbone of this big-screen version of Frederick Forsyth's bestselling novel. But it's Fred Zinnemann's matchless direction that makes it such compelling viewing and an object lesson in suspense. The pacing of the picture is superb, a methodical accumulation of detail that is as fastidious as Fox's preparation for his mission to assassinate General de Gaulle. Although the action crisscrosses Europe, there's no postcard prettiness, just a sure grasp of the atmosphere of each place before getting down to the business of the scene. The supporting cast is also first rate, with Cyril Cusack, Michel Lonsdale and Tony Britton outstanding.
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An incisive, observant and professional piece of work based on a rather clinical bestseller. Lack of a channel for sympathy, plus language confusions, are its main drawbacks.
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Most helpful member's review
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16 out of 16 people found this review helpful
The ultimate assassination movie
Edward Fox plays the Jackal a hitman hired by French terrorists to kill the President for pulling the troops out of Algeria.
The film is an almost verbatim rendition of the novel of the same name by Frederick Forsyth.
The tension is beautifully built up as we watch the Jackal take all the necessary steps to carry out his plan, and follow the police as they attempt to prevent him.
Although it is now a little dated it is alot better than the updated version with Bruce Willis and Richard Gere and is very believable, especially when you consider how many times De Gaulle had attempts on his life.
I would definately recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers and also try reading some of Forsyths other masterpieces. -
Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
The Day of the Dead Sheep
The people from the Radio Times who raved and gave this 5 stars must lead very quiet lives, with rare visits to a cinema, if they find this movie masterly, matchless, suspenseful etc. I couldn't work up much interest. That might be because I've just read the book, which still IS suspenseful. I think director Zinnemann believed his own mythology -- he wanted to make films that were SIGNIFICANT, which unfortunately often meant ponderous. Jackal was basically an airport novel, and couldn't take Zinnemann's 'classy' Man For All Seasons schtick. His attempt to match Forsyth's obsessive detail merely gives a feeling of pedantry. The film feels mechanical. There are far too many short scenes. The sub-plot about the mole in the French security committee is weakened. The characters are mostly cyphers. The changes to the book are mostly vulgar shortcuts which weaken rather than strengthening the plot. There's good location shooting, but the studio footage has such bad lighting and cardboard sets you feel like you're watching an episode of Jason King. OK. The film is saved by three performances -- Fox is good, though his mum really ought to get some more hot meals into him. Cusack gives a wonderfully subtle performance. And Lonsdale is masterly. Lonsdale, who is bilingual, was Drax in Moonraker -- and is half-English (son of a British officer, I believe) -- has done only a half-dozen English-language films, despite being one of the world's great actors. Why hasn't this man made more British and American films? One of life's great mysteries...
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This suspense thriller about a daring plot to murder Charles De Gaulle is based on Frederick Forsyth's best-seller. The movie's suspenseful pace is tied to the incredibly careful and intricate ... -