Production Year: 1973 - Thriller - Director: Fred Zinnemann - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Cyril Cusack, Ronald Pickup, Donald Sinden, Michael Lonsdale, Eric Porter, Timothy West, Tony Britton, Derek Jacobi, Olga Georges-Picot, Jean Sorel, Edward Fox more
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... more
Gaulle, the bestselling novel by Frederick Forsyth was a prime candidate for screen adaptation. Director Fred Zinnemann brought his veteran skills to bear on what ...
Gaulle, the bestselling novel by Frederick Forsyth was a prime candidate for screen adaptation. Director Fred Zinnemann brought his veteran skills to bear on what ...
Day Of The Jackal DVD
THE DAY OF THE JACKAL' is a taut and colourful suspense thriller about the attempt by the ... more
right wing OAS to assassinate General de Gaulle. Edward Fox portrays the ruthless anonymous assassin hired by exiled OAS chief Colonel Rodin (Eric Porter) to carr...
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Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: K.C. Bascombe - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Jesse James, Rachel Skarsten, Charles Powell, Linda Purl, Kevin Zegars
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Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Matt Dillon - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matt Dillon, James Caan, Natascha McElhone, Gerard Depardieu, Sereyvuth Kem, Stellan Skarsgard
A review by kiran8 on Day Of The Jackal (DVD) October 28th, 2008
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Loved it
Story
Good
Characters / Performances
Outstanding
Special Effects
Good
How does it compare to similar films?
Good
Advantages:
One of the few novels faithfully translated into film
Disadvantages:
none
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
The novel ,The Day of the Jackal , a thriller was published in 1971 by Frederick Forsyth.The story is about a professional assassin who is contracted by the right-wing OAS French terrorist group , to kill Charles de Gaulle, the President of France.
The novel had a carefully thought out plot. This fast-paced novel was based in parts on the actual events that occurred in 1960s France. The revolt in 1954, in Algeria and the following events that brought Charles De Gaulle to power in 1958.Elements in France and Algeria blamed De Gaulle for this political decision. They formed the Secret Army Organization (OAS), and decided to remove De Gaulle from power..There were many attempts on his life which were all foiled at the last minute by the French Police.
The swift moving plot, the realistic police methods, the interesting characters, all made for a complete story which never lets you get away - you were hooked right from the first page. It received rave reviews and praise when it was first published in 1971.Forsythe managed to keep up the remarkably effective suspense right till the final pages...
The OAS commanders decide to hire a professional assassin to kill de Gaulle after several attempts to carry out the killing, using their own organization fail and there was a chance of their plot being exposed. They do extensive research on the world's top killers and decide on an Englishman code-named "The Jackal".. The Jackal demands half a million dollars to carry out the assassination, which was a great deal of money in the sixties..The demand is met with and the plan put into action and The Jackal takes over from there.
It is basically a story of the efforts of Jackal ,efficient, and ruthless , as he prepares to assassinate President De Gaulle, and the efforts of an equally efficient French detective officer, assigned to track the assasin and stop him and expose the enemy/s within the system.
The Film
The novel was adopted by Fred Zinnemann for his movie released in 1973.This book had the honor of being one of the few novels faithfully translated into film and the credit goes to the director, writer team.
This was a terrific movie by all standards.The lead actors, Edward Fox and Michael Lonsdale an Anglo French actor, are actors rarely seen in Hollywood films. Edward Fox is just right for the role of the enigmatic Jackal, the Assasin and very ably supported by Michael Lonsdale as Claude Lebel the french detective assigned to catch him.
The director has done a great job in maintaining the suspense, this in spite of the viewers knowing that the assasin has to fail.It is the intricate detailing of the preparations taken by the assasin that make for a very interesting viewing and keeps the viewers totally engrossed. since most of the film comprises of that.The efficiency of the French Police and the detailed investigations that make them aware of the plot that is brewing has been very well portrayed.
Jackal is cold blooded and very resourceful as he goes about plotting his every move,assembling false papers, several new identities , and specialised weapons. He gets some important information that he needs for the success of his assasin bid by seducing a French female clerk and later cold bloodedly kills her and he is always one step ahead of the detective officer, so much so , that the detective officer develops a grudging admiration for the assasin , for his methods and his meticulous planning.
But Lebel is no less,as he efficiently tracks down all the hideouts and places that Jackal has visited..it is a very interesting plot , a cat and mouse game between the Killer and the investigating officer. There is not much action here , as the whole movie centers around Jackal and his methodical preparation for the final kill.At the same time it is very interesting to watch Jackal go through his preparations and various changes in his appearances planned to the last detail and successfully carried out right till the final stages.
This is a great political thriller well acted and directed, Day of the Jackal is a tense and engrossing film with a not so surprising ending.
Directed by : Fred Zinnemann Produced by : John Woolf,Julien Derode,David Deutsch Written by : Kenneth Ross Starring : Edward Fox, Michael Lonsdale,Cyril Cusack ,Delphine Seyrig and others Music by: Georges Delerue Cinematography: Jean Tournier Editing by: Ralph Kemplen Distributed by: Universal Pictures Release date(s): 16 May 1973 Running time : 145 minutes Country : UK/France Language : English
Advantages: Great story and an extremely good thriller Disadvantages: none
...selling Novel, also named The Day Of The Jackel,and The original film With Edward Fox portrays the book far more realistically, and follows the books story line much more then the Bruce Willis and Richard Gere version of the film called The Jackal.
This film is a superbly directed and produced film and Edward Fox plays the character of The Jackal extremely well giving the film amazing quality.
I would highly recommend it to everyone and it is a ... ...Edward Fox , Ronald Pickup , Cyril Cusack , Donald Sinden , Eric Porter , Michael Lonsdale , Tony Britton , Timothy West , Derek Jacobi , Delphine Seyrig , Olga Georges-Picot , Jean Sorel.
Director:-
Fred Zinnemann.
other zinnemann films are:-A Man For All Seasons ,
From Here To Eternity and many more......
Important Info:-
Certificate 15 and over,
Produced in 1978,
Widescreen 1.85:1
Languages:-
English ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Gripping, entertaining and memorable. Disadvantages: Not for special effects fans.
This 1973 movie based on the novel by the excellent Frederick Forsyth is one of the most watchable pieces of cinema in motion picture history. Starring Edward Fox as the would be assassin of France's President De Gaulle the film tracks "The Jackal's" progress towards pulling the trigger as he makes his way through various locations whilst continually changing his identity so to keep at least one step ahead of the pursuing police and investigative ... ...Interwoven into this plot is a certain amount of espionnage and a now somewhat nostalgic look back at what certain places, fashions, cars etc looked like back in the early 1970s as many of the scenes are shot outside on location in busy main streets in major European cities. This is a truly gripping thriller and one of those films that almost makes you feel as if you are standing inside the film itself observing what is going on. The plot, screenplay ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Plot: Film version of Frederick Forsyth's novel about an assassin whose assignment is to kill President De Gaulle.
DVD Description
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.